There's lots of drummers who will claim artistic license as the reason they hit hard.HarleyM wrote:I agree completely. My trouble is, our drummer hammers extremely hard, all the time. I would love to get the drummer to soften up but getting drummers to do anything you want seems impossible. Always seems like the weak link. We're lucky if he shows up, let alone finding anyone else.Bruce Weldy wrote:Probably because most bass players are so loud that adding it to the PA in a small room isn't worth the trouble.HarleyM wrote:most sound guys at shows I've played don't seem to prioritize micing up or even DIing the bass. We don't even get a sound check so it's nice to know I'm at least set on my own.
Personally, I always want everything in my mixes and try to get those who play too loud to turn down. If I'm not successful, I just take it out of the mix and feel musically frustrated for the rest of the night.
Or perhaps it's because those drummers were brought up with bands that played through inadequate PA to mike drums and they learnt to hit hard to try and keep up with over the top guitarists and bass players who have amplifiers
As a drummer, I do understand your dilemma.
Some say I hit hard, others realise my pro level acoustic kit is loud. Louder than my other kit(s).
If they don't turn up, and you can't replace them, don't go with a drum machine!
Spend some more time, and some more dollars, to work on programmes that let you write drum tracks, with different kit sounds etc.
Then, your sans drummer gigs can be controlled drum sound wise, and you can get some musical satisfaction. Having said that, please avoid the temptation to have the drum level lower than everything else. That's an out of kilter mix that has come about due to studios, unless you're doing 60's covers, then that would be perfect...