Clear Gravy Productions - Studio Preparation

Drummers - You can prepare yourself for the studio well in advance. The most important aspect of getting a good drum sound in your recording, is having a good sounding set of drums. You can have the most elaborate mic setup, with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of recording gear, but if the drums sound like crap when you hit them, they'll sound like crap in the control room. There are several steps a drummer can take before he or she gets into the studio.

Making sure all drums have NEW heads, or at least newer heads is your best first step. If the heads have been beaten on during live shows, they are going to have very little life left for the recording. The bottom heads also play a crucial roll in the resonance of the drum, so make sure they are fresh as well.

Try and suppress any rattles or unwanted noise your set makes when you play. Of course some of this will change when you get to the studio, but it sure is a lot less expensive to try to work some of this out in advance. When you go to the studio, bring plenty of sticks, extra heads, and if possible, a variety of snare drums and cymbals. As I have stated, the quality of the drum sound relies heavily on the sound of the actual drums. Once you are in the studio, spend time tuning the drums, and triple check for squeaks and noises. Some of this may require some experimenting... just be prepared to work.

I can't stress it enough... Maintenance is a factor! Locate all the buzzes and rattles and squeaks on your set before you leave the practice space. Lube and replace any parts that need it. Rubber tubing on the cymbal posts will help keep rattles down, and be prepared to tape up ringing drums. Keep heads fresh but broken in.

Learn to tune drums!!! It's tricky, but once you get it, you'll have a better overall sound. I can't stress how critical this is. We've spent hours in the studio micing drums that haven't been tuned properly. This is YOUR responsibility! Take the time to do it BEFORE you get to the studio so you're not PAYING for the time to do it once you're in the studio.

With good drums, a good player, and a nice sounding room, it's hard, as an engineer, not to get great drum tones.

Something to consider in getting drum takes is whether or not to use a click. Using a click can be difficult and distracting and, if you have never used one, this is something that a drummer must PRACTICE before attempting in the studio. Find what works in terms of sounds and loops, and request those in the headphones. If you've never played with a click, don't expect to just DO it. It requires concentration and practice. If you need to use a click. PRACTICE with it BEFORE your studio date.

	Drummers - You can prepare yourself for the studio well in advance. The most important aspect of getting a good drum sound in your recording, is having a good sounding set of drums. You can have the most elaborate mic setup, with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of recording gear, but if the drums sound like crap when you hit them, they'll sound like crap in the control room. There are several steps a drummer can take before he or she gets into the studio.
Making sure all drums have NEW heads, or at least newer heads is your best first step. If the heads have been beaten on during live shows, they are going to have very little life left for the recording. The bottom heads also play a crucial roll in the resonance of the drum, so make sure they are fresh as well.
	Try and suppress any rattles or unwanted noise your set makes when you play. Of course some of this will change when you get to the studio, but it sure is a lot less expensive to try to work some of this out in advance. When you go to the studio, bring plenty of sticks, extra heads, and if possible, a variety of snare drums and cymbals. As I have stated, the quality of the drum sound relies heavily on the sound of the actual drums. Once you are in the studio, spend time tuning the drums, and triple check for squeaks and noises. Some of this may require some experimenting... just be prepared to work.