getting snare to crack, pop whatever you wana call it??

[Aaron Smith]

I've got a gretsch wood snare and a yamaha steel snare, should i use the wood?

I would always prefer the wood snare. There will be a significant amount less ring in the sound to have to notch out with EQ later. Putting one of those little gel pads (or tape will work) on the outside edge of the top head will help an awful lot with that, also.
As for getting the snare to crack...set the compressor at a 3:1 ratio with like a 2 or 3ms attack and a pretty fast release also, and then smash it until you're getting a quick -6dB of reduction every time the snare hits. Then use the makeup gain to get it back up to the level it was at before you compressed it. If you have a good sounding snare sample to work with in the first place, that's been properly EQed, then compressing it as I've just explained should make it sound just right. Every snare sounds different obviously, but lately I've been in favor of the 400hz area in the snare because there's a whole lot of body in the sound right there. The most important EQ thing for me snare-wise though, is still seeking out the actual notes that ring in the snare and cutting them. Get the Q setting as thin and pointy as possible, and slide it around while it's boosted like 18dB. You'll hear when a tone pops out that doesn't belong...then cut it. If you listen to the sample loop a bunch of times also, you'll probably be able to hear a lot of the tones without even boosting first...that's the better way to go actually because then you can actually hear the tones that are going to matter. And of course EQ before compress.
Keep in mind that taking out the little nasty snare tones is crucial to getting a good snare sound, at least for metal. You've gotta "clean up" the snare before you can expect a compressor to make it sound how you want!
Anyway, hope this helps.

 

[chadsxe]

do you wana do this on a copy of track so you get a mix of both??

Not really...I never have.....but if you really need more control of it then I guess you could.

 

[J the TyranT]

try hitting the drum towards the rim

No. Dont fuckin do that unless you're wanting to busy it up with roll type grooves a la RHCP or something.

 

[STINNETT]

For something that's already tracked, you might try a free plugin called "Dominion"

http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=4

It allows you to increase the attack and reduce the sustain, or vice versa. I find it nice for pumping up the attack on a snare. It has some other nice features as well.

 

[JeffTD]

I've found that a high ratio setting on a compressor gives it a nice front end smack, depending on your other settings.

 

[madbutcher]

A great drummer, with a nice sounding well tuned snare.

....usually the best way. Mic's and pre's don't give to much snap from my experience.

 

[Suicide_As_Alibi]

I don't know man; you hit your snare with a 57, you get pretty good attack on the recording

Steve

 

[Matt Smith]

API preamps are heavenly on snare. The first time I used one, I almost jumped out of my chair...that was the biggest difference I've ever heard a preamp make on anything.
Also, 2 or 3 ms seems fast to me for attack time on the comp, but whatever works!

 

[Seizure.]

API preamps are heavenly on snare.

On other drums just aswell? so i heard anyway! good to hear btw!

 

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

4 words : Metric Halo Channel Strip

 

[unsilpauly]

4 words : Metric Halo Channel Strip

i second that.

 

[broken81]

Arron thanks for going into details that really explained a lot and exactly what i was looking for!

And thanks everyone else with all that other use full info I'm gonna have to check all these plug ins out and stuff for sure

 

[KeithRT99]

tuning, player, room, compressors.

 

[chadsxe]

Also, 2 or 3 ms seems fast to me for attack time on the comp, but whatever works!

You are right....that seems way to fast....it will kill most of your attack.

 

[MR NINE]

i second that.

I 3 that!

It's only for Mac!

 

[Glenn Fricker]

what the fuck are you on about?

This is a tip I picked up from Roger Nichols, of all people. So, no, I'm not smoking crack. The idea here is to have the drummer drop off his kit a day ahead. Just throw 'em in the corner or something. That way, the wood has a chance to acclimatize to the studio's temperature/humidity.
From what I've experienced, this can make a pretty big difference. There's been more than one time where we've set up the kit, made some test recordings, then come back the next day & the tone has changed for the better. Then again, we can get some pretty wild humidity variations where I live, so you might not have experienced this. --The original poster lives within an hour's drive from me.


With much repsect,
-0z-

 

[MKS]

This is a tip I picked up from Roger Nichols, of all people. So, no, I'm not smoking crack. The idea here is to have the drummer drop off his kit a day ahead. Just throw 'em in the corner or something. That way, the wood has a chance to acclimatize to the studio's temperature/humidity.
From what I've experienced, this can make a pretty big difference. There's been more than one time where we've set up the kit, made some test recordings, then come back the next day & the tone has changed for the better. Then again, we can get some pretty wild humidity variations where I live, so you might not have experienced this. --The original poster lives within an hour's drive from me.


With much repsect,
-0z-

I'm no expert but I know my kit reacts to just moderate climate changes. It could have something to do with my partial walnut shells since walnut is very soft.

Honestly, I don't think it would be just the wood but the heads too.

 

[Glenn Fricker]

Honestly, I don't think it would be just the wood but the heads too.

Agreed.

 

[nwright]

I'll back up what Oz is saying by stating that in my first band, we went into the studio to record our album in Nov. in the midwest, so relatively cold...We got everything set up and had a great day of tracking...Came back the next day to track and every single one of the drum heads sounded and felt as if they had all been loosened. When our drummer got behind the kit, it sounded like he was hitting wet paper bags. We lost a lot of time retuning and getting tones before we could track again. May not be a big deal for pro level sessions where kits hang out in the studio for a while before actual tracking begins, but for in and out sessions like most of us "local band dudes" it could be a factor...

 

[broken81]

yea oz i got that from Roger Nichols too I have yet to really see or hear the difference but i know what you were talking about!