My "Band" Posted a Song Using a Drum Machine

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Your other track (Dead Flowers) was a joy to listen to BTW.

Thanks. It's a total crap recording and my drums sound terrible, though.
 
I think I'm going to tell my band leader that I'm not "feeling it" this week and take some time away.

He's never really been happy with my drumming or my drums. Says they're not tuned correctly and they take up too much space - a 5 piece.
 
Did you know about the song?

Is there a version with you?

Did they tell you they might?

Or is this out of the blue?

Would be feel different if they had hired a name studio drummer instead of a machine?

Was there a budget to go into the studio to record live drums?
 
I found out from a text message:

put a song on the reverbnation website. Pat and I recorded it with a drum set machine...but I thought the recordingy quality was so much better than dead flowers I went ahead and posted it...don't be mad

Thoughts?
 
I found out from a text message:

put a song on the reverbnation website. Pat and I recorded it with a drum set machine...but I thought the recordingy quality was so much better than dead flowers I went ahead and posted it...don't be mad

Thoughts?

I can understand that this would piss you off, a lot. And it may be indicative of problems, but it may also just be indicative of the rest of the band wanting to get something out there sooner rather than later.

Only you can tell which of those too is going on.

Closing thought: Do not ascribe to malice that which can be explained by stupidity (or laziness).
 
I found out from a text message:

put a song on the reverbnation website. Pat and I recorded it with a drum set machine...but I thought the recordingy quality was so much better than dead flowers I went ahead and posted it...don't be mad

Thoughts?

Was there a budget to go into the studio to record live drums?

I get the hurt feelings, but don't be a William Goldsmith and blow an opportunity simply for not being on a song.

Phil Collins was a world renowned drummer, and he often used a drum machine instead of himself.
 
I can see why you're annoyed, for me I'd want it to state that it's a demo recording on the title simply as it doesn't sound great with a drum machine.

Leave it for a few days and speak to them when you're less annoyed is my advice. It could be harmless and the reason for doing it and only telling you after it's been uploaded might be innocent enough.
 
Copy the video and replace the sound track with you playing drums and kazoo instead of guitars. Then post the video of your band. Send them the link.
 
I think the advice to sleep on it for a bit is wise.

I also think that, if I were you, I'd be angrier than an Afghani warchief who just found out his wife was doing porn on the side, so time spent "cooling off," well, wouldn't have much effect.

I don't see this ending well. The only thing worse is if they'd posted something with another drummer on it. I mean, yeah, all kinds of drummers used machines. But there's an important fact that's missing from that argument: they were informed about it first. It's not like the album came out and Phil Collins was like, "Oi, we only recorded ten tracks, why is there eleven on the record?"

It's a douche move. They should have talked to you first. I don't see any possibility for innocent explanation. I see passive-aggressive asshattery. It might be subconscious passive-aggressive asshattery, but it's passive-aggressive asshattery just the same.
 
I agree with STXBob, that I'd be fuming. It's pretty disrespectful to do that without your knowledge and consent. Plus half the people would think it was actually you drumming.

But as JustJames said it may not be out of malice, just stupidity.
I'm going to take a flying leap and say it was just stupidity. If bandleader was saying things like your drums weren't tuned properly and unhappy with a 5 piece set, he may have just stupidly thought, 'It's not a big deal, we can just toss it out there…' since, I assumem he sees drums as just drums, and vital part of the band.

Regardless, I'd make sure he would know that that was not acceptable and I was not at all amused. Ask him if it would be okay if you put out a demo with some random singing.
 
Context is important.

Prior to this, you had one song up, recorded at poor quality. Now there's another, and it's listenable.

It's also not like you're doing originals, and your creative contributions are being steamrolled: these songs are both over 40 years old. I doubt your livelihood is on the line.

If you want to get something recorded with you playing that sounds good, take the initiative.

I'm sure the whole situation could have been communicated better beforehand, but spilt milk and all. Of course, if you're already dissatisfied with this group and this is the last straw, then if wasn't this it would be something else.
 
No offense.. but it's also a very very straight forward song with no changes and no excitement. I wouldn't let it worry me to much. Just know you would have played it better. Now tell them fine you want to record but with better quality lets get it together and get a real recording.
 
Yes, I'd be pissed too. Given the past comments about your drums, I have to agree with the passive-agressive aspect and that this will not end well. Assuming this was a home-studio recording, it's one thing if the band decided they did not have the gear/expertise/time to properly record the drums well, but that should have been agreed to in advance with your assent.

On the recording, the guitar and bass did sound very good...but that lead singer -- he's nothing to get excited about, IMO. Nice timbre to his voice, but his timing and pitch leave a lot to be desired. My impression was he was behind the beat most of the time (which was not called for on this tune) and he was ever-so-slightly flat as well. Perhaps you suggest they use pitch correction software next time😆?
 
I have some comments I could make regarding this whole situation, and the recordings, but I won't make them unless you're truly ready for some "real talk" with total honesty.

I can probably safely say that is one of the worst examples of programmed drums I have ever heard. Sounded incredibly fake and did not serve that song at all. Would have been better with no drums than the ultra fake ones.
 
I have some comments I could make regarding this whole situation, and the recordings, but I won't make them unless you're truly ready for some "real talk" with total honesty.

Let's hear it!
__________________
 
Would have been better with no drums than the ultra fake ones.
I agree. The drum machine sounds like - well - a drum machine, but the type that's built into an 80's Bontempi :)

Like the Dr. , I have thoughts on the whole deal too. It seems to me that the whole band is learning at the same time. Nobody's nailing it, so there's little room for finger pointing from any member towards the performance of another. The overall recording quality on the drum machine track is "clearer" than the Flowers track, but that's not just a drum thing. The observation that your drums are taking up "too much space" is BS, & shows a complete lack of musical understanding. When taken in context with previous pearls of wisdom from your band mates, I'd be pretty pissed too. Wether there was a justification to replace your drums or not, the lack of prior conversation is inexcusable, & frankly, a deal breaker for me. You're clearly not appreciated enough to consider talking it through with you, either that, or your bandmates are a very special kind of stupid.

All that said, it would be remiss of me to not mention something, something I hope you take on board in the spirit in which it's delivered. Your timekeeping on the Flowers recording was not good. Tempo was pretty shaky - a lot of rushing going on, & that did not settle the song into a satisfying vibe. I'm sure there were probably extenuating circumstances at play, but if the Flowers recording is their reference plane, that might explain some of the dubious behaviour on display.
 
All that said, it would be remiss of me to not mention something, something I hope you take on board in the spirit in which it's delivered. Your timekeeping on the Flowers recording was not good. Tempo was pretty shaky - a lot of rushing going on, & that did not settle the song into a satisfying vibe. I'm sure there were probably extenuating circumstances at play, but if the Flowers recording is their reference plane, that might explain some of the dubious behaviour on display.

The track for Dead Flowers is rather old. We were learning the song at that time. Our band leader also runs his recording through Audacity... what he does, I have no idea. When we practice, he's always changing the tempo of most everything we do. Sometimes it's at the tempo I practice to (with the actual recording) and sometimes it's faster and sometimes it's slower. It's NEVER consistent with the tempo.

in my honest opinion, when we sound our best, when the band is at its tightest is when we simply jam. Usually at the beginning and after break, I'll start playing some type of rhythm and the guys join in and we're nailing some beautiful off the cuff blues. It's creative, it's fresh, and it feels good. Every other song is about as organized as a fart in the wind.

As fr as the Dead Flowers recording, it's pitiful. I'm a much better drummer than what is put on exhibit in that song. I don't know why he posted that. Yeah, I sound like I don't know what I'm doing and yes, I'm all over the place as far as timing is considered. But it comes down to consistency... mine and theirs.
 
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