| If only we lived in a world where every kick drum, | | | | be the answer. |
| snare and toms were tuned to perfection! Where | | | | So what is 'replacing a sample', you ask? Well, the idea |
| rooms not only sounded good, but actually enhanced | | | | is to replace, or double, a below par sample with |
| the sound of the instruments which occupied them. Not | | | | something of a much higher quality. Plugin's such as |
| to mention having the perfect tools to capture such | | | | Drumagog, Soundreplacer and Logic Pro 9's Drum |
| instruments from the microphone itself; to a quality lead, | | | | Replacer are some of many programmes that do just |
| mic preamp, compressor, EQ and A Grade | | | | that: Replace drums! Whilst this seems to be a terrific |
| Conversion. | | | | and simple cure to all of your "below par' recordings, |
| So when it comes time to record a band in your home | | | | care and attention must be exercised when doing so. |
| studio and you want to utilise the best bits of | | | | In theory, replacing a kick or snare drum should be just |
| equipment you can muster, what happens when you | | | | that...only it's not. If you've ever listened to a soloed kick |
| simply don't have enough quality gear to record every | | | | drum recording, you'll notice how different each |
| instrument within the band? And what if the band you | | | | individual hit is played. Obviously dynamics play a |
| are recording simply doesn't have good-sounding gear | | | | massive part in getting a "replaced" kick drum to sound |
| to record with in the first place? In times that have | | | | "right". If each kick sounded exactly the same, the |
| passed, this would have proved to be a serious | | | | track would begin to sound lifeless and unnatural. In the |
| dilemma however today's recording tools can serve | | | | programme of your choice, pay particular attention to |
| up an entirely new method. Every audio producer | | | | the threshold or sensitivity control as this adjusts how |
| says, "Get the sound right from the beginning" - and I | | | | hard the sample is to be triggered. Cross check the |
| for one agree with them - but, in some instances | | | | "sample" sounds to the original and try to match the |
| where time and gear get in the way, other techniques | | | | dynamics to the original, recorded sound. Simple drum |
| may be necessary. | | | | replacement programmes only vary the dynamics of |
| Recording a drum kit is one of the hardest things to do | | | | one sample. This is not nearly as good as the more |
| in the studio. Does the following sound familiar?: You've | | | | thorough programmes which actually change the |
| just finished tracking all the drums and later returned to | | | | sample for each level of dynamic trigger. This not only |
| realise some parts of the kit don't sound as good as | | | | sounds better, but gives the drum recording a more |
| you had hoped!? Maybe you were tired during the | | | | organic sound. Some programmes also convert the |
| session? Or maybe the rest of the band wouldn't stop | | | | original drum track into a MIDI file, which enables the |
| making noise while you were busy checking that | | | | engineer to completely adjust the dynamics and send |
| everything was in place. The actual performance from | | | | midi signals to a vast array of devices. |
| the drummer was fantastic but, in hindsight, you wished | | | | One more thing to remember when using drum |
| you had taken more time to get the microphone in the | | | | replacement programmes, is to make sure your DAW |
| correct position, or even tried a different microphone | | | | has delay compensation on as latency can become |
| altogether. You've tried all the EQ'ing and various | | | | an issue. This is when the programme triggers a |
| processing tools your DAW has to offer, but none of | | | | sample which isn't aligned with the original recording |
| this makes the drums sound as good as you had | | | | causing the sample to be out of time. Some |
| hoped! If one particular piece of the instrument doesn't | | | | replacement programmes have a Latency |
| sound right, replacing or "adding" to the sample could | | | | Compensation component and some don't. |