How to tell bands you can't physically record drums, but program?

mstone564

mstone564

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Jan 21, 2010
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I've had such a want to record bands, but never really got around to doing so or promoting myself because I lack drum mics/stands/big giant rooms that are isolated from other people at the residence. =D

How should I word "hey I can't record drums/your drummer/your retarded monkey because I don't have the mic's to do so, but I can easily program them and make them sound real!" so it's not awkward?

Also, another big question: How could I get drum tracks from bands to program?
I'm sure non of them have Gutiar Pro and even if they do I couldn't imagine them correctly writing usable drum parts (due to not knowing any kind of concept of rhythm or how to write it down).
 
I send them an example, then they usually go for it, if you have 2 mics you can record cymbals for real, and seeing as everything in this genre 90% of the time is fully replaced anyway they shouldn't be able to complain unless they are going for a raw sound.

Plus it saves them half a day of tracking! I always get them to write out their drums in guitar pro :D
 
If it comes to it spend a few hours with the drummer and he can pretend play it out on his knees and you just have to work with that. Ive done it before, not as easy as getting a nice midi file but still do able.
 
I was hoping to just have them write it out in Guitar Pro since many people use that nowadays. Either that or they can send me guitar tracks and I can write drum parts myself.

Any other suggestions would be awesome. =D
 
Tell them this -

I find that my best sound is achieved with programmed and sample replaced drums. These drums can be found in many of the albums that you listen to. *Give Examples. I will require a rough recording of your drum parts and I will map them out myself or with your drummer.
 
Cadbury said:
Tell them this -

I find that my best sound is achieved with programmed and sample replaced drums. These drums can be found in many of the albums that you listen to. *Give Examples. I will require a rough recording of your drum parts and I will map them out myself or with your drummer.
Click to expand...
Very well put! I'll probably do something along the lines of this for the time being.

Trevoire520 said:
Get a cheap electronic kit and use that?
Click to expand...
My vocalist was actually considering buying one so he could learn and I think he said he'd let me borrow it. :heh: I think he kind of forgot about it, though lol.
What would be the cheapest E-Kit with a usable amount of cymbals and at least 3 toms? And I'd probably have to buy a double kick pedal... :puke: So expensive.
 
Just make the band bring Midi files regardless of you recording real drums or programming them.
I always require it for the pre pro they send me, saves you time and them money.
 
Or rent a studio with a live room and microphones for recording drums, then overdubs at your studio.

Cover your cost when charging the band.
 
I never want the bands to do it themselves, cause the drummer writes parts that are so ridiculous and complex it sounds fake no matter how you humanize (eg 1000 splash/china hits a freakin measure from Matt greiner wannabe's). I perfer to track with overheads and just take the extra hr/song to get a realistic drum sound that compliments the music

Listen to joeys drums, he helps write and you'll notice not too many crazy mega-fills in his later programmed stuff (with some exceptions) but I'm getting off topic sorry haha

As far as telling them I say "I don't have the equipment, if you wanna track live drums use this other studio send me stems etc."
 
I'm kinda in the same position as you-
I bought some d-drum triggers, and a trigger interface.
Throw up an overhead. Record the drums, then sit down with the drummer and quantize, and work out anything the triggers didn't pick up on.
With the last group that i did, it made tracking drums quite a bit easier, because i knew i could just quantize it easier than getting them to play it perfect.
<3 midi
 
Like others have stated, Tell them the most cost effective and best sounding drums you can provide are programmed. Bands are a lot more open than you would think especially when it comes to saving money. Some of the bands I record actually prefer to have their drums programmed whether it be that super digital sound they are after of just all around bad drumming and extra editing costs.
 
I do the same thing. I have to tell bands because I live in an apartment I have to program, also the lack of having the drums mics. Most bands go for it, but I demand a tab it file or some other MIDI written form of the drums.

I usually get the naive kids who say, but all hardcore bands who are signed use real drums and thats the sound I want. I just facepalm and look for other clients. If they aren't willing, then don't waste your time. 95% of the time the band wants to record, but the drummer doesn't, which I get. They wanna be a part of it, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices.
 
Yeah I got the same problem with the last band I did. They're like 15-16 and their drummer is far from tight and have a shitty drum set. I told them what were programmed drums and they automatically went for that, being faster to do and sounding better. What's bugging me is like everyone said here, they own guitar pro but they don't know how to use it (takes them 3 days to write a single track then I have to do everything again -_-). They send me a video with their drummer playing the songs then I listen to it and tab everything by me self, such a pain in the ass I must say, waisting so much time !
 
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