Al Strange
Platinum Member
Deen may as well be playing my Exports up there! Is the age of the silent stage truly upon us?![Unsure :unsure: :unsure:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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The first time I heard about this approach was Butch Vig with Garbage. Have you come across this yourself or seen other bands doing it to this extent Chris?Well in the first few minutes he says he hates it.
I think the ultimate set up is a combo of triggers (triggering album sounds) and real drums.
There’s a few companies already doing that.I need to invest in whoever is developing virtual reality drums. Soon the drummer will just wear a VR headset and move sticks around in the air and the system will register hits and put drum sounds through the mixer.
Ye gads...I hope it doesn't come to that. We need to keep the creative human element in there, and making rhythms on drums is such an ancient way of communicating.I need to invest in whoever is developing virtual reality drums. Soon the drummer will just wear a VR headset and move sticks around in the air and the system will register hits and put drum sounds through the mixer.
Two reasons:Slightly related question but about micing guitars. I often see large guitar amps (e.g., for speakers) on stage and the mike is placed at one speaker. I wonder why guitarists bring such large, multi speaker amps to gigs if they mike just one of the speakers; why not just bring a smaller one speaker amp?
I think it’s about “show” too. I’d feel gipped if I saw Dave Grohl playing through a little mic’d-up Pignose amp. Just like it bugs me when a drummer uses only three drums. I kinda paid to see a show, so if I see no effort in that department, I’d be disappointed. But - smaller venue jazz concerts are different for me because I’m wowed by their chops. I saw Joe Pass come out with his guitar and he just plugged into the house (nothing else on stage) and was floored for two hours.Slightly related question but about micing guitars. I often see large guitar amps (e.g., for speakers) on stage and the mike is placed at one speaker. I wonder why guitarists bring such large, multi speaker amps to gigs if they mike just one of the speakers; why not just bring a smaller one speaker amp?
totally unrelated, but I did not realize you were weird al's drummer. that's sick!We've gradually reduced our stage volume over the last 20 years, and now my kit is the only audible sound being made on the stage. Not a problem for any of us because we're in-ear and get exactly the mixes we want.
In order to help with the house mix, I'm behind plexi shields so my kit doesn't compete with the mix out front. It's really only an issue in smaller houses, maybe 1500 and under. And while it's not really a problem in larger and open-air venues, there's no reason to change it up for each show. That would just create a lot of extra work for the FOH person.
Does any of that affect me or my playing? Not at all. Do the shields affect my drum sound? Nope, everything is close-mic'd anyway and trimmed way down. Any acoustic affect from the shield isn't picked up.
But the whole thing is done so the audience hears a great mix whether they're in the front row, or the last. They're the reason that musicians give live performances in the first place. Would I change things if none of that mattered? Nope. I love hearing a great mix and the in-ears keep my volume in check to curb further hearing loss.
It does seem to be a thing in aging bands.Volume was the issue here with Journey, and seems to be a growing problem (maybe with ageing bands), with The Who also switching to a quiet stage and v-drums.
Or "ill", as the kids like to say.totally unrelated, but I did not realize you were weird al's drummer. that's sick!
Slightly related question but about micing guitars. I often see large guitar amps (e.g., for speakers) on stage and the mike is placed at one speaker. I wonder why guitarists bring such large, multi speaker amps to gigs if they mike just one of the speakers; why not just bring a smaller one speaker amp?
I think it's amazing that common bar playing drummers like myself can converse with totally professional drummers. It's so cool that people like Bermuda participate in this forum.totally unrelated, but I did not realize you were weird al's drummer. that's sick!