Well I recorded my drummer this weekend. I've always been a big fan of this forum, you guys really have taught me many tricks that helped me avoid headaches... and i like to abide by these "rules". Anyway, here is my horror story, and if any of you drummers out there think i'm being to harsh, let me know...
Firstly, I wouldn't call myself a drummer, but I am somewhat expirienced. I wanted to start learning drums, so i'd practice at the studio I worked at, then eventually went out and bought a kit. Tama Rockstar Custom (fusion size). It's perfect for recording, big kick drum (18x22), smaller toms(10, 12, 14), and wooden snare(14). I always get wonderful recording sounds out of this kit, the small toms are punchy, have alot of attack, and when tuned lower, still deliver the goods. It's my expirience that larger toms sound like cardboard, and can ruin a mix.
So, my drummer is cool using my kit, since i have the heads tuned nicely, and all. His kit is a Pearl Export. He decided that my 14" floor tom isnt big enough, he wants to bring his 18 for "extra low end." Ughhh... I explained to him smaller toms sound better... blah blah blah. "Nah man, i want the extra low end." Fine, i let him use his floor tom.
Then, he says, "yo, before each song, can you a scratch guitar track for me so i have something to jam to?" I say, "Do i really have to hold your hand and walk you through each song? Don't you know the songs? I mean, you count your measures, right?" He replies, "well yea, but it's easier." I am against this for one reason, scratch guitar tracks are scratch tracks, and even though it will be to a metronome, the playing might be a little sloppy and you get the idea.
Then, in every song, he'd say, "well the verse feels normal, but the chorus seems a little fast." I explained that a metronome keeps time, and if he isnt with it, then it means he isnt keeping time.
Eventually he decides he doesnt like the metronome, and wants to play to just the guitar. His feelings "since the guitars are done to metronome, if i follow the guitars, it will be on time." Obviously, this isnt true, distorted guitars are going to be much harder to follow. But of course, I am willing to allow this, and waste more time, cause he wants to at least "try it." Of course it doesnt work...
Finally, he decides that he wont do any fills where i play a solo, that match up with the solo, cause that part feels too slow, and when he plays it on time with the metronome, he cant do it right. Funny, the rest of the song was ok, and i always told him he speeds that part up, but he didnt beleive me.
So, during the writting of one of our songs a few months ago, i said, yo learn this rythm, i want the kicks to follow, it doesnt sound like they do. He said, "dude it fits... just cause im not following every kick, that doesnt mean its not right." I said, "just cause your playing at the same tempo as me, it doesnt mean we're playing the same song." So he decided to ignore me. So we went to record this song, and hes playing to it, and stops. I say, whats wrong? He tells me, "i didnt know you were playing that. It doesnt sound right with what im doing." at this point, im so angry i say, "just play the damn song and take out the kick wherever it doesnt fit. I tried to explain this to you when we wrote it, but instead you said, "dude it fits"".
Wherever he fucked up, he wanted me to cut and paste, and "just do it on new tracks." I tell him "no, a solid drummer should be able to play the song they wrote, at a steady tempo." Keep in mind, this is a metal band, no crazy fast playing either. 4 minute songs at max. Its groove beats, basicallyt like rock. Nothing fancy.
And the two songs i let him do without the metronome came out like crap.
bottom line...
Using his floor tom against my recommendation ruins the mix. It sounds like a damn cardboard box. His cut/paste attitude makes mixing a song a job. His "it fits" attitude ruined a song.
and shouldn't a solid drummer be able to play a beat at any tempo?
Please do pick apart everthing I wrote here. I am hoping that maybe i'm too picky or something, cause i do think i sound harsh. But i can't help but to feel right. So if someone disagree's, kindly let me know. HELP.
Sincierly,
::Frustrated, and possibly looking for a North Jersey metal drummer...::
Firstly, I wouldn't call myself a drummer, but I am somewhat expirienced. I wanted to start learning drums, so i'd practice at the studio I worked at, then eventually went out and bought a kit. Tama Rockstar Custom (fusion size). It's perfect for recording, big kick drum (18x22), smaller toms(10, 12, 14), and wooden snare(14). I always get wonderful recording sounds out of this kit, the small toms are punchy, have alot of attack, and when tuned lower, still deliver the goods. It's my expirience that larger toms sound like cardboard, and can ruin a mix.
So, my drummer is cool using my kit, since i have the heads tuned nicely, and all. His kit is a Pearl Export. He decided that my 14" floor tom isnt big enough, he wants to bring his 18 for "extra low end." Ughhh... I explained to him smaller toms sound better... blah blah blah. "Nah man, i want the extra low end." Fine, i let him use his floor tom.
Then, he says, "yo, before each song, can you a scratch guitar track for me so i have something to jam to?" I say, "Do i really have to hold your hand and walk you through each song? Don't you know the songs? I mean, you count your measures, right?" He replies, "well yea, but it's easier." I am against this for one reason, scratch guitar tracks are scratch tracks, and even though it will be to a metronome, the playing might be a little sloppy and you get the idea.
Then, in every song, he'd say, "well the verse feels normal, but the chorus seems a little fast." I explained that a metronome keeps time, and if he isnt with it, then it means he isnt keeping time.
Eventually he decides he doesnt like the metronome, and wants to play to just the guitar. His feelings "since the guitars are done to metronome, if i follow the guitars, it will be on time." Obviously, this isnt true, distorted guitars are going to be much harder to follow. But of course, I am willing to allow this, and waste more time, cause he wants to at least "try it." Of course it doesnt work...
Finally, he decides that he wont do any fills where i play a solo, that match up with the solo, cause that part feels too slow, and when he plays it on time with the metronome, he cant do it right. Funny, the rest of the song was ok, and i always told him he speeds that part up, but he didnt beleive me.
So, during the writting of one of our songs a few months ago, i said, yo learn this rythm, i want the kicks to follow, it doesnt sound like they do. He said, "dude it fits... just cause im not following every kick, that doesnt mean its not right." I said, "just cause your playing at the same tempo as me, it doesnt mean we're playing the same song." So he decided to ignore me. So we went to record this song, and hes playing to it, and stops. I say, whats wrong? He tells me, "i didnt know you were playing that. It doesnt sound right with what im doing." at this point, im so angry i say, "just play the damn song and take out the kick wherever it doesnt fit. I tried to explain this to you when we wrote it, but instead you said, "dude it fits"".
Wherever he fucked up, he wanted me to cut and paste, and "just do it on new tracks." I tell him "no, a solid drummer should be able to play the song they wrote, at a steady tempo." Keep in mind, this is a metal band, no crazy fast playing either. 4 minute songs at max. Its groove beats, basicallyt like rock. Nothing fancy.
And the two songs i let him do without the metronome came out like crap.
bottom line...
Using his floor tom against my recommendation ruins the mix. It sounds like a damn cardboard box. His cut/paste attitude makes mixing a song a job. His "it fits" attitude ruined a song.
and shouldn't a solid drummer be able to play a beat at any tempo?
Please do pick apart everthing I wrote here. I am hoping that maybe i'm too picky or something, cause i do think i sound harsh. But i can't help but to feel right. So if someone disagree's, kindly let me know. HELP.
Sincierly,
::Frustrated, and possibly looking for a North Jersey metal drummer...::
