I want to add, a big part of the drum sound is how you hit the drums. I don't think a lot of people take that into account.
If you take somebody like Geddy Lee on the bass, from Rush, everybody tries to get HIS sound. You can't get it unless you hit those strings like he does.
I am all about dynamics and tone, man - so I get this in spades . . .
Installed the Steven Slate Audio VSX system tonight and the only needed EQ to my monitoring system required was to turn down the Sub Woofer output on the MiniDSP by 2.6 db - everything else sounds great using their Maximum Flat Response "HD-Linear Emulation" for their supplied headphones which matches my in-room sound, now. (Those headphones are very comfortable/block out room noise with great isolation and are very responsive/dynamic.
I wouldn't change anything in that last drum mix I posted
I like it for the most part. I don't like the snare. I am very picky when it comes to that. I can't seem to get a snare sound I like with my own stuff. I should have never gotten rid of that snare I built.
Anyway, once again , I would put a tad of reverb on the snare to make it sit in the mix better.
I just thought maybe I should sample my own drums and offer them.
Gotta agree on the snare - it sounds like it got compressed and killed the snappiness - I'll try some other settings before I go all surgical and move the snare to its own track and keep it out of the Slate Audio effects chain.
Reflective - Redo of the snare mix - changed tuning, decay time, attack & sustain across both kit sounds/mixes - Rendered in 16 bit .FLAC (2.1 X file size) to reduce codec induced distortion - How do you like this snare/mix now?
1st time I have heard this song but it hit a nerve and I had to play it - it doesn't suck but it isn't at all practiced - hope it moves you like it does me . . .
The REM recording is incredible - the vocals blow me away!
Very motivational/emotional.
I created the project in Reaper DAW and set it to time based and just played it after hearing it once - it spoke to me and I tried to capture what it felt like and did for me on the drums - The intro beats are disjointed just like the emotions evoked by the vocals/lyrics.
Same kit/mix as used in "Reflective" after modifying the snare as above.
OK, it was pointed out to me that I had not completely followed the entire process in the mixing effort with my last post and that I needed to turn-off the studio mixing /mastering software before rendering-out the final audio mix (Danno - Thanks 🙂).
Seems that The software tricks you into mixing your audio/instrument recordings into sounding like they would if they had been done in a mastering studio.
Below is the studio that met my sonic appeal - it is warmer with more depth - I'll let you decide if this mix works for you - give it a chance and listen to it several times to acclimate your ears to it and please do keep giving your feedback as it helps keep me doing this and shaping my sound - thanks for this small effort - I'd be utterly lost without it.
I think this is how it is supposed to sound - needed to put it bypass mode - NOT- just shut it off so that the reference FR is maintained to flat for best translation across multiple playback devices - it sounds cleaner too -->
OK, I am getting this VSX mastering/Reference mixing thing better understood and am now wanting to go back and remix a few songs I recorded on the drums a few years ago when I was more energetic/practiced.
Thanks to all of you who have assisted - it really did help.
All of these songs were originally played on the drums by me inside 'Studio Drummer' software kit sounds and lack any proper mixing/mastering efforts that I now have available to me. Over time I hope to remix them and share them for your enjoyment/laughs as well as my learning experience as something to do of a productive nature:
One thing about about electronic drums is, the dynamics are always wrong.
I love Siver Blue and Gold. The drums sound very spotty on dynamics. I think if you played real drums with mics, it would sound more natural.
Most people won't hear it. Sad..
These above tunes are 3 year old tracks using Studio Drummer (alone) and the velocity settings are only able to be applied to the entire kit so yes, the dynamics did suffer from having a compressed range for all voices.
If I bring-in the new Superior Drummer-3 VST's and apply the existing MIDI data to it that software has the ability to apply velocity ranges and curves to each individual voice (drum/cymbal).
I may try that ^ soon as I am remixing the Anita Baker tune right now but have to compress the hell out of it due to the piercing vocals and hot snare peaks.
Music producer, "Michael Beinhorn" finally understands swing, groove, tempo & timing of a rhythm section and explains it to modern DAW users so they stop expecting great things from quantized drum machines and just let the musician do the work they do best together - (YAY!):
Wolf (Ben) said [elsewhere]; "In the red and brick-walled" was the best clue given concerning dynamics/loudness so I followed it until I saw the light and it looked like this:
Comments
I am all about dynamics and tone, man - so I get this in spades . . .
Yanking yer chain....
InDIYana Event Website
Installed the Steven Slate Audio VSX system tonight and the only needed EQ to my monitoring system required was to turn down the Sub Woofer output on the MiniDSP by 2.6 db - everything else sounds great using their Maximum Flat Response "HD-Linear Emulation" for their supplied headphones which matches my in-room sound, now. (Those headphones are very comfortable/block out room noise with great isolation and are very responsive/dynamic.
I wouldn't change anything in that last drum mix I posted
Testing out some of the Steven Slate Audio VSX mix-downs as an experiment here - feedback solicited again, please.
This is the 'Reflective' mix sent through the software's "Sonoma" room mix with some minor EQ tweaks to the Stereo bus by me to fatten up the low end - it is pretty interesting how this VSX stuff can EQ the entire mix and make it more clean/detailed and far less muddy --> https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nnp65l9e4iehrj4uarw41/Kiko-Loureiro_Reflective-SJL-Drums-7-9-2024-SSA-Sonoma-EQ1-ReMix.mp3?rlkey=5dv3tldbyillqoqdtrvu43cym&e=1&dl=0
More experiments inbound if there is an interest . . .
I like it for the most part. I don't like the snare. I am very picky when it comes to that. I can't seem to get a snare sound I like with my own stuff. I should have never gotten rid of that snare I built.
Anyway, once again , I would put a tad of reverb on the snare to make it sit in the mix better.
I just thought maybe I should sample my own drums and offer them.
Gotta agree on the snare - it sounds like it got compressed and killed the snappiness - I'll try some other settings before I go all surgical and move the snare to its own track and keep it out of the Slate Audio effects chain.
HaHa, I am a nobody and to offer my own drum samples? Ah, what the hell. I think they sound as good or better than most I have heard.
Have you exported drum samples before, Sir?
If you are serious, I would be willing to test them out . . .
And, Yes - your kit tuning and recording set-up sounds fabulous.
Reflective - Redo of the snare mix - changed tuning, decay time, attack & sustain across both kit sounds/mixes - Rendered in 16 bit .FLAC (2.1 X file size) to reduce codec induced distortion - How do you like this snare/mix now?
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/92bu5ou95zale1ir9bn2l/Kiko-Loureiro_Reflective-SJL-Drums-7-10-2024-SSA-Sonoma-EQ1-ReMix.flac?rlkey=f8gidzrj5f35o87cf95x5vqcv&dl=0
REM - Strange Currencies - SJL Drums - 7-10-2024 - Take 1 -> https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ze2e2yxyibgtrgcamps97/REM-Strange-Currencies-SJL-Drums-7-10-2024-Take-1.flac?rlkey=sf60qanyjglndes9hj31uxq7o&dl=0
1st time I have heard this song but it hit a nerve and I had to play it - it doesn't suck but it isn't at all practiced - hope it moves you like it does me . . .
That's a great song.
The REM recording is incredible - the vocals blow me away!
Very motivational/emotional.
I created the project in Reaper DAW and set it to time based and just played it after hearing it once - it spoke to me and I tried to capture what it felt like and did for me on the drums - The intro beats are disjointed just like the emotions evoked by the vocals/lyrics.
Same kit/mix as used in "Reflective" after modifying the snare as above.
God Bless, JR.
I have not but, when I get some time, I will see what I can do.
Sounds good!
OK, it was pointed out to me that I had not completely followed the entire process in the mixing effort with my last post and that I needed to turn-off the studio mixing /mastering software before rendering-out the final audio mix (Danno - Thanks 🙂).
Seems that The software tricks you into mixing your audio/instrument recordings into sounding like they would if they had been done in a mastering studio.
Below is the studio that met my sonic appeal - it is warmer with more depth - I'll let you decide if this mix works for you - give it a chance and listen to it several times to acclimate your ears to it and please do keep giving your feedback as it helps keep me doing this and shaping my sound - thanks for this small effort - I'd be utterly lost without it.
TURN IT UP.
😂
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/vy7xj9md1tt7h90z6r9a9/REM-Strange-Currencies-SJL-Drums-7-10-2024-Take-1-Mix-2.flac?rlkey=8ig6utl9opuwdyybtdas0t1mr&dl=0
Sonoma Studio - Mid Field Mix (outer speakers in MTM/D'appolito alignment):
I think this is how it is supposed to sound - needed to put it bypass mode - NOT- just shut it off so that the reference FR is maintained to flat for best translation across multiple playback devices - it sounds cleaner too -->
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z51kk9qnlb9i9a4et5qzm/REM-Strange-Currencies-SJL-Drums-7-10-2024-Take-1-Mix-3-Bypass.flac?rlkey=hjb3l32kiv875c6mb4cfh4krw&dl=0
(This is very complex and I'm still learning) . . .
Finally --> https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4rd2wud0vftlwsnlndd57/REM-Strange-Currencies-SJL-Drums-7-10-2024-Take-1-Mix-4-Bypass.flac?rlkey=frti41wo1mo8h7jzkane68uyc&dl=0
OK, I am getting this VSX mastering/Reference mixing thing better understood and am now wanting to go back and remix a few songs I recorded on the drums a few years ago when I was more energetic/practiced.
Thanks to all of you who have assisted - it really did help.
All of these songs were originally played on the drums by me inside 'Studio Drummer' software kit sounds and lack any proper mixing/mastering efforts that I now have available to me. Over time I hope to remix them and share them for your enjoyment/laughs as well as my learning experience as something to do of a productive nature:
Anita Baker - Fairy Tales ;
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i8sk4p9zkmjkqwm90hd7g/Anita-Baker-Fairy-Tales-SJL-Drums-Take1.wav?rlkey=z103qop0osdsdnae0873a2727&st=lvuuchkn&dl=0
Bad Company - Silver, Blue & Gold;
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/aayk858j19g2aet49jt1y/BadCo-BS-G-SJL-Drums-Take-1f.wav?rlkey=y6l7lmehu6k8l3g3yfk9gpmx4&st=uvww34gt&dl=0
Boz Scaggs - Low Down; (wore my leg-out)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gmordmriip8hua5hniw53/Boz-Scaggs-Low-Down-SJL-Drum-Take-1-Mix2.wav?rlkey=v04e5aozki1pq2sjrclo914wm&st=3srxe8dg&dl=0
Grand Funk Railroad - Closer to my Home; (lost groove, started experimenting)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/opy7sbs2u23xiln7goxdn/Closer-2-My-Home-SJL-Drum-Take-1.mp3?rlkey=dmrpwf1vp1t1l5bgdegczndqz&st=b93d7cyl&dl=0
Eddie Brickel - Shooting Rubber Bands;
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2m9bjt1r0qkkbz4bqngn6/EddieBrickel-Shooting-RubberBands-SJL-Drums-9-5-2021.wav?rlkey=2yqa091iz13ci9v717apg3cx5&st=qlmqwcba&dl=0
Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground; (lost groove but worth a listen)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hf2rt5l4o1eqe2mjs1ig0/Higher-Ground-SJL-Drum-Master-Mix-1.mp3?rlkey=l12phu5mlhgzjfavf066ehs51&st=xlj9o85b&dl=0
Marshal Tucker Band - Can't You See?; (Seriously overburdened Tom mics)
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/onyko77fx9pp35058uuew/Marshal-Tucker-Can-t-You-See_-SJL-RAW-Drums-Mix-10.mp3?rlkey=dsvjwpv5f51j69snaswjenlr4&st=hequyiwk&dl=0
Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown;
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dq4rnbtcdubu26k5s4uee/Sundown-SJL-Drum-Master-Mix-2.wav?rlkey=11bzvfnuy0pmxvq2du3w96mso&st=awqphade&dl=0
One thing about about electronic drums is, the dynamics are always wrong.
I love Siver Blue and Gold. The drums sound very spotty on dynamics. I think if you played real drums with mics, it would sound more natural.
Most people won't hear it. Sad..
These above tunes are 3 year old tracks using Studio Drummer (alone) and the velocity settings are only able to be applied to the entire kit so yes, the dynamics did suffer from having a compressed range for all voices.
If I bring-in the new Superior Drummer-3 VST's and apply the existing MIDI data to it that software has the ability to apply velocity ranges and curves to each individual voice (drum/cymbal).
I may try that ^ soon as I am remixing the Anita Baker tune right now but have to compress the hell out of it due to the piercing vocals and hot snare peaks.
Good ear and thanks for the feedback, AK455!
Renee Olstead - Hit The Road Jack - SJL Drums:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ohrvsxig7b2ss7f2iig7y/Renee-Olstead-Hit-The-Road-Jack-SJL-Drums-7-29-2024-Take-2-Mix-1-Archon-Bypass.flac?rlkey=8djm8a88vs7awppih1ev28zqx&dl=0
[For those interested in music production]
Music producer, "Michael Beinhorn" finally understands swing, groove, tempo & timing of a rhythm section and explains it to modern DAW users so they stop expecting great things from quantized drum machines and just let the musician do the work they do best together - (YAY!):
https://michaelbeinhorn.com/video/
Wolf (Ben) said [elsewhere]; "In the red and brick-walled" was the best clue given concerning dynamics/loudness so I followed it until I saw the light and it looked like this:
Employing this:
Sounds like this --> https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0r130y98nsthdxs3de1cm/Renee-Olstead-Hit-The-Road-Jack-SJL-Drums-7-29-2024-Take-2-Mix-2-Archon-Bypass.flac?rlkey=cs27ntor0xt5xnezfv9yij9a0&dl=0
Added:
Slight revision to the compression settings with this mix and a big improvement, IMO -->
https://www.dropbox.com/s/i1niiw76eymla6q/Renee Olstead - Hit The Road Jack-SJL Drums 7-29-2024 Take-2 - Mix-3 Archon Bypass.flac?dl=0
(This tune was my 1st foray into big band styled music, BTW - I enjoyed it).