Slate Drums interaction with guitar

[tk7261]

Over the last few years I've been using Slate drums. The more I mix the more I realize I dont really like how they interact with my guitar tone. Or maybe They are just not my cup of tea overall? But I have come up with tons of mixing tricks, and made a bunch of presets for myself. Maybe Im trying to force a sound I like while starting with sounds I don't like?

Wondering if anyone has thought something similar? Are there secret sample combos and mixing tricks to make em work? or should I look for drum sounds elsewhere?

 

[egan.]

They're great samples but they are what they are. If you don't like them I'd try something else.

 

[HOFX]

Are you talking the pre-processed samples, or the Deluxe raw samples?

I find that I can get pretty much any sound I want from the deluxe/raw samples, and maybe blend in a pre-mixed sample to help pull it in a certain direction. I generally stay away from the pre-processed samples as their sound is a bit harder to 'fight'.'

They also can't be what they ain't.

 

[tk7261]

I have messed with the deluxe samples a little here and there, but not nearly as extensively as the other ones. I only have ex so I dont have snare 12a that everyone raves about, although I wish I could mess with that snare. I just know that there are engineers that are much more talented and experienced than me that get great professional sounds with em. So I assume that there is something Im doing (or very likely not doing) that is making it hard to get it to sit right with the guitars. Messing with the envelope, certain kind of compression, or eq... idk. I have a superior drummer kit that I havent used in years. Some kind of rock kit, but I dont remember the name. Im just looking for them to sound natural, punchy, great with super heavy distortion, as well as cleans. But who isnt

 

[HOFX]

Try parallel compression on the snare (and maybe kick). Use a compressor that has character and will give nice distortion.

If you have Slate's VBC:
- Put FG-Grey on a buss (call it Drum Crush), turn fader volume down
- Send the Snare to Drum Crush
- Set FG-Grey to quickest attack, lowest threshold, max make up.
- Slowly bring up the channel fader (with channel on solo so you can hear what it's doing)
- Play with the release - start with quickest release and increase it slowly, or set auto release. Go by feel, what makes the snare hit sound massive
- It should be distorted, but in a nice way
- Un-solo the channel, and bring the fader up with the snare
- Snare will sound more punchy, and the distortion will help it blend better with the guitars

I'm sure Waves SSL Buss or The Glue will give similar results. Or try it with pure distortion plug, such as TSE's B.O.D (donation ware). Many swear by SoundToy's DevilLok.

Experiment with sending other kit pieces to Drum Crush, like kick and toms.

If you're working in Reaper, you could send me your project stem files and I can try a few things for you.

 

[tk7261]

Great Tips! I never tried parallel compression on Slate stuff cause I thought it already had too much beef and punch. If thats possible haha. I dont have reaper. But maybe I could get a midi file from a test to send you?

Ive really had my eye on metal machine lately. Some of the snares on there are my dream snares. Stuff Ive always hoped I could one day afford to get (in real life haha) for my recordings. And I really like tama drums. And they seem more subtly mixed than slates stuff, which is a big plus for me. My only hesitation on ez drummer stuff (and I could be wrong so please correct me if thats the case), is that it doesnt preserve the drummers original performance as well. Like if there a snare roll or a lot of quick double bass stuff I can usually get slates stuff to match pretty well with what the drummer played. But from toontrack stuff it seems to sound a little more sample replaced. Or is that just cause most people put all the hits to 127?

 

[Vice//Versa]

I love a lot of the pre-mixed samples. Honestly, a lot of them I can just drop them in and maybe blend a couple samples and I'm ready to go. I tend to use the deluxe samples as much as possible in order to get more flexibility (cuz that's the only negative aspect to the them is that they do have a very particular character).

I also have platinum which means I might just be using different samples.

Maybe the issue isin't the samples as much as how you are mixing your guitars and drums (I know no one likes that answer), but buying more samples can just become a quick fix to something that could be fixed with some tinkering.

 

[tk7261]

Yea thats what I thought for a long time vice//versa. And it was part of the problem at points. But I've since tried pretty much every mic placement, guitar, pickup, plugin, head settings, string, and everything there is to try over the last few years to get my mixes to the next level. I've even sent out my DIs to get re-amped by multiple engineers and studios, who's tone I love, and the guitar will sound good alone. But when I add in the drums it doesn't feel like it sits right. Sometimes if I mix em super clicky and fake sounding they fit. I just feel like I'd rather have thinner drums I could beef up, then try to tone something down.

Honestly if I did get metal machine Id still use a combo of slate and machine samples. Id probably blend in some slate kicks and maybe some toms once in a while, and some snares on some softer songs. But I think its the snares Im mainly after. Honestly its probably just more of a personal preference type of thing.

My only worry is that the ezdrummer hits sound too consistent. I feel like slate retains more of the variations and dynamics. Also anyone have any clips of a song they used metal machine in? I always hear people say they use it for practice and writing, but Im curious to see an actual mix with it.

 

[MultiM]

anyone have any clips of a song they used metal machine in? I always hear people say they use it for practice and writing, but Im curious to see an actual mix with it.

Here's an example.
What I really like about it that it can fit in a lot of genres.In this mix it was really ballad-ish, but it can be really snappy and tight, but keep in mind that the snare sounds shitty without any processing.


[SOUNDCLOUD]https://m.soundcloud.com/multim/katatonia-nowhere-my-mix[/SOUNDCLOUD]

 

[Star Ark]

I have experienced the same probelm with Slate samples. I find them tubby not thumpy and cracky not snappy. That might sound a bit stupid but I cant think of a better way to describe it.

 

[tk7261]

Haha yea I know exactly what your saying Star Ark. Ill have to buy metal machine and try it out I suppose.