Dadocaster
Dr. Stratster
It's his band, bro.
Drummers! Cymbals! Ouch!
- Thread starter amstratnut
- Start date
mad axe man
Senior Stratmaster
He has issues for sure, not least of which, his wife, the lead singer, left him...no wonder he drinks
mad axe man
Senior Stratmaster
did you ever hear lou reed sing?
I really shouldn’t be talking here but as a sound guy forever, I’ve had to listen to bashing drummers pound their cymbals and the resulting mic bleed for too long 
. Guys who can play with finesse are far and few between. Fortunately I’ve been lucky enough to work with some super talented guys so it just makes those bashers stand out like a sore thumb.
If it’s annoying on stage, think how super annoying it is to have to amplify that over the p.a. And I get soundguys who insist that I mic the cymbals in small rooms where it just is effing stupid.
Just my opinion that the vast majority of cymbals sound like ear-splitting crap, however, there was this one time I was setting up and the drummer (never saw him before) was starting to finalize his kit placement. He hit his cymbals and it was like WOW! They actually sounded great. At the time I had never heard of this brand but when I said “dude those sound amazing” he just smiled and said “I know!“. Istanbul was the brand, I think….. totally not brash. Amazing
. Guys who can play with finesse are far and few between. Fortunately I’ve been lucky enough to work with some super talented guys so it just makes those bashers stand out like a sore thumb.If it’s annoying on stage, think how super annoying it is to have to amplify that over the p.a. And I get soundguys who insist that I mic the cymbals in small rooms where it just is effing stupid.
Just my opinion that the vast majority of cymbals sound like ear-splitting crap, however, there was this one time I was setting up and the drummer (never saw him before) was starting to finalize his kit placement. He hit his cymbals and it was like WOW! They actually sounded great. At the time I had never heard of this brand but when I said “dude those sound amazing” he just smiled and said “I know!“. Istanbul was the brand, I think….. totally not brash. Amazing
Dadocaster
Dr. Stratster
You make a few good points but even a good drummer with good gear is going to have cymbal bleed in every mic.I really shouldn’t be talking here but as a sound guy forever, I’ve had to listen to bashing drummers pound their cymbals and the resulting mic bleed for too long
If it’s annoying on stage, think how super annoying it is to have to amplify that over the p.a. And I get soundguys who insist that I mic the cymbals in small rooms where it just is effing stupid.
Just my opinion that the vast majority of cymbals sound like ear-splitting crap, however, there was this one time I was setting up and the drummer (never saw him before) was starting to finalize his kit placement. He hit his cymbals and it was like WOW! They actually sounded great. At the time I had never heard of this brand but when I said “dude those sound amazing” he just smiled and said “I know!“. Istanbul was the brand, I think….. totally not brash. Amazing
i wasn’t complaining about good drummers bleeding into the mics
. I’m complaining about bashers that leave a wash of high end hell on stage. Problem exacerbated by vocal mics. Obviously the type of mic, how many, how far away the cymbals are and how many vocal mics their are etc etc vary the difference. Weak singers who force a higher gain on the mic make it worse.Actually on most smaller stages I actually rely on the vocal mics to amplify the cymbal. That way it’s less mics to put out.
It’s not like I disrespect all cymbals, a good ride sounds cool. But I always mic the hat. It’s so important and just makes some tunes. It irritates me when I see lazy sound guys not mic it or say “oh the snare mic will pick it up”
.
Cymbals should be seen and not heard. The Band’s Pink House record only has a high hat on it and no other cymbals on the entire record. The drums are perfect on it.
Dadocaster
Dr. Stratster
Ahhh, yessss, Scott that one record is enough to take your silly opinion from just a "hot take" to ACTUAL ESTABLISHED FACT.
This is tiresome.
Can’t take a joke? Geez……nothing about opinions is established fact, but this was just a joke. It is still one of the best albums with or without cymbals.
My left ear still rings constantly because of standing next to Kofi Baker’s Ride cymbal every night for two years. That is an established fact.
Dadocaster
Dr. Stratster
That sounds factual there at the end. Use the damn laughie faces, Scott. Save me the effort of answering. FOR GOD'S SAKE USE THE FACES!!!
You know my kid is a jazz studes major on drums, right???
Groundwire
Strat-O-Master
Istanbul makes some great stuff. I also have a Turkish brand ride cymbal that is dark, Smokey, and washes out wonderfully.
Having worked in recording studios years ago, I can say that the drummer, and to a lesser extent, the cymbals can really make or break a mix. I love cymbals and the air they can add to the top end of a mix, but if the drummer is just hammering the hihat and bell of the ride, then you have to bury the overheads and the whole drum mix loses depth.
Hmm, when he steps out for a minute, replace his sticks with brushes and put a few strips of duck tape on the underside of the annoying cymbals.. he'll get the message. You might also be a nice guy and replace his drink bottle with a fresh cold water.
omahaaudio
Senior Stratmaster
Phil Collins has done some excellent work on the drums.
