Hi VIeniu
Is there any opportunity to get Porcupine Tree play-alongs?
No - sorry.
Hi Swiss Matthias
Gavin, do you ever practice stuff out of books nowadays? If so, which ones?
yes I still practise out of some books. I recently bought Dave DiCenso's new book and I'm trying to find some spare time to really get into it.
Hi siddhant.seth
1. Do the mics catch signals they are not supposed to(like snare mic catching tom toms etc)... as in is there any leakage of sound in the mics?2. If yes, do you cut them off from the mix or do you let them be?
Yes all the mics can hear all the drums to some degree. That's part of the sound of the instrument - and no I don't cut them off or gate them in the mix.
Hi larzzzz
I have read here in thread that the overhead mics in your studio are set up above your head. I am curious in which configuration you record with them - XY, M/S, ORTF ...
Thank you
here's the short answer: XY
Hi K_HiHats
1) I've noticed lately that you've switched to one cymbal (instead of the normal two) that is placed over your toms. I realize it may be another one of your prototype crash bells (your 9 inch one is my favorite), so what exactly is it? What size? Will you be using just this one instead of the normal two from now on? (In my opinion, I prefer the other two instead of just the one)
Sometimes I just use the 7" custom 'crash bell' at the front of the kit.
2) There's this thing that you did in the live version of 'Drown With Me'. It sound like you're slurring the bass drum and snare together into one. It can be seen right away at 0:39 and 0:45 into the linked video.
They are inverted doubles played as 32nd notes. KLLK KLLK K etc.
Hi Kalma
You use a microphone on your batter head which points to the beaters, right?
the microphone (Shure SM91) is inside the drum resting on the pillow - not outside pointing at the beaters. I don't think I've ever done that.
I'm not quite sure but I remember that you mentioned that you never gate anything. is that right?
correct.
Hi formula428
My question is, have you ever tested (or do you own) an S-Classix snare? How do they stack up to some of your other birch snare drums, considering the 5mm thin S-Classix shell and sharp bearing edges? Would you recommend going with a medium or heavy shell SQ2 birch drum instead of the thin shell S-Classix?
I've never played an S-Classix drum so I can't comment about that - sorry.
Hi ErwinvanAsperen
So my question to you would be:
How do you keep yourself inspired?
Life inspires me - art, architecture and design. Listening to musicians who aren't drummers inspire me.
I know it is probably a psychological question, and I realise it is probably hard to answer, but do you know any kind of methods/ways to insure that "you're doing the right thing" as far as feeling and inspiration goes?
I don't have any methods I can tell you about. I just follow my nose - try to avoid cliches and things I've done before.
Hi CareyCopelandCameron
Ive got one question.Can you tell me from what event this picture is?
Late in January 2011 I went to see Gregg Bissonette play a gig in a bar in LA. I was with Danny, Jojo and Marco Soccoli and we met Carmine there too. Great night out!!
Hi totopaul
recently I feel a little pain in my wrist of the left hand. I use my fingers alot when playing.
I tried different things like turning my hand "inward" but it didn't really help.
Now just a couple of days ago I found out that when I hold my left arm nearer to my body it seems to get a little better. Do you have any advice which aspects could be responsible for wrist-pain ?
do you play traditional grip?
Hi Matty G.
I notice you don't play the kick drum so much during fills, except to use it as another voice or between your hands. I've heard you say in clinic that you think of the kick drum/double bass the way one would think of ghost notes between snare accents.
Do you ever play four-on-the-floor during fills? If not, is it because you don't like the sound?
I don't like the sound of 4-on-the-floor during a drum fill. Come to think of it I don't like 16ths-on-the-floor either.
Also, since your hands and kick are so intertwined, I'm guessing you must have the toms pretty hot in the mix to compensate. Is that true? If you played acoustically (no mics at all) do you think you'd have a different approach? (Seeing as how the kick & snare tend to be louder than the toms without mics.)
I don't think I do have the toms 'hot in the mix'. When I play and listen to them acoustically they sound balanced to my ears.
Hi space jeff
I wish he'd come and do a clinic in Vancouver, BC. Please Gavin!
your wish might come true.
cheers
Gavin