Reggae Recording help please!http://homerecording.com/bbs/newthread.php?do=newthread&

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Wack

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Reggae Recording help please!http://homerecording.com/bbs/newthread.php?do=newthread&

Greetings everyone. I've been recently honored by having a great local reggae band ask me to engineer their demo that is expected to be released in late April. I've worked with many alternative, punk rock, and hip hop groups. This will be my first reggae recording. I'm supposed to have the set ready to start recording and have no idea how to get my drum set into reggae tuning. I've got the bass sounding pretty funky, and the guitar sounding great. I'm having a severe problem finding the tuning that they want with the drums, I do no how to tune a drum set, but never have I tried to get a reggae sound from it. My set up is the snare, a second attached snare taking place of the 12' tom. (that is apparently how the drummer plays being the double snare.) A 14' tom, floor tom, and bass drum. Obviously a hi hat, ride, and crash. I've got a splash, should I add it in or replace a cymbal with it? These are the things I need to know, How can I get the BEST reggae sound? Thanks!
 
tighten up the snare and remove all dampenings on it:D Tune down the kick and toms:D Pull out the weed and everyone will be happy:D
 
Have a look through these, you may find them of use. They are at least a start point.


https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=295801&highlight=reggae+drums

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=176613&highlight=reggae+drums

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=271003&highlight=reggae+drums

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Reggae-3272/2008/11/Reggae-Mixing-EQ.htm

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Reggae-3272/2009/3/reggae-recording-techniques-re.htm

Also, tighten up the snare for that almost timbale, rimshotty sound. And get the drummer to assist you in finding the sound they want, after all, they must have some idea of how to sound if they're at the demo stage.
 
TheChikenMaster said:
tighten up the snare and remove all dampenings on it:D Tune down the kick and toms:D Pull out the weed and everyone will be happy:D
Click to expand...

It all depends on the style of reggae they are playing. If its 60's style, tune up the snare like a timbale, and have the kit tuned like a jazz kit. If it's 70s style, you can keep this setup, but DO mute the toms.

now listen, IF they are at all playing open snare in a particular song (instead of a rimtap which is more common in reggae drumming) during the general drumbeat (not during fills) PLACE A TOWEL ON THE SNARE! I can't stand when people play what they call "reggae" with a open, undampened rimshot on the 2 and the 4. IMO it sounds really stupid, imagine Hank Williams Sr using metal zone, or A metal band playing with a jazz kit, it's not meant to be, to me, that's what this sounds like (maybe an exaggeration, but still). Any song where the band is playing open snare during the beat, dampen the snare heavily so that it looses all resonant qualities, I think this is essential, and almost always missed.

Essential reggae effects are tape echo, and spring reverb. Believe it or not, usually straight up reggae tracks are really dry (60's and 70's style), aside from vocals, which have both reverb and subtle tape echo, only once you get into Dub reggae and the 80's will you find an extreme use of effects.

80's style reggae, Put a towel on every drum, and record the kit as dry as a bone. 80's reggae kits are dead and tight. Mix in reverb and tape echo to taste. If you doing this style of reggae, you might have to do Dubs, like I was mentioning earlier. For that, read up here.

Hope this helped. Does this band have any recordings? If so, link me, and I will make a diagnosis.
 
Also, you could try this.

If they are going for a really tight reggae sound, you could not use overheads, and focus on close micing of the bass snare and hats. Bob Marley recordings from the mid 70's used this method, sounds good, believe it or not.
 
www.soundclick.com/knownartist. They recorded that 2 years ago and have just been working on songs and are now ready. Not so much a reggae feel in those tracks but They've got it down. Thanks for all the advice guys it wont go to waste.
 
Wack said:
www.soundclick.com/knownartist. They recorded that 2 years ago and have just been working on songs and are now ready. Not so much a reggae feel in those tracks but They've got it down. Thanks for all the advice guys it wont go to waste.
Click to expand...

I hate to sound like an ass, but those recordings sound wretched. I hope they sound better than that these days, for your own sake.
 
LOL, I use a little more up-to-date gear than the studio they used. I'm hoping to get a much better sound. thanks for the friendly criticism :D
 
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