Recent content by Chris Whitten

El Niño is in effect.

I think that's right. They are very good sounding, but not head and shoulders above many other well made drums.

Most of the Istanbul line-up are meant to be played at lower volumes and sound lower volume when played. Particularly OM and Signature. I find smaller cymbals are sharper sounding, so larger diameter works best (for me), they speak slower and don't splash in a harsh way. In the end, a lot of...

All temps in the UK get quoted in celsius.

I often add samples to my recorded drums. I'm not replacing the organic recording of my kit, but I'll add a slightly deeper snare sample at low volume just to beef up my own. Likewise a sample reinforcing my bass drum. It's routine in a lot of contemporary music, especially when mixing. The main...

There's already been quite a few unusually hot spells for spring in Sydney I think. 2023 is highly likely to be the hottest year since records began.

Sure, I think everything you write is pretty spot on. The drums I play are the ones I want to hear as I'm playing. I have played many rubbish rental kits, especially in Eastern Europe etc. It's no fun. I am sure it sounded ok and I basically sounded like me. But I would rather play something...

That is true, but as the player playing the instrument you want it to sound good, perform well. I struggled in the studio, hated my drum sound. I knew a lot of top players at the time were recording with Yamaha Rec Custom. Then I was in the room the Jerry Marotta set up and played his Yamaha kit...

You aren't born sounding good in the studio. It is learned, with experience and having made mistakes. No I never questioned studio personnel about the mics or the eq, but I definitely interrogated them all the time about what I could do to make the drums sound the best they could in the studio...

My point was I still took my lead from the pro drummers I looked up to. I didn't go into a drum shop, try everything and bought what I liked on the day. I looked at what other pro drummers were using every day in critical situations.

My two favourite and most used currently available kits are a Noble & Cooley Horizon and a Pork Pie I bought used. My other best sounding kit is a 1960's Oaklawn Camco. I rent a lot of modern mainstream drum sets and although they all sound great, they don't sound as great (from my drum chair)...

That's a time consuming and expensive way to go. I have always looked at the people I want to emulate and made a note of what they are using. I bought a Yamaha Recording Custom because Jerry Marotta sounded absolutely amazing playing his. I walked past a drum shop in London every day. They had a...

Rick Beato's subscribers are mostly his age. https://www.youtube.com/live/yDUSFpek0PM?si=4nT-Aepgl7tjoUSM The phrase 'echo chamber' comes to mind.

I think you are right. Most drum stores these days have few kits in stock, and even less they'll let you try (they are high on a display with pristine heads on them). I have never been able to audition something in a non musical context and make an informed decision. Maybe comparing something...

Again, where did I say that? I didn't. I said that any claim that 'digital is not anywhere near as good as analog' is a misrepresentation of the facts.