How to get SUPER DEAD DRUM sounds

I get a lot of questions about how to get super dead drum sounds, so we’re going in-depth on dialing these tones.
00:00 Intro and room treatment considerations
01:24 SUPER DEAD DRUMS muffling
04:08 SUPER DEAD DRUMS tuning
08:54 Cymbals
10:05 Mic talk
12:45 IMPORTANT STUFF!!!
14:20 SUPER DEAD DRUMS tone production discussion
15:45 Mixing SUPER DEAD DRUMS
18:04 Trio performance - SUPER DEAD DRUMS in context
@kait_dunton on Rhodes
Sean Hurley on Fender Sean Hurley Signature P-bass
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Sweetwater affiliate links
(support the channel by using them)
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Cymbals: sweetwater.sjv.io/OrO9qz
Drumheads: sweetwater.sjv.io/3ey9QX
Drums & Hardware: sweetwater.sjv.io/vNQ4MO
Headphone System: sweetwater.sjv.io/5gyMoj
Audio Interface: sweetwater.sjv.io/4Pyr9M
Mic Stands: sweetwater.sjv.io/NkRQLv
Microphones: sweetwater.sjv.io/Y9bqem
Outboard Gear: sweetwater.sjv.io/Mm2DO3
Pedals: sweetwater.sjv.io/75nGPr
Plugins: sweetwater.sjv.io/xkr2Md
Preamps: sweetwater.sjv.io/rQLzM5
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[@JakeReedmusic]

Let the microphones do the work!

[@JackNiles]

Question. What does the rain have to do with the bass drum tuning?

[@JakeReedmusic]

@@JackNiles I have a calfskin head on this bass drum so it absorbs a lot of moisture in the air due to the rain, which makes it sound deeper.

[@JackNiles]

@@JakeReedmusic very interesting, so does humidity effect tuning of plastic drum heads also?

[@JakeReedmusic]

@@JackNiles no, just porous skin drum heads.

[@SAHBfan]

I have animals,ins on my kit, too… sometimes it can be a bit of a pain - I have to tune before every gig, although I’m getting very quick at it due to all the practice 😊

[@MsTechism]

You're straight up one of the first people who isn't trying to sell me some secret sauce and really be real about how the musician, kit and how they play together really affects the sound and not just all the crazy expensive gear, etc etc. Officially a big fan!

[@Dana__black]

First people? Really? Gawk gawk 3000 in full effect.

[@robco1727]

@@Dana__blackcommented this 11 months ago and you’re still dick eating lmao

[@joshrichensproducer2201]

I am 2 seconds in and this is my FAVOURITE JAKE REED VIDEO EVER

[@JakeReedmusic]

Yaaaaaay!!!!

[@jenserjenson4407]

not even a drummer but I appreciate your videos so much, especially the performances with Kait and Sean. Thank you!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you for the kind words! Kait and Sean rule!

[@LedWolf7]

Love hearing your sound and seeing your playing in context with jazz fusion players, more videos with this group if possible please and thank you, keyboard player shreds 😵

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks! More to come! There’s an entire album with this band coming out in a few months.

[@gabriellopes195]

@@JakeReedmusic I'll definitely listen to it

[@MrBassgreen]

keyboard player shreds 😵💯

[@lowbrasswarrior4097]

This sounded amazing!! Cant wait to hear what else you guys do!

[@urbanhellhole]

Thanks for the rundown Jake! I really appreciate these thorough explanation videos.

[@ziccuj]

I enjoyed the sounds a lot! Thank you for this excellent video and all the best from Finland!

[@sailorsam3550]

Thanks Jake! I've needed a tutorial like this for a while

[@mostyles328]

Sean Hurley is a master of knowing just what to play... and more importantly, what not to play. Nice jam!

[@jjjpetersen]

Totally love the sound of the drums and you guys playing!

[@BrilliantBenGaming]

informative and lots of fun to watch - love that perfect lil jam room

[@diegomonteirobatera]

This was fire! Really enjoyed the song at the end.

[@JohnLawsonMusic]

I’ve been on the fence for a while about trying something like this (or even halfway ‘dead’) with my kit at home. I love how you acknowledge the impact of the sound of the room itself, doors open/closed. So many people ignore all of the different variables that go into the sound of any instrument or voice or mix. I lead worship at a church that uses a pretty small venue, and a very lively room. I can see this type of set up for drums working super well in that context as most of our sets tend to be acoustic. Great work and thank you so much for sharing your process! You could’ve done a really quick two minute overview, but, showing how thorough you are in your process, speaks to the depth and seriousness that we should all use for our own context.

[@onMyOwnAccord-hw2gd]

Bro I cannot describe how much I love the real/genuine-ness of your videos

[@TheMixtape11]

Awesome. I was sortof headed in this direction. Thank you for sharing!

[@thahacksaw]

Dude, you're such a legend. Seriously! All of your jam videos are an absolute blast. But this sorta thing is what I live for. This isn't a drum sound I would use often, but it's probably a favorite drum tone of mine. And you just nail it, Sir! Thanks for taking us thru your setup. I really appreciate your casual approach to tuning. You just adjust until it sounds/feels right. Experience and personal aesthetic making for a killer result. A++

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@ramencurry6672]

I wouldn’t call him dude. I would call him sir

[@moreroids_morehemorrhoids]

I love this kind of sound for the drums, it sounds so warm

[@christofabsurd]

I used to think i was a musician until I watched your final mix jam sesh at the end... you guys are pros. Flawless.

[@barny15]

Dang, that sesh!🔥Great sound on those drums for sure.

[@JohnPandolfo121]

Appreciate the info 😊

[@larryvandiver8657]

Wonderful trio.

[@alexm1038]

that intro was tight as hell, really nice playing!

[@daanie1998]

Jake you are an absolute legend :)) you’ve helped me get better at recording myself a tonnnnn, thanks for all the great videos!!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Happy to help out!

[@remiprevost818]

What a great drum sound !! wow ! sooo cool :) and your session at the end was awesome !

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@golafs]

love the sound and video!!

[@DrummerGuidoLozano]

Insane information Man!!!!!! 🎉❤ Thanks!

[@jimzartman]

Love it… and the sample pack is helping with some creative songwriting applications!

[@spurts]

Sounds amazing, Mate. Very warm

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks!

[@bassedthechannel]

This is such a great video. Thanks for spreading the love.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@elMatip]

i'm so in love with this sound

[@danielquintanilla7263]

You nailed it man! It sounds really good, loved that drums sound and your groove was into the pocket. Congrats! Greetings from El Salvador 🇸🇻

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@bustamante-music]

not a drummer but this guy seems so lovable and when you showed all the drums with the effects and mics together it sounded sick!

[@literallyjeff]

still my favorite sample pack, I loaded it into my electronic kit and it's really fun to jam with

[@omarcapaso7156]

How do you do that?

[@literallyjeff]

@@omarcapaso7156 I took the samples on a USB in a format my kit prefers, like .wav with correct bitrate (you may need to consult the manual). Then plugged it into my drum module and imported the samples into memory. Then edited a user kit assigning the new sounds to each corresponding piece.

[@pressspacetostop]

awesome vid super insightful and surpisingly hard to find this kind of drum recording content. thx for upload

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@rolandhillmann6503]

Happy New Year Mr.70er .

[@arthurmartau5286]

man... what a great video. It's so nice to be able to see every step of the way to getting there. Even though most of the equipment i won't be able to buy (specially living in Brazil, which these thing's cost thousands), you can have a pretty good ideia of what to aim for. Thanks Jake.

[@BEEFjrMUSIC]

dawg these drums sound AMAZING. Im going use all of this info

[@AndySalinger33]

Your drums always sound like magic. And just as an aside, I really enjoyed your work in 2012’s “the Campaign”, as well as your early stand up. Godspeed, good sir.

[@pepelostinbeat]

Merci pour ce partage de connaissance Jack. Ca sonne de folie! Longue vie à la "fat drum touch"

1:59 That blanket is what I use for my room's acoustic treatment

[@williamperri3437]

Dope ASF! I was one of the people asking so thank you!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank YOU!

[@MustafaShaheen]

Thank you so much for contributing to KZbin university! Always learn a ton from you. Let the mics do the work!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Happy to help!

[@knorpelmancer]

Usually not my kind of music or sound but I learned a lot from your vid and got inspired. Thanks!

[@Ursabomb]

love, love, LOVE this... sounds like a drum machine... PERFECT!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks!

[@coffeehigh420]

the most important thing is to invest in a dehumidifier. if the rain OUTSIDE is making that much of a difference INSIDE, you will definitely damage your audio equipment (mics included) if that much humidity is coming in because of exterior rain / outdoor elements. Trust me dude, this is coming from experience.

[@JakeReedmusic]

99.9% of the time it’s not an issue in Southern California but that is a good idea!

[@botbot3698]

thank you jake

[@chrisgroshong]

Nice advice. I didn't care much for a dead sound but the information from trial and error is invaluable. It's something I just haven't tried. And the playing here with the duo really made me more of a fan of this sound - nice tasteful beats & chops. Good music too. That Fluff beater I like because with a somewhat high tune for me, it gives it a sound of the bass from subs in the trunk of car that I like for a hip hop sound I guess. I use to always tune drums just based on getting an even tension. And it worked for a general 'sound', but after Aron's tuning video I realized how resilient drum heads are, and you can tune them a lot without needing a new head every time you go too high or something; and maybe most important tune to a even sound around all the lugs but also feel it out, find where the head wants to be with your preferred head tension. I like to play off the rebound so I usually tension high, but don't want a jazz style tuning too. Kind of in the middle. Ive found it's possible. Thanks man, you inspire 🤙

[@TLOEric]

Amazing work, man.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks dude!

[@strumminfuel4625]

You guys are so fun to watch. Your drumming style reminds me so much of louis cole. I love it when everybody's all in.

[@MultiSkyman1]

Fantastic! Replicating a vintage authentic 70's drum sound is pretty cool along with your spot on a vintage drum style to boot. I swear I would think it was from that period.

[@fermendozadrums]

Great sounds! Super trio! :D

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@connor.chan.jazzman]

That custom Mk8 rhodes at the beginning is absolutely gorgeous

[@Elboy522]

Thanks Jake! Glad you finally went in depth on the death

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks! ☠

[@RumbleStudios]

Great sound Jake! Radiator love ❤️ 😂

[@mattryan6886]

That Gretsch Round badge kit is. Freaking BEAUTIFUL 😻 😻😻 I desperately want both a vintage Gretsch standard sized and modern kit in bop size.

[@makkamccann]

Just bought this sample set. Going to use in a Beat Buddy drumset. They are awesome.

[@RhettShull]

60 seconds in, instant sub. This is such a helpful video.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks dude!

[@El_Chompo]

Nice dude. I had no idea there was so much customization in terms of how drums can be deadened for that funky sound. This will be perfect for me. I was just about to set my old kit back up that I've hardly ever played and only know a basic beat on but I really want to learn breakbeats and funk beats like the Interstate 76 soundtrack and this setup will be great for taht.

[@charcutie]

Shoutout to Jake Reed, great concise advice and a pocket shredder, I’ll be looking out for the record! 👏🤙✌️

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks! Album due out early 2023 with this band.

[@gabriellopes195]

I saw you on Instagram ads, never got mad when you show up

[@quimmartinezcabrera]

awesome vid Jake! super instructional! we demand more of these "How to get x sound" videos!

[@dillonjohnlane]

incredible. thank you for this, you're a gem

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank YOU!

[@vinniewilderness]

Well done

[@johnsausage]

The beauty of sample packs are (or samples in general): It inspires you to play with the samples like pieces of Lego. Build new stuff out of tiny sound fragments. For example at 0:32 you could cut and edit the text "sample pack" to make the words "pample sack"... but I don't even know what a pample sack is.. which makes me think about my thought process when looking for a play of word that barely makes sense and isn't really funny. But at some point if you don't laugh at it, laugh at the person, laugh for someone trying to be funny at all cost or simply feeling embarrassed for people writing such terrible comments, then I guess you are super dead inside 🙂. Which brings me back to this video which is a joy to watch and really helpful. Keep it up!

[@funkbungus137]

we used to go down to the place as youths, you know the one, and well it was the popular thing at the time to get yourself maybe one, but probably 3 or 4 pamples, you know tie em together by the bpm, and hang em off your belt. One day Fred, that was my friend's name -Fred. Well one day Fred got the idea, you see his dad was a hobo. Like an honest to goodness bean eating, rail car riding, big rock candy mountain style hobo. And a hobo would often carry with him a bindle, that's not important to the story though, Fred, well Fred's hobo dad had a sack of potatoes we learned about from Fred's Mom, so we took the pamples (We had maybe 10 between the two of us, I forget, it was around the time 808 one hits would just. You know, who counts?) 10 maybe we had. and well, The long and short of it is Fred cut his thumb pealing the potatoes from the sack, and it got infected. So Margaret Thatcher (thats what Joe Biden's name was back then) banned pample's, and lord save me, they knew not to go after a mans sack, so we still got those, but you'd be hard pressed to get a good pample for it these days.

[@johnsausage]

@@funkbungus137 loool :D

[@ggdk2865]

Oh, a simple pack :) Hey! What are you thinking about, that's nasty...

[@kimseniorb]

honestly sounded amazing no processing. great stuff

[@Tyl-Fiedler]

Got i love your Videos Jake ! And your playing is amazing.! As well as mr. Hurly and your wife❤ Thanks so much for such Great Videos

[@JakeReedmusic]

I appreciate the kind words! Thank you!

[@anthonywhite6530]

Excellent videos

[@Ds_Drums]

Cool jam at the end. Your drums sound great.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@bpearsondrummer]

What a great video man, learnt a lot here from sharing your process - dying to know where your tee shirt it from too!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks! Got it direct from Pro Drum in Hollywood.

[@medula]

I discovered the relationship between transients and tone several years ago when tracking records at home. Songs that I recorded in a mellow way always sounded phat and loud. I haven't really heard anyone talk about this until I found your videos. I heard a similar thing from some guitarists. They say if you turn an amp up super loud and play softly it sounds huge. Anyway, thanks for the video! I'm going to take my bottom heads off and try this whole set up. Cheers!

[@yousukeesu1]

Wow. Thank you man. This really helped me.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Happy to help!

[@TSSVillains]

tone for days! Also the keys are killer

[@Jath2112]

Low key....insanely badass. Geez I love this

[@nickpruett8022]

Great video

[@pana3166]

Great vid , great playing too thank you

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks!

[@carlmartinez7399]

Good job!

[@OrphanRecordingHX]

You are a total dreamboat. thank you for this.

[@AAA-pt7ix]

I really want to create my own home studio. Great video!

[@castlecarousel]

Great stuff, I definitely hit the smash button

[@capabartz7380]

Here’s a fun thing. Meinel makes this thing called a beat box, and it has this crazy beater that comes with it. If you buy just the beater and modify it to work as a bass drum beater it sounds nuts. The beater is super wide and has a crazy soft head. I really dig it.

[@Sooby007]

Great video!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks dude!

[@mikedr1549]

I don't know anything about banging drums or dead things - but that keyboardist has some great chops!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Kait rules and I’m lucky to call her my wife.

[@cartwright420able]

Had a Slingerland blue satin kit in the early 70's. wish I still had it.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Great drums. Love that wrap.

[@HondoFelder]

Man, i love your videos, and love your sample packs! Would love to work on something together one day 🤘

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@32herz]

I have the super dead drum sample pack and the suuuuuper simple beats ARE THE BEST SONWRITING TOOL I'VE COME ACROSS IN ALONG TIME! seriously, vey often, I want just a simple beat to play along that is not too intrusive but still sound like a drumset. Somehow this has ben incredibly hard to do for other people (and drum machine manufacturers, sheehs, DR-600 was the last one with enough simplicity). Thank you so much for sample set you made!

[@cobraninetysix3883]

Very Cool!💥

[@goodbyeasher]

amazing ninja edit at the end!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Glad someone caught that! I punched the last few bars to make it a lil more over-the-top fusiony lol.

[@RickyParker666]

Never been a big fan of the ultra dead drum sound, but I’ve got to admit, this is a really fun video and the drums sound great.

[@Johnnybananass-_]

Was recording in Hansa in Berlin one week and the engineer wanted a dead drum sound from our drummer , so just went to the kitchen and got a clean tea towel and threw over each drum and stationary clipped each to each rim , magic sound ,

[@agork]

Jake, first of all thank you. Great video. Real musical science research here. I love this. You are definitely not - not a mixer. Funky keys.... nice job everyone ❤❤❤

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!

[@ChristopherDillman]

This is a terrific tutorial, thank you for sharing! The time finally arrived when my son said - 'Dad, I want to play your drum set'. But given it's a DW with a 24in bass drum, I need to keep the good graces with the neighbors and volume down the whole kit. Maybe I'll have luck with your trick to muffle the bass drum - even a 24in one? Can't wait to try!

[@Johnnybananass-_]

Duck down pillows packed in the kick drum are magic too . There super light but so dense they deaden so much tone fast . And not a solid mass of fabric , worth trying if you can get your hands on a few duck down pillows stuff the kick so they touch the batter skin

[@ChrisDN]

I'm all about that hi-hat sound 😗👌 *_*chef kiss*_*

[@merrybolicshong1796]

really cool!

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thanks!

[@LAstudio8]

Interesting video.👍

[@sfn4702]

Awesome!

[@fartpooboxohyeah8611]

Funky Jake, you have good little jam band there, sounds really solid, in the pocket.

[@Mdjagg]

Hats sound amazing! I've got a thin pair of old hats that sound similar in 14's and a k series set of 13s. Kind of a mix of the two.

[@JakeReedmusic]

Rad!

[@curtis_chip]

cool cool ! cheers from berlin

[@JakeReedmusic]

Thank you!