I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

JOLLY

JOLLY

Super Simonologist
I've also been asked how I do such said drums, si I guess I shall share my secret...lol.

I've always been very proud of my drum tones on my recordings. It took me quite a bit to finally figure out what I was doing while I recorded them, but anyways, I guess I shall share my secret to the world on how I get my drum tones as well as how and when I record them.

I read the manual when I first got my Boss DR-770 years ago, but I just never quite figured out how to program it in time, and all that crap. I mean, I did, but I just didn't like the way it came out, and it just seemed like too much work for me.

So, I took my Boss DR-770, and I arranged the sounds of the pads into like I was sitting behind a drum kit. That way I could sit behind it, play the drums in real time, and give them a much more natural feel instead of being perfectly in time.

For the kick drum I take a stereo Y cable, run it out of the Pedal SW Out. I run a Roland DP-2 (or similar) sustain pedal into one of the Y outs for my kick drum.

This is the Boss DR-770

dr_770_main.jpg


I completely rearranged what the pads say they are so that it's like sitting behind a drum kit. Mind you, each pad has a sound, but it also has 2 sounds. You could hit Pad 1a and get a sound, or you could hit Pad1b and get a sound. However, you can combine those two pads and get a super fat sound, and that's what I do.

Well, I took a drum set on the Boss DR-770 that I thought sounded great. I think it was one of the "Metal Kits" or something, but don't hold that to me because it's been 15 years since I did all this sh!t.

I took that kit, detuned it a mega sh!t ton. You can tune up or down on the drum kits for tone. I tuned it waaaaaay down. A lot, and I mean a lot!!
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

Then, I redid all of my pads on the machine differently. If you look at the picture above, you will see how all of the pads are listed. Well, I changed those into me sitting behind a drum kit in a sense.
I turned 1-4 all into cymbals. 9, 10, 6, 7, 8 are all toms, and they pan in the stereo spectrum from left to right....the same as my cymbals do. The number 5 pad I keep as a quick cymbal grasp, but it's panned to the right. #11 and #14 are both snares. The reason I keep both of them as snares is so I can kind of hit them a tad off beat for a flam. I use #12 as my ride cymbal, and I keep #15 and #16 just as they are listed.

So, if you look at what I just posted, and then look at the pads on the DR-770, you'll see that it is pretty much just like sitting behind a drum kit.
Now, as stated just a sec ago, I have tuned all my stuff down really low. Also, I have taken each pad and panned it to what I personally consider what part of the stereo spectrum that I think it should be in...from left to right.

I personally like the sound of what is called the "English Method". That way my drums pan just like you are sitting behind them in the stereo mix. You will hear my ride on the right, and my high hats on the left, and my toms will pan from left to right while doing a roll.
Anyways, there's a million ways to do this, I'm sure. However, this is what works for me.
As far as recording goes. I always start with a click track. I usually have one idea, or whatever I am going to do on guitar. I play it to the click track. Once I have it done, I will do another rhythm guitar and pan it to the right. After that I normally do my drums.

I'll kind of come up with a rough mix for that crap, and then I will record my bass. That's a whole different story right there. My bass tone changes with every singe song that I record. To me personally, the bass is what makes the song, and that's why for rhythm sh!t, I always record it last. When it's all said and done, I record my crappy gibberish leads.

Anyways, I hope you all liked whatever the hell I just wrote.... Maybe I'll grab a video camera and show you later how I actually play my drums on the Boss DR-770. :)
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

I hope all of that made sense.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

John Jolly, you will never guess what I just posted in reply to Twilight in the Rainy Days thread. :naughty:

Regarding a possible video demonstration, could you introduce an element of mystery by setting the camera sideways, Nathan style?
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

You have omitted to mention how the Kick Drum is triggered, how many samples you assign to this instrument and whether you play seated or standing up.

I suspect that the answers are; a remote pedal, one BD sound and seated.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

Funkfingers said:
John Jolly, you will never guess what I just posted in reply to Twilight in the Rainy Days thread. :naughty:

Regarding a possible video demonstration, could you introduce an element of mystery by setting the camera sideways, Nathan style?
Click to expand...
I just made a video, and it is loading.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

All of your questions should be answered after that.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

There should be a setting to have it quantize to correct the timing without too much effort.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

You may have to crank up your speakers because my camera was a bit away from mine when I recorded this. My apologies.

 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

Beer$ said:
There should be a setting to have it quantize to correct the timing without too much effort.
Click to expand...
Can't quantize while playing in realtime.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

Funkfingers said:
This would only work on programmed Pattern and Song tracks. Sounds very much to me like JOLLY records in real time.
Click to expand...
I do. I'm much better on a real drum kit. However, with me playing on the drum machine in real time, I think it gives my songs more of a realistic feel. You can hear the imperfections which make my drums sound more human instead of perfect like a computer. Unfortunately, since I have had a slipped disc in my back for the past two months, you can really hear MAJOR imperfections. I've been way out of time in parts.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

JOLLY said:
Can't quantize while playing in realtime.
Click to expand...

If you have the means to record the real time drum performance as MIDI Note data, it would be possible to edit it afterwards. Correct any glaring errors. Then, use the cleaned-up MIDI Note data to trigger the DR-770 in synch with the guitars and bass.
 
Re: I Have Been Complimented On My Recorded Drum Tone Many Times

Meh, I'll keep it sloppy.
 
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