Multiple takes or breaking up drum tracks

[Rob Logic]

I remembered during watching a Dream Theater "making of" video, can't remember which one where Portnoy said something about running down songs a bunch of times and them picking out the best sections of each take. I'm pretty sure other bands like Metallica have done it too I just don't have a clue on how exactly they are doing this or if it is PTHD only, while I'm using PTLE. I am going to be recording my bands disc here in a couple of weeks and was curious if I could try this but I'm kinda lost. I have a really tedious sounding idea of how to do it but I was just wondering if any of you dudes have considered and/or tried this in your own travels.

 

[punkrockacademyfightsong]

i do it all the time. it's a good way to take the pressure from the drummers performance. this way he can afford to make a mistake and doesn't have to concentrate on playing a perfect take. the result is often a more energetic playing style. anyway: i work in audition most of the time and just drag the takes to tracks below the tracks i'm recording on and mute them. usually i order them as we record. top to bottom = good to bad.
i've also done this in protools LE lately but i wasn't the recording engineer so i couldn't tell you how exactly it works. i believe it was something with layering the tracks "behind" eachother.

 

[Rob Logic]

I've been using LE for around 3 years now but I have never used a record mode other then the standard dealio. It's def a n00b question (my penis shrinks even more) but what is audition mode used for?

 

[AudioPhile777]

ha... no... Adobe Audition... its another program completely... nothing to do the PT...

 

[2012]

Rob

Group the drum tracks and with each take create new playlists.

Once you're done tracking, you can open up new tracks and select any of the previous playlists created on the original tracks. Group these tracks too.

Then just cut and move everything together.

 

[mumazza]

As long as the drum recording need a bunch of channels, I prefer to record just one take "in parts" letting the drummer hear it until he think it's good, and so I may fix fails on the tracking.

 

[Rob Logic]

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul05/articles/protoolsworkshop.htm

This link pretty much explains the playlists method in a little bit more detail which sounds pretty much like what I am trying to accomplish. It'll probably be a little bit of a learning curve for me when doing drums. I'll try and record some guitar tracks tomorrow to figure it out so when I get down to the wire I won't be jerkin it while we are trying to track. Thanks for the feedback gents!

 

[AudioPhile777]

Rob

Group the drum tracks and with each take create new playlists.

Once you're done tracking, you can open up new tracks and select any of the previous playlists created on the original tracks. Group these tracks too.

Then just cut and move everything together.

Yeah, +1

I dont know why I didnt post that... must have spaced-out while reading...

 

[greyskull]

Rob

Group the drum tracks and with each take create new playlists.

Once you're done tracking, you can open up new tracks and select any of the previous playlists created on the original tracks. Group these tracks too.

Then just cut and move everything together.

spot on!
but what about our friend in the hat and cape who hides underneath apple and eight?

 

[Grave Desire]

I've always had problems getting the cymbals to sound right when punching in drums...any suggestions? Like in PT if recording to a click do you guys set the punch point right on the down beat? or straight on any beat? Sometimes when I do that the drummer might hit the crash early and it cuts it off. Or do you guys beat detective it first then start editing?

 

[scorpio01169]

it's harder to do if it's not on a click track.....have the drummer run each take all the way through and cut and paste from pause or break points.

 

[colonel kurtz]

I've always had problems getting the cymbals to sound right when punching in drums...any suggestions? Like in PT if recording to a click do you guys set the punch point right on the down beat? or straight on any beat? Sometimes when I do that the drummer might hit the crash early and it cuts it off. Or do you guys beat detective it first then start editing?

i usually punch in 1 beat BEFORE where they actually need to come in...not only does it give the musician a tiny little bit of "leeway" in case he comes in a little early/late on the first beat, but it also gives me the some leeway to do crossfades or whatever other edits are necessary to make things flow properly

 

[Polpotkin]

We always break up the song so our drummer knows where to stop. And I always tell him to stop at beat 4 (if it's 4/4) and NOT play 1-2-3-4-1. This makes punching in so much easier.. And of course I tell him to play to the song a few bars before so I ahve something to overlapse with.

 

[keyboardjo]

Make sure your drummer hits the same cymbals before you punch in. You're gonna have a hard time trying to fade a splash cymbal with a chinese cymbal resonance.

 

[gumplunger]

As long as the drummer plays, say, a bar before the part in question and a bar after, you should have plenty of room to pick the best place to crossfade the takes with each other. When it comes to picking where to do the crossfades, you'll just have to use your best judgement and trial and error. As long as you can't tell it was punched in when you solo the drum tracks you should be fine.

 

[fistula]

thanks for topic and answers - this is what i needed to know)

you guys rock!

 

[greyskull]

record with quick punch and have the drummer play along before the drop in.
generally i prefer whole takes for drums though.