How do make cymbals sound notfake?

[Tommy Evans]

I'm using SSD cymbals (cause I can't figure out how to put the sturgis cymbals into kontakt, but thats a different thread) and even on a variance of 10 peope still say they sound fake. anyone know of processing tips to help ward this off?

I originally had a tiny shelf starting around 8k on the cymbals, after removing that they sounded more natural, but im still hearing the same thing. "the cymbals just sound fake..."

anyone got any tips on this?

 

[timislegend]

mic a real drumkit... voilà!

 

[Tommy Evans]

BOOM. ya got me with that one. You're usually so helpful Tim!

 

[Fandus]

You unfortunately have to change velocities by hand. Any kind of randomization isn't going to make them sound human.

 

[Tommy Evans]

Poop! But, fair enough i guess, afterall if you want it to sound like a real hand played it, you have to edit it with a real hand

On a related note, I figured out how to get the Sturgis cymbals into a midi grid in my daw. Hopefully all this "Sturgis cymbals + Slate shells = awesome sauce" talk is somewhat true.

 

[setyouranchor]

Velocities

 

[Beneath_the_Bliss]

comp with a 1176 style compressor for extra sustain and general brute'ness

 

[timislegend]

seriously though... track real drums.

 

[Joel4662]

seriously though... track real drums.

I just hate when the drummers are absolutely terrible. Bands get so desperate for a drummer they just have their bass player try to do it or some dumb thing.

 

[oroinvictus]

Slate cymbals are trash, if you ask me. You can't really go wrong with slate/sturgis packs, but like I said, that's if you ask me.

 

[timislegend]

I just hate when the drummers are absolutely terrible. Bands get so desperate for a drummer they just have their bass player try to do it or some dumb thing.

practice makes perfect.

 

[ArroldW]

practice makes perfect.

EXACTLY. +1

Look, if the drummer is the "drummer" for the band he should be able to play the band's music. Stuff like tracking to a metronome, recording part by part [riff by riff] and quantizing all the drums will make the drummer sound tight; even if they suck. When programming it's ALWAYS going to sound fake.

 

[selke61]

seriously though... track real drums.

But sometimes, like for my case, having a set at your apartment is in violation of the lease.

 

[Seth Munson]

I rarely mess with velocities. its all in the comp

 

[jimwilbourne]

But sometimes, like for my case, having a set at your apartment is in violation of the lease.

This is the case for many people who ask tuis question
So the track real drums answer is usually just a reply that doesn't help and just makes you sound like a smartass jerk who has somethig you don't and wants to rub it in.

You got the recommendation of careful velocity changes and careful comp use.
For me, its both.
I set up randomization of velocities. Then go in and change things per section as I see fit. The initial randomization at the beginning helps so that you don't have to chafe every single hit.
For the cymbals, randomization gets most of the work done and then you only have the scale Or set specific articulations.

After that setting up your compressor properly is key. 85% of the magic actually comes from this.

 

[Fandus]

What kind of 1176 settings do you guys usually aim for? Ratio? Attack/release? GR?

 

[AllanD]

But sometimes, like for my case, having a set at your apartment is in violation of the lease.

Have you tried location recordings? I've been doing that for like 5 years now. The bands always have a usable living room or something.

 

[outbreak525]

After that setting up your compressor properly is key. 85% of the magic actually comes from this.

Would you add compression to the entire kit?

 

[Tommy Evans]

Yeah Jimwilbourne I hate those kinds of answers. But because of how helpful Tim is usually and how much advice he's given on this forum, I dont call him out on it.

As far the guy asking if you compress the whole kit, the answer is yes BUT not under the same compression settings. I like to bus comp the cymbals, the toms, and sometimes the kick and the bass guitar.

 

[setyouranchor]

As far the guy asking if you compress the whole kit, the answer is yes BUT not under the same compression settings. I like to bus comp the cymbals, the toms, and sometimes the kick and the bass guitar.

I disagree. I have an SSL comp on my whole drum bus (shells only) for 90% of my mixes.

You're not wrong, nut neither am I