Over and out......
Grim I brought up Top 40 and EDM for a specific reason - meaning you and I aren't making EDM and Top 40, so drummers are just as relevant to people like us, and the thousands of alt, indie, roots, blues, trad, jazz and whatever else bands out there...
I stand corrected. I misunderstood what was behind your bringing up top 40.
We can't lament the death, when the death isn't even happening.
I think death is perhaps somewhat strong. But Robbie's point, whatever his motivations, isn't a new one. As various innovations have happened in music and recording, questions have been raised as to what happens to that which might be being replaced. Recording itself was seen as the death knell for live performance. It turned out not to be, but it changed forever the nature of live performance because people no longer had to go and
travel to see a band or singer or buy sheet music and have someone in the household that had to be able to play the piano. They could have the same performance at their fingertips until they died.
I think there are still bags of people that love drums as you pointed out. But significantly, there have emerged over the last 25 years bags of people for whom a drummer isn't a necessity. From the 40s until the late 70s/early 80s, if an artist wanted drums on their tracks, they needed a drummer. A real live human being. Now they have a choice and the choice of many is to not. That means that for
them, the actual drummer {not the drum sound and function} is pretty obsolete. It is true of both the pro and home recording world.
I don't think you and I would really even disagree, if we weren't using this sometimes ineffective medium of communications....
In essence, I think that we stand on the same bank of the river, not being those that would say "don't need a drummer". I also need to point out that those for whom a drummer is not a necessity but for whom drums are shouldn't be criticized for making use of the tools available to them.
and I have absolutely no problem with loops, programming, samples or anything else.
Part of the reason why I didn't think the original question was a stupid one or the point an insulting one {
in general, not the specifics of whatever Robbie's motivation may be} is that as a home recorder, I've had to face the same issues. I'm very fortunate to know a few drummers and a few keyboardists, clarinetists, flautists, those that play guitar, percussion, oboe, sax and a few things. But there are other instruments that I dig where I don't know anyone that plays them and so I've had to go the VSTi route. And I ain't waiting around till I'm 80 for a sitarist or violinist to appear in my life. So for now, they're not necessary.
Samples and drum software have made that possible. That's really all I meant.
I love real drummers,
I know 4 drummers. They're all different, and add a special something to what ever project I might be working on. They each have different styles, metal, jazzy, classic rock,
The three guys I've recorded with in the last three years are all so different. Their varying styles ensure that they bring very much themselves to whatever we play on. I'm not essentially a one person outfit. I love other peoples' contributions.
Most of the time.
