Recording a band's demo with limited setup, drummer not happy

[coreysMonster]

So I met this older band the other day, that play kind of old-school hard rock, and offered to record a demo them for basically free (I need the practice, they need a recording). They don't have much money, and neither do I, so my setup is limited to basically a line6 toneport, 2 mics and modelling/sample software.

For the guitarist, bassist and singer, there isn't a problem, but as soon as I mentioned the word "drum samples", the drummer basically said "No way in hell am I to be replaced with drum samples".

Now, everyone else in the band is okay with it, since I'm doing it for free, but the drummer apparently doesn't realise that recording physical drums is a very time-consuming, expensive process, and that just using samples will provide much better results in much less time for a lot less money.

The recording would be just for a demo tape to send out to get gigs, nothing that they would actually sell.

My question is, do you think the drummer's objection is reasonable? Is it fair to go the cheap and easy way, or would you yourself also be against being recorded this way?

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

The band has to decide this is as a whole. If they're fine with replacing the drummer with programmed drums, then do it. If they don't want that, then it won't serve anyone's agenda to do it. You can't be the person who decides it for them, you just have to lay out the options, explain the pros and cons and let them make the decision.

 

[guitarguru777]

tell him he has a choice ....

You can program the drums or he can go buy $2000 worth of gear to get a good drum sound.

Interface, Mics, Cables.... tell him to go down to guitar center and buy it all or STFU

 

[muckypup1]

I'm going to be mixing/editing/recording a bands EP soon and they are insisting in using their own mic'ed up drumkit instead of programmed, I don't have any problem with it because its completely up to them, but I explained to them that the sound isn't going to be perfect, and that programmed drums would sound better, but they want to stick with the real deal, if the band you are recording are sure they want to stick with real drums then let them, its up to them

 

[drew_drummer]

Record real drums. Layer kick and snare with sampled drums. Gate the toms manually with a scissors tool. Compressor. Add verb.

Tell drummer it's all natural. Laugh with the rest of the bandmates behind his back.

 

[rvs0002]

I wouldn't fight with them about it or do anything behind their back, I would just tell them it's sampled drums or forget it. Give them a small snip of something they know that you have programmed so they can hear the quality of it, tell them to take a day and think about it and then let you know. If they say no, let them walk. You don't want to waste that much time recording and editing something that you don't feel is going to be good enough, and probably when they hear it, they won't be happy with it either and you've wasted a lot of precious time. You'll spend countless hours trying to polish a pile of crap and just get frustrated. There will be 100 cool bands that will jump at the chance to do this and take their place, believe me.

Now if your 2 mics are pretty hi-quality and you have a decent-sized good sounding room, than I might reconsider, but I have a hunch that isn't the case.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

 

[guitarguru777]

Did you guys notice he said he has a tone port and 2 mics?

If he wants to sample replace his only choice is to slice up the stereo drum track and trigger the samples from the sliced track. Is it worth going through the trouble?

 

[AntonioPetrole]

how the hell is he complaining when you are making a FREE demo for them?

 

[arv_foh]

how the hell is he complaining when you are making a FREE demo for them?

+1

if they're gonna give you shit about something you're doing for free it's not worth your time, find a band that will appreciate your efforts

 

[tango44]

Not that this counts for much, but check this out might help you in a pinch...

 

[tango44]

Sorry double post...

 

[narcossintese]

Track the drummer in another studio (with or without you) and the rest with you. That´s what I do.

 

[HvO]

Track the drummer in another studio (with or without you) and the rest with you. That´s what I do.

+1

 

[Paulie!]

The Zeppelin Method
Step 1 - Find Old House with a huge two story foryer
Step 2 - Hang 2 mics from the upper floor
Step 3 - Have drummer play.. and play well
Step 4 - Track rest of band

The only real problem with this method (obviously) step 1.. but yeh, you CAN get a successful drum sound with two mics.

-P

 

[rvs0002]

Did you guys notice he said he has a tone port and 2 mics?

If he wants to sample replace his only choice is to slice up the stereo drum track and trigger the samples from the sliced track. Is it worth going through the trouble?

I was talking about letting the drummer play and then programming a similar track by hand to match what the drummer played.

 

[Force666]

.....and then the drummer wonders why for free the demo doesn't sound like the Black Album.

 

[arvoitus]

Tell him what it will cost to rent a studio with a decent drum-room, pre-amps, mic's etc. Then let him decide how he wants to do it.

If he accepts it, then it will be awesome because you can practice with some real drumtracks. If he understands it will cost a lot more and refuses, then go for programming.

 

[professorlamp]

record him with the 2 mics then replace him

 

[mva801]

Well he's got three options. They can come up with a few hundred bucks and record the drums in a half decent studio, you can program them, or he can have drums that sound like they were recorded in a crappy space with two mics and a toneport. Choose one. I'm sure they're too cheap for #1, so he'll just have to deal with the other two options.

 

[coreysMonster]

what if I just record him using that Recorderman method, and then just program the drums according to his performance, but tell him that I just "enhanced" the recording? Would that be unethical?