Many productions lean on percussion tracks to add texture, but what if the usual instruments aren’t cutting it? We check out one solution that brings some secret spice that can bring intricate percussion layers in a few moves…
Pro Tools | GrooveCell Has A Really Cool Feature That Makes It More Than A Drum Machine
Pro Tools | GrooveCell is one of the instruments now included with Pro Tools, but Avid may be missing a trick with their marketing info on a feature that makes GrooveCell more than just a drum machine.
Making A Beat In Pro Tools GrooveCell
Russ shows how easy it is to create a beat using the free virtual instrument GrooveCell, the powerful drum machine that comes as part of Pro Tools. In this video he takes a loop of a classic Hall & Oates track and gives it a new take using the powerful tools in GrooveCell.
If You Want To Clean Up Snare Without A Gate Try This
The age old problem of unwanted spill down the snare mic is as old as close mics themselves, but gating can present problems of its own. We try an alternative which could turn in more transparent results.
Recording Snare Drum? Start Here
With the snare drum being perhaps the most prominent rhythmic element in a track, getting the recording right means getting the drum right, and knowing what close mics are trying to achieve. Here’s where we suggest you start.
We Check Out Toontrack Synthwave For EZdrummer And EZKeys
Bringing drum machine sounds and synth soundscapes in one place, Toontrack’s EZdrummer and EZkeys get the 80’s treatment with Synthwave sounds. We take it for a spin to see if it really can inject some late-twentieth century electronic edge.
Recording Drum Overheads? Start Here
Drums are the most complex recording challenge many people encounter. Getting the overheads right really helps as it’s the context in which all the other mics sit. If you’re new to recording drums, or even if you aren’t, here’s where we suggest you start.
How To Get Hybrid Drum Sounds With Superior Drummer 3
Drum sample replacement or augmentation can be a life saver for purely acoustic sounds, but some genres need more. With dozens of classic machines to play with, we create some hybrid sounds to make drums pop.
Tip - Fatten Your Snares Using Stock Pro Tools Plugins
In this tip we show you how to add weight to snare drums when EQ isn’t enough, without using samples or virtual instruments.
What Makes A Great Studio Drummer?
It’s been said that a band is only as good as the drummer. With the studio recording environment magnifying all that is good and bad in any artist, we turn our attention to the qualities that make some drummers such an asset.
Experts Dream Studio Advent Calendar - Day 18 Oxford Drum Gate
The Experts team wondered what we thought people would want to find behind the windows of a dream studio advent calendar. Julian’s fourth choice - Sonnox’s Oxford Drum Gate
Musical Ways To Add Interest To Snare Drums
Snare drums are arguably the part of the kit that keeps some up all night trying to reach the perfect sound. In this article we highlight some musical ways to add interest to a snare, no EQ or compressor required.
5 Snare Sounds That Shaped Modern Pop Music
A common joke that seems to pervade forums and social channels is that mixers spend hours perfecting the perfect snare. One decade that seemed to offer unforgettable snare sounds was the 80s. Here are our 5 snares that defined the 1980s, and more latterly, shaped modern pop music production.
Choosing A Drum VI For Fast Radio Ready Sounds
There are many drum virtual instruments out there, with the number of options within each being enormous. With some solutions offering to do more with less, we look at getting release-ready sounds with just a handful of parameters.
Toontrack Hitmaker SDX - Expert Review
Owners of Superior Drummer 3 could be forgiven for thinking that the instrument has everything, but Toontrack thinks not with its latest expansion. Offering some of the most recognisable drum sounds on record, three experts give their verdict…
Three Ways To Add Realism In Virtual Instrument Mixes
Virtual Instruments have made totally authentic sounds a reality for composer, arranger, and engineer alike. Despite their increasing realism, there is still much room for some simple production moves to help really sell the sound. We show you three simple moves.
Replace Drums In Premixed Audio In Three Moves
With the right tools, drum sounds that are baked into mixes can be changed after the event. We show you how.
Match Drum Samples To Your Kit In Two Moves
Replacement drum samples that sit with the rest of the recording aren’t always easy to conjure, with traditional techniques requiring skill and time. We use a tool that could make things easier, along with another cool trick…
6 Tips For Making Programmed Drums Sound Real
There are a number of things to think about when endeavouring to simulate the infinite complexities of a live drum kit performance via MIDI. Here are some of the most important…
Seven Drum Tuning Tips To Help In The Studio
With a good drummer and the right room, well tuned drums are the final piece in the puzzle to get right before pressing record. With some drummers and engineers leaving it to the other to know how to coax the best sound, we share some tips.