Stealthtech
LOGIC ABUSER
I tend to use both...plus softsynths
elevate
New member
Both here as well - 8 pads and a 6 piece kit.
Track Rat
Just Your Average Sized Member
I very much prefere an acoustic kit but when I don't have a drummer around, I do it with a machine (DR-770 or a SR-16). When I use a machine though I use real cymbals. That makes a big difference.
R
Richard Monroe
Well-known member
Fake drums always, always suck! Get a human, or give it up.-Richie
M
mikeh
New member
In my studio I always use electronic drums (V-Drums). Candidly, I don't have a good enough sounding room (or a large enough room) to track live drums. However, I sometimes do add accoustic cymbals and/or hand percussion if the project demands it).
When I lay down tracks for other people (in other studios) I normally use real drums/percussion. Many studios have some type of "in house kit" (although I find the cymbals on most "in house kits" tend to be horrid). Although I feel my kits are often better than the kits provided, I defer to the producer/engineer (many times it's a matter of economics, since the kits may already be mic'd, etc).
If a studio doesn't have a kit - or doesn't have enough mics, channels, tracks, to properly record an accoustic kit, then I may suggest my V-Drums (it pays to ask plenty of questions in advance). If I do use the V-Drums I try to get the engineer to record the MIDI at the same time that we track the analog. This gives them options to trigger different sounds later in the project.
There are certian advantages to e-drums. You can record the MIDI performance and defer drum sound decisions until later in the project. You can also use virtual (MIDI) tracks to keep the analog/digital tracks free for more vocal, guitars, etc.
Although many people think e-drums just don't sound "real enough" I have heard plenty of e-drum tracks that were more than real enough.
When I lay down tracks for other people (in other studios) I normally use real drums/percussion. Many studios have some type of "in house kit" (although I find the cymbals on most "in house kits" tend to be horrid). Although I feel my kits are often better than the kits provided, I defer to the producer/engineer (many times it's a matter of economics, since the kits may already be mic'd, etc).
If a studio doesn't have a kit - or doesn't have enough mics, channels, tracks, to properly record an accoustic kit, then I may suggest my V-Drums (it pays to ask plenty of questions in advance). If I do use the V-Drums I try to get the engineer to record the MIDI at the same time that we track the analog. This gives them options to trigger different sounds later in the project.
There are certian advantages to e-drums. You can record the MIDI performance and defer drum sound decisions until later in the project. You can also use virtual (MIDI) tracks to keep the analog/digital tracks free for more vocal, guitars, etc.
Although many people think e-drums just don't sound "real enough" I have heard plenty of e-drum tracks that were more than real enough.
VOXVENDOR
New member
I own both.....
Use?
Depends on the sound needed.
Use?
Depends on the sound needed.
Barometer
New member
Acoustic only. Mostly because I've never played an electronic kit, not because I'm opposed to them 
D
dcptnsdcvd
New member
half the awesome sounds that danny carey uses are electronic pads and EVERYTHING on his recordings sound like natural sounds. listen to lateralus. that album is full of his electronic drums and ya can't tell most of the time. everything sounds acoustic.
if i had money thats what i'd do. use both acoustic and electronic. only where needed tho.
if i had money thats what i'd do. use both acoustic and electronic. only where needed tho.
T
theletterq
New member
I mainly use an acoustic kit, but use a drum machine with little pads that I can play for percussion parts like congas, bongos, shakers, etc.
F
foreverain4
New member
i recorded a set of v drums last saturday. i must say that i was impressed with the quality of the sounds. we had to tweak the cymbals a bit to get them to sound not so....."electronic" but other than that, it was the easiest drum session i have ever had. the brain even had 6 direct outs so that i could record bass drum, snare drum, toms, and cymbals all separately. the bigest weaknesses i see in them is cymbal sounds and ghost notes on the snare.
lynn
lynn
M
mikeh
New member
foreverrain4,
You have indeed identified the two main problems with any electronic kit.
Cymbal sounds are too complex (harmonics, decay, etc. etc.) to get an accurate sample. Splash and china sounds often work well and crashes can work well if processed a little, but ride cymbals can not be captured well with samples.
Ghost notes are also difficult to accurately track with e-drums. I spend a lot of time trying to get my V-drums to track well (re: ghost notes) and I'm still note completely satisfied.
For that reason I normally recommend real cymbals (and possibly a real snare). Natually if the song requires a back beat with no real subtle ghost notes then the e-drums work fine.
You have indeed identified the two main problems with any electronic kit.
Cymbal sounds are too complex (harmonics, decay, etc. etc.) to get an accurate sample. Splash and china sounds often work well and crashes can work well if processed a little, but ride cymbals can not be captured well with samples.
Ghost notes are also difficult to accurately track with e-drums. I spend a lot of time trying to get my V-drums to track well (re: ghost notes) and I'm still note completely satisfied.
For that reason I normally recommend real cymbals (and possibly a real snare). Natually if the song requires a back beat with no real subtle ghost notes then the e-drums work fine.
Sennheiser
New member
Boxed drums only. If I had room and money for a nice kit I'd have one.
You can't stuff Rosanne into Faith Hill's jeans.
You can't stuff Rosanne into Faith Hill's jeans.
Track Rat
Just Your Average Sized Member
I'd like to give a shot at pulling Faith out of Rosanne's jeans.
VOXVENDOR
New member
Track Rat said:
LOL...... Dems big pant's!!!
F
foreverain4
New member
i must say, i mentioned before about having recorded vdrums for the first time a few days ago, i really feel like i cheated! it was so easy! i think that there is a certain level of pride that happens when you finally get those drums tuned in and right mic placement. hhhmm.... is there something wrong with me man!?!?!
Dom Franco
New member
Best of both....
I usually program a Kick and a snare part (a simple groove)
sometimes I'll program a shaker or hi hat part on a separate track to be erased and covered with a real part.
I play all cymbals live, they really make the drum part fluid.
You just can't program all the subtle nuances of how a stick or brush sounds on a cymbal or hi hat.
The advantage of this is:
1. Real sounding drum parts, in perfect tempo.
2. Awesome kick and snare sounds without spending hours tuning and micing a kit.
3. No speeding up or slowing down during the song, so overdubs are much easier to lock in the groove.
4. Later on when I have a really great drummer in the studio, I can and often do have them lay down a track, sometimes the original is better, and sometime the completely live kit really adds to the song.
Be Flexible
DOM
I usually program a Kick and a snare part (a simple groove)
sometimes I'll program a shaker or hi hat part on a separate track to be erased and covered with a real part.
I play all cymbals live, they really make the drum part fluid.
You just can't program all the subtle nuances of how a stick or brush sounds on a cymbal or hi hat.
The advantage of this is:
1. Real sounding drum parts, in perfect tempo.
2. Awesome kick and snare sounds without spending hours tuning and micing a kit.
3. No speeding up or slowing down during the song, so overdubs are much easier to lock in the groove.
4. Later on when I have a really great drummer in the studio, I can and often do have them lay down a track, sometimes the original is better, and sometime the completely live kit really adds to the song.
Be Flexible
DOM
F
foreverain4
New member
the perfect tempo is what sometimes can cause electronics to sound ....... electronic. do you ever "pull" tempo a bit to make it feel a bit more natural?
jitteringjim
Insert Custom Title Here
jake-owa said:
Damn Jake, didn't know you were so young.
VOXVENDOR
New member
Re: Best of both....
I do basically the same....
Dom Franco said:I usually program a Kick and a snare part (a simple groove)
sometimes I'll program a shaker or hi hat part on a separate track to be erased and covered with a real part.
I play all cymbals live, they really make the drum part fluid.
You just can't program all the subtle nuances of how a stick or brush sounds on a cymbal or hi hat.
The advantage of this is:
1. Real sounding drum parts, in perfect tempo.
2. Awesome kick and snare sounds without spending hours tuning and micing a kit.
3. No speeding up or slowing down during the song, so overdubs are much easier to lock in the groove.
4. Later on when I have a really great drummer in the studio, I can and often do have them lay down a track, sometimes the original is better, and sometime the completely live kit really adds to the song.
Be Flexible
DOM
I do basically the same....