Post by: Whit Hutchinson on March 11, 2007, 10:30:45 PM
P.S.
Our drummer is incapable of "turning down".
Post by: Evan Kirkendall on March 11, 2007, 10:34:55 PM
Ill have to take a meter up on stage this weekend and see how loud some of the drummers are.
Evan
Post by: Phil LaDue on March 11, 2007, 10:49:20 PM
Post by: Tom Reid on March 11, 2007, 11:50:11 PM
It's been my experience that a well tuned kit isn't as loud as a poorly maintained rig.
I don't know if that's a reflection on the guy behind the kit, or badly sympathetic heads.
Post by: Adam Whetham on March 12, 2007, 01:16:19 AM
| Tom Reid wrote on Sun, 11 March 2007 22:50 |
Slight topic drift. It's been my experience that a well tuned kit isn't as loud as a poorly maintained rig. I don't know if that's a reflection on the guy behind the kit, or badly sympathetic heads. |
I agree. I also believe a few other things about this subject, that was taught to me by a very good band instructor of mine.
a drummer is a drummer, they usualy have one volume, and can read rhythm.
a Percussionist is a musician, they realize that music has a volume that is lower than Forte, and can read notes along with the rhythm.
See if you can get your Drummer to be a Percussionist.... Anybody can play loud. When you can play good at a soft volume, thats when you know you've got something. (I don't ever believe the "Can't play softer" line... I play a drum set and I can. Their is a life below 2B's)
Adam "A percussionist, not a drummer" Whetham
Post by: Matt Duncan on March 29, 2007, 09:48:33 PM
The facts in brief:
At drummer ears
21" ride = 102 db
21" ride (bell) = 112 db
Bass drum = 105 db
Toms = 110 db
Snare 5x14 single roll all rimshot 120 db
Snare (maximum rimshot) 125 db
16" crash = 111 db
14" hats (maximum/open) = 117 db
18" china (maximum) 118 db
Interesting fact
Quiet groove: drummer ears 105 db - 5 feet 100 db - 25 feet 96 db
medium groove: drummer ears 110 db - 5 feet 105 db - 25 feet 102 db
Solid groove: drummer ears 115 db - 5 feet 110 db - 25 feet 108 db
Maximum (snare): drummer ears 125 db - 5 feet 120 db - 25 feet 116 db
These are the result from the January MD issue, all measure were taken with the Metrosonics DB-2100 digital SPL meter.
Post by: Matt Vivlamore on March 29, 2007, 11:04:17 PM
Here is his drums company:
http://www.myspace.com/beeleafdrums
Post by: Tim Padrick on March 29, 2007, 11:54:47 PM
Post by: Mike Summa on March 30, 2007, 01:09:16 AM
| Whit Hutchinson wrote on Sun, 11 March 2007 21:30 |
Our drummer is incapable of "turning down". |
That's what they all say.
Post by: TrevorMilburn on March 30, 2007, 03:41:25 AM
Regards,
Trevor
Post by: Nick Aghababian on March 30, 2007, 11:18:37 AM
Post by: Eric Snodgrass on March 30, 2007, 11:57:12 AM
I'm currently working with a drummer that is so conscious of his levels on stage he uses various sticks and brushes depending on the song. It is a theatrical production, by the way.
Post by: Adam Whetham on March 30, 2007, 12:09:03 PM
| Eric Snodgrass wrote on Fri, 30 March 2007 10:57 |
(I can't believe I'm writing the following sentence) In defense of drummers... I'm currently working with a drummer that is so conscious of his levels on stage he uses various sticks and brushes depending on the song. It is a theatrical production, by the way. |
As should any other percussionist... I haven't played my drum set in 4-5 years and I still have my whole stick bag full of my brushes, 2B's, 5A's, Rods, Etc.
Just like a guitarist has to change his tune for a song, the percussionist should have to change his instrument.
Post by: Scott Deeter on March 30, 2007, 12:14:27 PM
| Adam Whetham wrote on Fri, 30 March 2007 12:09 |
Just like a guitarist has to change his tune for a song, the percussionist should have to change his instrument. |
I just push a button or 2
Post by: Tim Padrick on April 01, 2007, 03:19:39 AM
Post by: Michael 'Bink' Knowles on April 01, 2007, 03:34:44 AM
| Quote: |
...Interesting fact Quiet groove: drummer ears 105 db - 5 feet 100 db - 25 feet 96 db... |
Interesting and false. A good melodic drummer can play close to the limits of audibility. I know I've heard a drummer make sounds that were quiet as a church mouse DURING HIS SOLO all the while keeping the audience rapt.
-Bink
Post by: Tom Reid on April 01, 2007, 04:57:27 AM
| Michael 'Bink' Knowles wrote on Sun, 01 April 2007 02:34 | ||
Interesting and false. A good melodic drummer can play close to the limits of audibility. I know I've heard a drummer make sounds that were quiet as a church mouse DURING HIS SOLO all the while keeping the audience rapt. -Bink |
Yup,
The guys I'm working with switched drummers.
He just happened to be my roadie.
...funny how those things work out.
Bill is a percussionist.
Meticulous tuned and polished kit.
Excellent dynamic range.
And it's sooo nice to not listen to a piccillo snare.
BTW, sitting in the drum rig, one is at the center of the snare.
That bugger makes sound everywhere 'cept the zone.
Post by: Nick Aghababian on April 01, 2007, 06:33:54 AM
Post by: Adam Whetham on April 01, 2007, 04:19:38 PM
| Scott Deeter wrote on Fri, 30 March 2007 11:14 | ||
I just push a button or 2 |
CHEATER!!!
Post by: Caleb Dick on April 02, 2007, 03:26:59 AM
A lot of my experience has been with either church drummers that have a nervous twitch from backlash from playing over 40dB, or playing with great drummers in >>100 cap rooms. It's nice to only need a kick mic for the kit
I'm sure VDrums can sound good, still searching...
I'm planning on getting my hearing checked soon, listening to the drummer's wedge and kit during practice has taken a toll.
Caleb
Post by: Scott Deeter on April 02, 2007, 09:07:35 AM
| Caleb Dick wrote on Mon, 02 April 2007 03:26 |
I'm sure VDrums can sound good, still searching... I'm planning on getting my hearing checked soon, listening to the drummer's wedge and kit during practice has taken a toll. Caleb |
Hopefully the toll has been taken with a good sounding kit so far. It's still the same old thing for the most part around here (in the Lounge at least) "What's the best kick drum mic","Shit in, Shit out", "the drummer needs to learn how to tune", "what's the best mic for a singing drummer that doesn't pick up the snare". For me, E-drums are are pretty much the fix for the most part of the above or at least help make it better. From my experience the Pro's out weigh the Con's so far.
I must have been living in a different world when I played acoustic drums in little weekend warrior bands as I've never even had the thought of "wanting" a "drum monitor". Now I've needed a monitor to hear vocals, guitar, keys and a little bass, but never needed to hear my kick, and the rest of my kit for that matter in a monitor.
With the spl's given so far with acoustic drums alone and then the need for a drum monitor on top, no wonder drummers are going deaf, including fellow band members.
With Adam's reply of "CHEATER", this may be so, but I see it as cheating for the better of the band's mix and well being of all involved possibly.
Post by: Caleb Dick on April 02, 2007, 01:14:04 PM
To me, the samples just sound extremely compressed. Both in their frequency extension (high and low), and especially their dynamics. The frequency response also seems 'off' and shallow. This has been working with, oh, 4 drummers who were all good, one or two playing VDrums exclusively with lots of tuning/tweaking time over the months. I would like to be proven wrong one of these days, listen to a real and V kit side by side and not know the difference, or even prefer the digital.
| Quote: |
Now I've needed a monitor to hear vocals, guitar, keys and a little bass, but never needed to hear my kick, and the rest of my kit for that matter in a monitor. |
I sat on a friend's kit once after soundcheck (larger venue) and just played the kick for a few hits. The drumfill would almost blast you off the throne, it was insane. Hope my hearing never goes that far, or play on stages that loud. That was competing with a couple Marshal or Mesa half stacks at 11, and an 8x10 Ampeg cab, Vox amps, and various other sound sources depending on band.
Since this is about drum SPL and not VDrum sound quality, yes real drums can be stinking loud and VDrums can help solve that. Haven't measured the SPL; as others have said, measuring at the drummer's head vs. the bassist's head is totally different, with different frequencies assaulting you.
Edit:drum fill
Caleb
Post by: Tony "T" Tissot on April 02, 2007, 11:10:09 PM
| Caleb Dick wrote on Mon, 02 April 2007 00:26 |
I'm sure VDrums can sound good, still searching... |
I love my V drums. They can sound as good as any kit live. And there are some great advantages - particularly for the cover band acts out there.
I can't use mine live any more - 'cause it's all "roots and rockabilly" music for me now.
Post by: Mark "Bass Pig" Weiss on April 03, 2007, 02:12:50 AM
BTW, the orchestra SPL at edge of stage peaked at 97dBc, or 88dBa. -3dB in the first row, -6dB in the balcony. The theater has fantastic acoustics.