BlueMountain

This is all good stuff guys (and ladies if any). Thanks for chipping in and giving your views. They're the most important views (and view holders) I can't get in relation to my question. I guess the only thing preventing me from biting the bullet and moving to a more suitable property for recording is the current economic climate. I have enough gear to start up commercially and would only require a drum kit (Doh!!) and perhaps a partial upgrade of amps/cabs and a few more high quality mic stands. I'm already in the process of getting a console. Who am I kidding, there's alway more stuff to get. As advised by Frosty Jack, I'd probably keep the roland as a side show item. Regarding electronic kits and the opinions on sound, the stock modules normally 'do' sound really rough and metalic. I would totally agree that they suck. However, advances in midi libraries currently available and the potential progress they may make in future may close the current gap between midi and acoustic. How much? Who knows? Having said that, the issue here appears not only to be sound driven but perhaps moreso for you guys' requirement to feel a real kit at the end of your sticks, even your own. This is totally understandable as you're crafting a piece of art you are deeply connected with. I agree there should be no shortcuts for this with the process being predominantly artist led. One solution for me is to record acoustic drums in a mobile manner. I could unrack 8-12 pres and converters and use a laptop. However, endeavouring with this would preclude me from ever recording a whole band's simultaneous performance. Regarding sound proofing workarounds for guitar and bass, I've been encasing amps and cabs within a number of Owen's Corning 703 type acoustic panels 4ft x 2ft x 3". This seems to help. I also have several decent DI's I can use too. I usually prefer both DI and miced. The only problem with encasing speakers is that a room mic can't be used but I've never felt this to be a major issue. You guys have been great. Cheers. Stewart

Cheers guys This is exactly the views I seek and your input is greatly appreciated. I have to say, in my albeit limited drumming experience, the roland mesh heads feel similar to acoustic drums and the Superior 2 libraries are pretty fantastic with tons of ways of controlling their sounds. However, primarily being a guitarist and bassist, if someone plonked a new-fangled substitute for guitar and bass in front of me, which was reported to sound just as good, I would likely tell them to f*$k off. Therefore, I felt that actual drummers would be best qualified to make this call. If/when I get a bigger place, I will get an acoustic kit and will ensure that its noise levels are acceptable wherever I am. Thankfully, I didn't buy the roland kit as part of an eventual studio's inventory. I bought it a couple of years ago for personal use and to learn the drums. Sadly, it became apparent quite quickly that my back didn't prosper on playing drums, nor did an old shoulder injury I have. Obviously, this was somewhat of a downer given the cost involved and it rarely has an outing these days due to it mainly being solo artists I work with just now. I may part with it at some point and get a return on it and perhaps splash out on a new plectrum. Cheers BM

Hi there I've been getting some mixed views on this and thought I'd ask on here too. Would you drummers out there record at a studio which does not have an acoustic kit? I'm building a bit of a studio but lack the noise capacity where I currently work from and have a Roland TD-12 which we use to trigger Superior Drummer 2 via midi. Illustration pic below. This kit is decent as it is - mine has a 3rd cymbal BTW. However, I was thinking of upgrading by moving the 10" snare pad up to the rack to become a tom and buying another 10" pad to join it. My intentions then are to buy two 12" pads (one as snare and one as floor tom) and perhaps use one of the surplus 8" pads as a high tom. The other two 8" pads would be eBayed to help pay for the upgrade. Would purists among you run a mile from this proposed setup or even the current setup below?

To the OP Lessons, according to the others, are always a good idea but not what I did so I cannot comment too much on them. I used to wear out tape machines doing what I'm about to advise. It learned me to learn things quicker and saved a fortune on books - especially for blues guitar. Dig out your favourite mp3 tracks which have the bass performances you would like to learn. Or dig out something you like less which you know is easy and perhaps within a beginners grasp. If you aim too high to begin with, you run the risk of becoming defeatist and feeling as though you won't ever manage to cut it. Get a set of headphones on at the PC and begin sussing out each note in each part of the song. There will be a lot of stopping and starting but keep with it. Quite a lot of the time, learning the first verse will give you all verses - same with choruses. However, there may be small variations between them. Once you have things sussed, play along with the song with your bass loud enough that you hear it above the song. You'll be surprised how involved you'll feel despite playing over an already recorded bass track. It can be pretty cool - kinda like being in the band. Incidentally, the record will likely leave you eating its dust the first few times you play along but this is normal. Do it again and again and again and you'll note continual improvments each time you play along with it. You'll feel very satisfied after managing to play your first tune along with the band without a gaff and will be scouring your collection for more basslines in no time. You can make this process even easier if you wish by using 'slow downer' software, 'Amazing Slow Downer' or 'Best Practice' being examples of this. Hell, DAW software may assist with this too so feel free to import mp3s into it. If using DAW software, you can also boost the bass frequencies so that you can pick out the notes easier. If you get stuck on any notes, I know it sounds arduous and sometimes it is but it's worth doing and if you're able to get the notes correct, you needn't be a rocket surgeon to guess correctly where the notes are played on the fretboard (i.e. open string A versus E-string 5th Fret). Yo'll get a feel for it. Stewart

The Mutron is a legend Also consider the 3Leaf Audio Envelope Filter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_5IMP_8kO0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_5IMP_8kO0 Or the 3Leaf Groove Regulator or any of the other two in this clip Stewart

Thanks for that fatboy. I'm gonna watch that the now since I'm off work. As a matter of coincidence, I just bought a Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah last week. The "Wacked" setting is awsome and feels like it's sucking my carpet up through the base of the pedal...lol

Hi jgomez That sound you have there is pretty good mate. Totally usable.

Simply screw off your 58's ball shaped grill. It will then basically be like a 57 which will enable you to get closer to your speaker cone. Make sure you have the most up to date drivers from the Tascam website. Product: US-122L | TASCAM Hope this helps

Hi Rick Looks like a nice recording space you have there. I like that you're able to do acoustic drums too.