Behind The Kit 57
Sabian Stratus Dry: A Focused Voice in a Familiar Family
The modern drummer yearns for a cymbal that speaks clearly and leaves room for the rest of the kit to shine in the mix. This has led to dry-voiced cymbals having a moment, or perhaps a series of moments over the last few years with drummers across various genres. Sabian’s Stratus Dry line aims directly […]
Room to Breathe: The Role of Reverb in Drum Mixing
Not everyone has access to incredible studio live rooms with 20-foot ceilings and tuned acoustics. But when it comes to home studio recording of drums, the first real red flag for an amateur recording will likely be how the drums sit in the mix. Veteran mix engineers know that reverb above all else can be […]
Lauten Audio’s Kick Mic and the Case for Purpose-Built Drum Mics
For home producers who track real drums in less-than-ideal rooms, kick capture is often the part of a session that eats time and patience: a boom that will not sit, attack that disappears under room modes, and a long chain of EQ and gating to try to fix it. The Lauten Audio Kick Mic addresses […]
Auxiliary Percussion: The Studio “Secret Weapon” You’re Ignoring
When you think of percussion in a recording, you probably picture a drum kit, maybe a conga player if things are getting spicy. But auxiliary percussion — a wide-ranging category that encompasses items like tambourines, shakers, cowbells, and wood blocks — is where you can quietly take a track from “good groove” to “why does […]
From Pianos to Power Toms: The History of Yamaha Drums
When you think Yamaha, you might picture a grand piano in a concert hall, a revving motorcycle, or their classic logo on a student’s first keyboard. But Yamaha’s presence behind the drum kit is equally as storied, and it shares a connection to their expertise in piano craftsmanship. From their melodic instrument legacy to their […]
Mix Sounding Flat? Here’s How to Keep Your Drums Punchy!
Drums drive the rhythm and energy of a track, but getting them to cut through a dense mix without overpowering other elements can be a challenge. Whether you’re mixing a hard-hitting rock track or a tight, modern pop beat, keeping your drums punchy and present requires a balance of EQ, compression, transient shaping, and strategic […]
Do “Magic” Frequencies Exist When Mixing Drums?
There is no magic bullet. That’s a point that this piece should get across first and foremost. That being said, learning about what boosting and cutting frequencies can to do to a mix is incredibly important for your engineering skills and satisfaction when recording drums. Any drum recording is only as good as the sum […]
Did Lauten Audio Create the Snare Mic of the Future?
Lauten Audio has pioneered the first-ever FET condenser for miking snare drums! The Lauten Audio Snare Mic offers drummer-friendly options ideal for studio or stage that make sure you always capture the true essence of your beloved snare drum. From its high decibel handling capsule, to its multiple frequency cut options, we’ll take a look […]
You Can Record Drums at Sound City Studios From Anywhere!
We can’t all book out a world-class recording studio, it’s just not possible. But here’s some good news: Universal Audio has made it possible to sound like you’ve just tracked in one of the most legendary live rooms of all time — and it’s affordable for almost anyone! Universal Audio’s Sound City Studios plug-in is […]
