Manuel is a passionate, driven, and techsavvy AV technician, 
Congratulations! If you are reading this article, you must be aware of the benefits of obtaining drum tracks online from an online session drummer. This is the simplest and most affordable way to acquire custom drum performances for your music.
There are several factors to consider when selecting an online session drummer, and the quality of the drum sound is just as important as any other aspect. Achieving a high standard of drum sound is crucial at a technological level.
Online drum recording websites offer sound samples that can be listened to. Some may include fully produced songs featuring the session drummer, while others may provide examples of dry, unprocessed drums played individually. It is important to carefully compare the quality of drum tones produced by each session drummer.
While it is undoubtedly essential that the performance of the session drummer on your tracks is top-notch, a great performance can be wasted if the sound quality is not up to par.
The quality of drum sounds depends on:
- How well the drums are tuned.
- The drummer’s technique in striking the drums.
- The sound engineer’s level of expertise.
- The recording equipment being used.
If the online session drummer is also handling the engineering of their own sessions, this can result in subpar sound quality unless the drummer is a trained sound engineer Many Kinds Of Audio Engineering - Audio engineering is a branch of audio science that deals with recording and reproducing sound using mechanical and electronic devices. Aspiring sound engineers must be proficient with various recording equipment and often specialize in one aspect of the process. There are several key areas that an engineer can choose from: Studio engineer: Works in a… .
Even with excellent microphones, this problem cannot be solved if the online studio drummer is not an expert in engineering.
To achieve great sounds, high-level professional microphones and outboard recording equipment must be used, along with a good amount of expertise in utilizing that gear.
On the other hand, if the drums are not properly tuned and struck to produce an excellent tone, no amount of high-end recording equipment or technical expertise will save the tones from sounding lackluster.
For example, the bass drum should sound great. You don’t want tracks where the bass drum sounds weak in any way. Few things are worse than an overly-clicky bass drum. Some metal-type tracks may require additional articulation in the kick, which could involve closer mic placement and/or a harder bass drum beater. However, the bass drum tone should have enough bottom end without being excessive.
Another important aspect is the quality of the snare drum sound produced by any given online session drummer. Does the snare drum have a powerful punch? Does it possess enough “crack” without sacrificing “fatness”? The snare drum sound should definitely not be “papery”.
What about the toms? They should be warm and articulate, and each tom should have a consistent sound. The toms should resonate equally, with no single tom ringing significantly longer than the others. This is a common issue with drum tracks.
Overall, each drum should be perfectly tuned, without any obvious unpleasant overtones. This doesn’t mean that the drums should sound dead or completely devoid of overtones, but there should be no frequencies that induce headaches, even subtly.
In general, the drum sounds should be easy for you to blend and equalize. And of course, any EQ adjustments made to the drums should be for artistic and stylistic reasons, rather than an attempt to mask poor drum sounds. Plug-ins like Vintage Warmer should be used creatively, not to “polish a turd”.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
