Playing with Groups Advice

[DJPhatman]

He still like his acoustic cymbals,

This is the biggest complaint I hear from drummers. I know at least a dozen regular-gigging drummers and they all tell me the same thing: can't stand the sound of electronic cymbals. Out of 12, 11 would use an e-kit if it had better cymbals. The 12th guy plays just like "Animal" from the Muppets! I'll bet he goes through a set of drum heads every other week or so, and he plays 3-4 nights a week! I can't stand to be in the same building when his ham hocks are beating the drum!

[Grant Bunter]

Sorry for a further sidetrack Donny,

As a drummer, IMO cymbal sounds have always been the bane of electronic drum brains.
Some people love them. Presumably non drummers.

I don't know if it's an inherent lack of space in terms of memory to get decent cymbal samples to allow max sample rate and time, I can only assume so.
I do know my favourite cymbals in my modest collection (comprising of A Zildjians and AC&IE, Paiste Coloursounds and 2002's, Sabian's and UFIP's, all hand picked for how they sound, mostly from the 80's, or earlier), seem to ring on forever, and that is never replicated in cymbal samples. All companies seem to get only that initial attack and a slight decay.

And that's the foshizzle missing from drum brain cymbal sounds...

[Bruce Weldy]

And that's the foshizzle missing from drum brain cymbal sounds...

Actually not.....you can control the decay. It does take time to get 'em set up right.

I think the real issue is what the drummer hears at his throne vs. what's out front. Through a sound system, the e-cymbals actually sound more "out front" and clear then real cymbals. Most of the time, the real cymbals are not mic'd up. I mic ride and hat, but a lot of bands don't even do that. Thus, the cymbals rely on the vocal mics for amplification......of course in a small place they can go to the other extreme and be overwhelming.

It's always a trade-off between our musician side and the soundman side. The harder your work, the better chance of getting those two sides closer together.

[MarcBass]

Hey all,

How do you tactfully tell other musicians to change what they're playing or just stop all together without being perceived as offensive or that you're trying to boss everybody? Sometimes "why don't you try..." or "why don't we..." does not get the point across.

Thanks!

Donny

We all communicate differently and often act and react differently as well. Open and honest communication should be the key.

Oddly this thread seems to keep swinging back to drummers. As an older style bass player the drummer is my prime ally in anchoring the rythm section. Recently I moved from bass to sound only in a pub rock band because a new guitarist was having trouble gelling with my bass style. By taking one for the team and stepping aside I've left the poor drummer to fend with a bass he can't gell with!!

The lesson may be; It's a team effort. For the best result every member needs to gell with the whole .....