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Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:49 pm
by The Tasmanian
A lot of producers / engineers and drummers don't think enough about it though ...

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:28 am
by ChrisW
Sticks have a major impact on cymbals too.
I do always carry light, medium and heavier sticks. When we are making the drum sample products I'm constantly switching sticks, looking for the best sound for each drum.
When I'm recording songs I tend to stick to a medium weight. Most of the time i don't like the sound of drums played with very light sticks. Although cymbals tend to love lighter sticks.
I confess when i was in my prime session era I used one type of stick pretty much exclusively.
I always carry different types of heads, and different drums.
In the old days I would take three or four bags of cymbals to a session and about ten snares.
I would happily take two different kits to a session, but it's time consuming getting a basic drum sound (toms, overheads, room) for different kits.

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:50 am
by The Tasmanian
Has anyone here recorded with 2 different weight sticks?
EG: If you were RH drummer:
Left hand heavy stick on the snare, right hand lighter stick for cymbals/hi hat ?
(obviously when there are not lots of drum fills needed)

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:20 pm
by tony
The last session I did I had the drummer use two different sticks (rods), because with old/light ones he/we liked for the cymbals, the snare barely made a sound. The solution ended up being a heavy gauge in his left (snare) hand the much lighter one in his right (hats and cymbals). Toms weren't a large problem as he only had a floor Tom and I convinced him when he did occasionally hit it it needed to HIT it. It took him a couple of goes to adjust but it end up being far beter sounding than using just one gauge. That said in the mix most of the drum sound was over heads and room mics almost no close mics. One of the stranger drum recordings I have done.

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 2:42 pm
by Drumstruck
The Tasmanian wrote:Has anyone here recorded with 2 different weight sticks?
....


Only at one session (many) years ago where they had only one stick and we made the other out of a dowel. Mismatched stix make me feel eccentric, but then, I ain't Buddy Rich (but then again, who is?)

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:59 pm
by ChrisW
I can play louder with one hand than the other.
Seriously though..... no I can't remember playing with two different weight sticks. I think a pair of the right weight for what the song needs is the way to go.

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 1:55 pm
by gigpiglet
i have asked drummers to play with one stick and one hotrod a few times
its always worked, and been exactly what i was looking for...
but obviously its not for every song/ session

Re: Drum heads?

PostPosted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:54 pm
by ChrisW
Oh yeah - one stick, one brush or hot rod is good.