Recording A Crazy Drummer

LENNONAIN · Newbie Alert Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

Hi

When I say crazy I'm not referring to his mental state but rather his playing style. I just had a quick question. I'm trying to record this drummer who never plays the same thing twice. That is... when we get through one take and do another take he usually plays something completely different. I have him playing to a click so that I'd be able to edit his performance from other takes and create a master comp. However, I found that I couldn't edit anything due to the fact that on one take he's playing a certain part on the ride and on another take he's playing on the hi. That's just an example. Also, because of the fact that he's never sure what he's going to play he messes up his timing alot due to the fact that there is a click track. In essence, I don't even have any good solid takes to work with at all. My main question is for any drummer who has recorded to a click in hopes of editing a master take. Aren't you suppose to know what you're playing at all times? That is... shouldn't you have all your parts worked out ahead of time? I equate this to a guitar player who plays the same riff over and over again every take. It wouldn't make much sense for one take to be in E and another take to be in Bflat. I'm new to drumming and would REALLY appreciate any feedback at all on this subject. What I'm gonna do is have him play without a click and then conform a click to him in pro tools and then beat detective any parts that aren't so tight. I'd much rather use a click but I'm afraid this drummer just isn't ready for that.

Thanks in Advance

sfauts · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:27 pm Post subject:

If it's his own material, you'd expect that he'd know what he's playing.

Tell the guy straight out - you need to keep things similar as you're making my engineering impossible.

He may dislike you for it - but he'll most likely thank you for it.

Rasta · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:12 am Post subject:

I agree with sfauts. Crazy drummer might be one way to describe him. Undisciplined could be another.

It's one thing to improv fills. I personally try to avoid that when recording, but I know excelent drummers who improv every fill they do whether it is recording or live performance.

It's absolutely different to improv grooves however to the degree that you describe. Tell the drummer that he needs to start practicing to a click track. Perhaps the whole band needs to groove to a click track to see what the end product will sound like before recording.

Even highly skilled improv players have an idea of what they are going to do before they do it.

LENNONAIN · Newbie Alert Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

Thanks much for the input. I'll take your advice. I just needed to get a better understanding of how a drummer prepares for recording before I talked to him.

Thanks again

The549 · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:20 pm Post subject:

I do the same thing...every take is very different for me. The key is to practice and get good enough in general so you can still cut and mix if you want to. If his timing and tempo are that off, then something is just plain sucking. Let him know nicely and honestly and he should come around somehow.
_________________
then....perhaps I might eat them.