How do I make sampled drums sound better/more full--3000 budget

[ValleyStudios]

hey guys, the only thing I'm EVER having trouble with, is trying to make sampled drums sound more full. Is there any kind of Rack, compresser, pre amp, any kind of rack, that i can use to make ANYTHING sound bettter, my mix, my anything. if you could kindly tell me what i could buy.

HEre is a sample.

 

[rebelready]

If your using a PC, you can try TLs Saturated Driver.
A free vst plugin that can boost power to any instrument or mix by messing around with the input knob. Hope this helps.
http://hem.bredband.net/tbtaudio/archive/newtbtvstplugins.htm

 

[botus99]

hey guys, the only thing I'm EVER having trouble with, is trying to make sampled drums sound more full.

Sounds like your playing needs help too

Is there any kind of Rack, compresser, pre amp, any kind of rack, that i can use to make ANYTHING sound bettter, my mix, my anything

Whatever you have will surely be enough, even if it's just the stock plugins in your DAW/random freebie plugs. First off, a drum only mix really means nothing. It might sound great on its own, but the important criteria is the drums IN THE MIX.

Second, sampled drums are SOOOO much easier to mix (no bleed issues, editing midi is easier than editing audio, the sounds are preprocessed to work in a mix usually, etc) so my guess is it has MUCH more to do with the guitars, bass, and vocals in your mix clouding up the drums or vice versa.

Third, no plugin makes ANYTHING sound "better." YOU DO!!! That's why I made my first point. Sorry, there's no easy way out here. Study gain-staging, proper EQ'ing/compression techniques, break the rules to see why certain techniques will or won't help you/your mix, experiment with different reverbs/delays (halls, chambers, plates, rooms, ping-pong, stereo, mono, etc.), and, most importantly....

DEVELOP YOUR HEARING!!! Then, you'll know what to do.

Don't mean to come off as harsh, but there's a lot to learn out there. Nearly everything is defendant on other things in your mix. Your question, as worded, won't lead you to where you want to go.

 

[ValleyStudios]

yeah i named the file, " I can't play for shit"

 

[FarBeyondMetal]

$3000 budget?

Hire a sick ass session drummer and rent out a nice studio for a day. :hotjump:

 

[Trevoire520]

Hire someone else to mix for you?

Seriously man, just put the hours in practicing your mixing. With any of the modern drum sample libraries you can get fantastic results just using the stock plugins in your DAW.

Everyone thats into audio gets stuck in this rut at some point, the "I just need to buy this one last thing, then I'll be able to make great mixes" phase.

Here's reality, chances are there's plenty of guys out there with even less than you have that are absolutely kicking your ass mix wise. They aren't worrying about gear or other stuff, they're worrying about techniques and improving their mixing skills. And it shows.

 

[neptunian]

If you can't play well and need a better drum track, just program them. If you're lazy, then EzDrummer and Metal Machines expansion. Otherwise Superior 2.0 blended with some samples.

With the remaining budget I'd get some nice studio monitors (if you don't already have some) and acoustic treatment to get optimal clarity from them.

Then with the non-human side of the equation all set, I'd have nothing left to blame but my own lack of mixing and programming skills.

 

[The StabbinCabin]

Those overheads are gross but other than that- it's really the only "weak" element you have. I'd get that sorted out first of all, whether or not it's just the mic itself or your placement and EQ/processing. Then look up how to quantize drums with whatever DAW you're using after that- be audio and/or midi because that's going to be the most audible part by most listeners. If you're only using samples, you really may only need to watch the decay and low end of the snare and toms with samples you use. Then, honestly, loudness is probably the next thing people will notice- squash your master bus with a compressor and limiter and the majority of people that don't record music won't hear much of a difference side by side to most other mid-budget recordings. You get those two things down and you'll be much more satisfied. It sounds consistent enough to doctor up, to me anyway.

As for the detailed part- the rest is trial and error plus a lot of reading on this forum and experimenting with other members experiments/experience- really depends on how motivated you are. But in my opinion, most people will generally pick up on timing and loudness rather than focus on how a snare has been automated in once section of a song- if that makes sense.

 

[The StabbinCabin]

Louder does not = better. By any means. But we're in the Loudness/AutoTune/Grid Wars these days. If you want to at least be satisfied with today's standards with what most of your peers may expect, then figure those techniques out first. It's kind of hard to explain, but even if you figure out those things- engineers with better ears can still tear you mix apart and hear how it still sounds like shit. But aside from the common sense you need with tracking (like not clipping your preamps or playing out of tune) you'll do alright. But everyone else has already said the actual important stuff, when it comes down to you trying to identify yourself as a "recording engineer" and improve your skills and ears.

 

[Darren "Jenk" Jenkins]

Having good gear helps but it isn't the answer to becoming a great engineer. It's all about SKILL and EXPERIENCE. Anybody can learn how to use gear. This is one of the biggest problems these days. With digital technology evolving and recording equipment becoming so accessible, everybody with a laptop computer and a pair of monitors thinks they're an engineer. Knowing how to use recording software and plug-ins is the easy part. It's such a small part of what makes a great sounding production. Use your ears, work hard, practice and you'll eventually get there. There's no shortcuts and you can't buy experience. Quote Henry Rollins - "Knowledge without mileage equals bullshit."

 

[decoy205]

I'm not the greatest sample creator but as someone else pointed out having a drummer that knows how to tune and hit properly and consistantly is 80% of the game. I struggle getting good tones with some drummers and with others it seemed too easy.