Finally posting a recording, using my new gear!!! :)

[xopethx]

hey fellas!

here's a youtube video to check out -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt9T567nPFE&fmt=18

I've had my recording gear for about 3 weeks, and the first 2 of those were spent ironing out all the kinks, and learning the ropes with pro-tools and my firewire interfaces :)
All in all, i'm pretty pleased with my first effort.
If you'd like a higher-quality audio file of this same track, let me know - i'll upload it. Dang youtube and its horrible quality!

let me know what you think

[gusty]

Awsome, really nice job. I liked the song/drumming, the bass drum didnt sound fantastic to me...but could be the youtube quality. Also, for just a year and a half, thats dam good.

[Wavelength]

Very nice drum sounds, very gavinesque. I think the kick drum sounds just fine for that style, at least through high quality headphones.

If that's how you play after one and a half year's experience, you must've practiced quite a bit and in a very smart fashion. Keep it up and you'll get very far with the instrument!

[Drummer Karl]

Smooth sound Chris!
The tune is exquisite man, really nice playing...in the pocket. :-)

The sound of the set and how it is recorded is great! Definitly keep up experimenting with your gear.
Do you use two overheads in AB position? Have you already tried various positions (XY, ORTF etc)?

Cool recording for sure!

Karl

[SickRick]

I thought the tune was real cheesy, but your playing was great and the kit/micing is fantastic. I'd like to hear some more funky stuff, like Tower of Power or the like... I think your drumsound (esp. cymbals) would sound great along with that kind of music.

Real nice job man!

Hey, I also like that you have a cool style in your movements, esp. in your right hand on the hihat - looks really smooth. Nice!

[aydee]

Hey Chris, your drum sound is getting better & better as is your playing. I do miss your Jean Luc Ponty play along style though..

[Drum-Head]

Wow, you have that kind of feel and groove after only one year and a half of playing?! Dude keep it up you have talent!

I agree with Wavelength, very Gavinesque - you sure did pick a good inspiration for musical playing.

[xopethx]

thanks for the great feedback, everybody :-D


Smooth sound Chris!
The tune is exquisite man, really nice playing...in the pocket. :-)

The sound of the set and how it is recorded is great! Definitly keep up experimenting with your gear.
Do you use two overheads in AB position? Have you already tried various positions (XY, ORTF etc)?

Cool recording for sure!

Karl

Thanks my friend! The overheads are just on either side of the kit, pointing down mostly towards the cymbals (about 2 feet above them). I'm going to try an AB config, about a foot above my head pointing slightly to the sides and forward. I'll try XY as well, but i have a feeling that AB will work beautifully.


SickRick- aww man, what was cheezy about it? That mix is pretty awful, compared to the studio version - I don't know any Tower of Power tunes, but i could play some mid-70's Jeff Beck songs...something off Blow by Blow or Wired perhaps? She's a Woman?

[SickRick]

SickRick- aww man, what was cheezy about it? That mix is pretty awful, compared to the studio version - I don't know any Tower of Power tunes, but i could play some mid-70's Jeff Beck songs...something off Blow by Blow or Wired perhaps? She's a Woman?


What I found cheesy about that song? Basically everything... starting from the name of the song, all the guitar and synth sounds, the chords, the modes and progressions, the sections that do not blend well... Sorry man - I've just grown out that kind of style, it reminds me of Bands like DreamTheater that are only about creating tricky parts and forgetting about actually writing a song. Whenever I hear that kind of music I think to myself: "Guys, the 80s are over, lets all be real happy about it and move forward pretending they never happened."

But of course - its an opinion and nothing more. Its my opinion based on my listening and playing experience - I was a huge fan of this style of music for many years and actually could play many many many songs from diverse ProgRock or Glamrock bands note for note until it came to my mind that all the music was nothing but a big fat soapbubble (is that the english word???).

Again: I really really like your drumming and your approach to the instrument - for playing just 18 months that is friggin impressive. If you were my student I'd be proud like a mother***** having a student like you. Absolutely! I actually do have some students that still are into that type of music and they all hate my strong opinions about it. But some of them at one point come to the same opinion - maybe because they grow out of it or maybe because my brainwash was/is succesfull :)

Who knows?

Hey, here is some Tower of Power:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE-TfJQ0WKA

Here is some Maceo Parker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLwmYI09Lw

James Brown:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UH635bu6b8

Living Colour (Cheesy Vid ;) ) insanly good funky drumming!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxjo28Jmy_c

If you're into more progressive stuff, check out the real thing. This is one of the coolest drumparts ever, Manu Katche - you'll love playing along with this, he makes great use of splashes, toms, great grooves, check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXRPm7faABo

Or go for the grandmaster: this is Chad Wackerman with Frank Zappa playing some 19/16 (I guess). Have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-emTTbRSNQ

[Nergretty]

Really nice playing man. Only 18 months? That's amazing. How much do play/practice?

Peter

[tak22thegoat]

Great stuff man. Love to see you play some jazz genres =]

[drozzy]

Inspirational stuff man. Very cool!

[GetAgrippa]

Very good!! Quite a drum kit and recording equipment for a beginner??? I played a hi-hat, ride cymbal and one crash for ten years. I still don't have that many cymbals after 43 years playing but maybe I'm just jealous. Hee,hee.

[Wavelength]

Very good!! Quite a drum kit and recording equipment for a beginner??? I played a hi-hat, ride cymbal and one crash for ten years. I still don't have that many cymbals after 43 years playing but maybe I'm just jealous. Hee,hee.

The amount of gear isn't related to your skill level, but rather to your bank account and the desire to buy them... .:-)

[GetAgrippa]

Yea, I just spent about $500 on a 22 inch Zildjian K Constantinople Hi Bell Thin Ride, Low Cymbal to aid in my new craze for jazz. My 18 in Zildjian K Custom Dark Crash blends with it so beautifully-sounds like angels singing. I often feel schizophrenic in wanting to build a eight piece monster kit with ten cymbals then I swing towards simplicity and a four piece kit and fewer cymbals. After watching JoJo Mayer or Wolfgang Haffner tear up a four piece kit you wonder why would do you need anymore? hee,hee,hee. I like splash cymbals but I have never owned a china, and I must say I just am not attracted to the sound-although I think about buying a cheap Wuhan to test it anyways. I have always admired your Kumu four piece kit Wavelength. They have a complex, beautiful sound to them. You can hear and feel the wood rather than just the heads-even on a recording-very musical instruments instead of a banger.

[PQleyR]

The amount of gear isn't related to your skill level, but rather to your bank account and the desire to buy them... .:-)

See now, that's the the thing that everyone will be thinking that you don't need to actually say because everyone's thinking it!