I scanned the band roster for the upcoming practice and didn’t see a drummer listed. Maybe Erik or Jason forgot to note it. We have plenty of drummers so it was probably an oversight, right? Every single drummer was working or on vacation. A number of musicians were on vacation due to this time ... Read More
Low end frequency problems can plague a mix if they aren't identified and addressed. In episode 39, I discuss how the low end frequencies can work both positively and negatively. I also discuss how you can control excess low end both on stage and in the sound booth. Update: Just to be clear, when ... Read More
I'm giving away the whole article in this next sentence. Just because you always do something the same way doesn't mean there's a better way. If you want to learn how I've done this with drums, continue on. I THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECT I'd tested a variety of methods for miking and mixing the ... Read More
Let's deal with this upfront, drummers play a role in creating the right sound for the room and the music. We've all probably seen the youtube video of the drummer who doesn't fit the gig. That's wrong on many levels but let's look at what they should do. To check out the podcast versions of ... Read More
The kick drum beater just tore clear through the drum head and there’s twenty minutes to replace it. The drummer, Anthony, has the skills to do it. Not a problem. Wait, what do you mean the spare head doesn’t fit? Bring me the holy gaff tape! Did it sound great? No, but it sounded good ... Read More
I created a frog. It wasn't intentional. Naturally, I'm not talking about a real frog but just look at that photo! You'll never read a mixing book that says, "make the snare's EQ curve look like a frog in water." If you do, immediately stop reading the book. Seriously, when it comes to snare ... Read More
It's time for the second audio mystery. It involves a drum set, two audio techs, and a lot of head scratching. It started on a Wednesday night... The drums sounded dead. I'm talking "He's dead, Jim" dead. Steve and I were at front-of-house trying to dial in a good drum mix. There wasn't ... Read More
Drum miking is an art form you might be missing. How many drum mic's do you really need? Do you have that many mixer channels to spare? Are you feeding your drummer the right mix? Four microphones might be all you need. My current stage setup includes an acoustic drum kit with eight ... Read More
