Gavin Harrison
DRUMMERWORLD PRO DRUMMER
HI Torkerz
Just a question on bass drum sizes... I've played a 22x18 bass drum for a number of years and I am looking to buy a Yamaha Recording custom. Shell sizes would be 10x 7.5 12x8 and 14x13 with a 14x6 snare.I wanted to choose either a 22x16 or 20x16 bass drum. My genre of playing tends to be all round but leaning to funk and rock. I was tempted by the 20 due to articulation and also space to have my Toms lower, but I was worried about losing low end a 22 could offer. In your experience gigging and recording, what would you generally recommend a good 'all rounder' to be? I could get both, but my budget is at its limit!
In my experience - I would go with a 22"x16" or 22x17. As an 'all rounder' drumset I would also go with a 15" floor tom too. A 14" floor tom in my opinion isn't quite big enough.
Hi Stevesmithfan
On your DVD’s you have EV microphones on your toms about an inch or so from the edge of the drums facing straight down very close to the head. Is this position used to cut down on cymbal bleed?
yes that was the idea - but I don't use those EV mics any more. They sounded good (and are great on tour)- but I now prefer the AKG 414s in the studio. However I wouldn't take the 414s on tour as I'd be concerned about them getting bashed around. They are a bit more delicate than the EVs.
Hi Juan Exposito
thanks for the interview - I really enjoyed it and you did a great job editing it all together!
Your drum sound in your solo album "Cheating the Polygraph" is incredible, as always, but this time I think the drums sound bigger, puncher, crisper...awesome. Did you do something special/different with this sound or it´s just me, hearing your drums with less music layers as for example with Porcupine Tree or The Pineapple Thief?
I think the drums just sound better when mixed with 'real' acoustic instruments. When you try to mix drums with distorted electric guitar it becomes very difficult because the sound of the distortion eats up SO many frequencies and the drums get buried. Some guitarists go crazy and track 4 or more distorted guitar tracks and it eats up everything so the drums end up sounding really thin. The same can happen with some synth sounds that have extended frequency ranges (especially in the low subs and the mid frequencies).
cheers
Gavin
Just a question on bass drum sizes... I've played a 22x18 bass drum for a number of years and I am looking to buy a Yamaha Recording custom. Shell sizes would be 10x 7.5 12x8 and 14x13 with a 14x6 snare.I wanted to choose either a 22x16 or 20x16 bass drum. My genre of playing tends to be all round but leaning to funk and rock. I was tempted by the 20 due to articulation and also space to have my Toms lower, but I was worried about losing low end a 22 could offer. In your experience gigging and recording, what would you generally recommend a good 'all rounder' to be? I could get both, but my budget is at its limit!
In my experience - I would go with a 22"x16" or 22x17. As an 'all rounder' drumset I would also go with a 15" floor tom too. A 14" floor tom in my opinion isn't quite big enough.
Hi Stevesmithfan
On your DVD’s you have EV microphones on your toms about an inch or so from the edge of the drums facing straight down very close to the head. Is this position used to cut down on cymbal bleed?
yes that was the idea - but I don't use those EV mics any more. They sounded good (and are great on tour)- but I now prefer the AKG 414s in the studio. However I wouldn't take the 414s on tour as I'd be concerned about them getting bashed around. They are a bit more delicate than the EVs.
Hi Juan Exposito
thanks for the interview - I really enjoyed it and you did a great job editing it all together!
Your drum sound in your solo album "Cheating the Polygraph" is incredible, as always, but this time I think the drums sound bigger, puncher, crisper...awesome. Did you do something special/different with this sound or it´s just me, hearing your drums with less music layers as for example with Porcupine Tree or The Pineapple Thief?
I think the drums just sound better when mixed with 'real' acoustic instruments. When you try to mix drums with distorted electric guitar it becomes very difficult because the sound of the distortion eats up SO many frequencies and the drums get buried. Some guitarists go crazy and track 4 or more distorted guitar tracks and it eats up everything so the drums end up sounding really thin. The same can happen with some synth sounds that have extended frequency ranges (especially in the low subs and the mid frequencies).
cheers
Gavin