Rhythm (RE: Mos Def... More Controversy)


Manire, Aaron D (amanire@indiana.edu)
Wed, 22 Dec 1999 12:31:29 -0500



Question to all the wizened dj's and producers:

Do you avoid mixing beats that have live drummers? Seein as they can
sometimes subtly shift their tempos when you least expecting it? I suppose
it doesn't matter if your not fading or cutting back and forth, ie if you
just scratch the beat in and drop the other out.

Or are there drummers out there that can hold a tempo just as well as the
machines?

Conversely, what's the precision on a typical drum machine? Do they have
quartz clocks or what?

Paz,
A Dario

ps I'm of the opinion that Mos Def deserves nothing but praise for "Black on
Both Sides" despite my disdain for dichotomies. Which reminds me, Gilles
seamlessly mixes "Fear not of Man" into the Fela track of the original name
and spirit on the latest worldwide.

-----Original Message-----
Where's the live drums?

I was always under the impression that drum programming, sampling, beat
chopping, loops, and what not were substitutes for the real thing,
innovative solutions for guys and gals on a budget. (Anyone who's tried
knows that real drums are the hardest thing to record right, usually.) Of
course, drum and bass transcends that, and the real drummers are now trying
to catch up with the programmers. But still, Mos Def's record is so steeped
in R&B and funk - soul - jazz styles... so, where's the drummer?

And, I'll bet Mos Def's budget was pretty big. Those of you rocking that
record, just imagine how much better it would sound if, instead of a 2 or 4
bar loop, it was a real drummer holding it down on "My Umi Says" or some of
those other jams. He could'a done it. Why didn't he?

About the only drummer I've heard lately is Francisco Moira jamming on
Innerzone Orchestra, and I think this list generally agrees that this rocks.
When are we going to hear more LIVE drum trax on hip hop, R&B, and acid jazz
records, specially the big budget ones? Or, did everyone forget how to play
the drums after samplers were invented?



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