Elson Trinidad (elson@westworld.com)
Thu, 23 Dec 1999 10:05:37 -0800
Steve Catanzaro wrote:
> My thang about live drums is not really the "sound" (dry vs. heavily gated
> or 'verbd), but rather the groove. True it is hard to get good sounding live
> drums, but MMW's shackman was recorded in a shack; all things considered,
> that's much better than a drum machine or a bunch of loops.
It all depends. I don't think MMW's music would sound the same (or quite as
good) if they replaced Billy Martin with an MPC-3000 or an 808. Conversely, I
don't think certain kinds of hip-hop tracks would have the same hednadda factor
if a live drummer played them...In many cases the sampled programmed drums are
the constant that locks everything together, especially if there are odd-rhythm
scratches, funky low-fi samples or loosely-rhymed lyrics.
Also, programming and live playing represent different approaches to playing rhythms...
You know how on hip-hop tracks, a DJ would cut out the first 3 beats of the
measure and come in on the 4, or how a programmed beat would do the same? It has
that certain effect...but ask the drummer to do the same, and what would he do?
He'd hit an open hi-hat while hitting the 4! They do it all the time...you can
even make money by betting on that.
But I don't blame 'em really, it's just the approach that they've been
conditioned to learn...4Hero proved live drums can play drum n bass (though in
reality the drums in "Loveless" were sampled phrases from a live drummer - the
cymbals don't decay naturally), but for hardstep-type stuff, forget it, it ends
up sounding like rock. And house music sounds absolutely *wack* with a live
drummer. Reminds me of talk show bands trying to sound funky.
> Question; Do you all find yourself tiring of grooves with sampled beats
> faster than joints with real drums? I do. This all came to me while I was
> listening to Steely Dan the other day. It's so much fun just to listen to
> the drums!
It really, really, really depends. Yes, for certain kinds of music (jazz
obviously) or certain kinds of tunes, a live drummer with those nuances only a
human can do live is ideal, but for certain other kinds of music, mostly dance
music, where just a groove is involved, many drummers have the tendency to
"overplay" or add certain embellishments that take away from the effect of the
song...nothing is absolute of course, so like I said, it really depends.
Elson
--- 30 -
:. elson trinidad, los angeles, california, usa :. elson@westworld.com :. www.westworld.com/~elson
"funny how frustration breeds desire" - meja
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