No Samples Required: How to get an EXPLOSIVE snare!

A few weeks back, I got to hang out with Spencer Sotelo, vocalist of Periphery, and he showed me an extremely cool trick to deliver a "cannon-like" snare sound. No Samples Required! Here's how to do it with software and KEEP THE DRUMMER! Check out his studio at www.blvckboxstudios.com/
0:00 At the Desk
1:20 The Mix Before
2:42 What's this?
4:36 Not there quite yet
7:35 a little TOO far!
About Spectre Sound Studios:
I'm Glenn Fricker, engineer here at Spectre Sound Studios. I love making records, and after doing it for sixteen years, I want to pass on what I've learned. On my channel you can find tutorials on how to record guitar, bass, real drums and vocals. There's reviews and demos of tube amps, amp sims, drums, mics, preamps, outboard gear, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, and plugin effects.
We've covered Moon on the Water, played Bias FX, given you the absolute best in Stupid Musician Texts, ranted & raved about bass guitar, and this channel is where The Eagle has Landed.
Everything you've wanted to learn about recording Hard Rock & Heavy Metal can be found right here on this channel!
I also respond to your comments & questions: The best make it into the SMG Viewer's Comments series of videos. Loads of fun, lots of laughs.
Thanks for checking out my channel & please subscribe!

[@TheWitness369]

Didn't think this channel would get back to production. Went on a guitar tone rant for a few months lol glad to have ya back Glenn! Missed ya!

[@sbz8620]

Spot on. This is the good stuff

[@Bobby_Uterus]

100 % This channel used to be all production material. And it was really good info. Apparently guitar reviews get the views though 😔. Gotta be geared towards what the audience wants I guess.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

According to legend, this sound was discovered through a gated conversation from the drum room to the control room, while the drummer was playing in the background.

[@alrecks619]

it somehow came from the Listen mic.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

@@alrecks619 Not what I was told when I studied Audio Engineering in 1987. They taught us how to get the effect with a compressor, a reverb, and a gate, and that was the story behind it as they told it in the 80s.

[@chromebull884]

Yes! That was Phil Collins recording drums for Peter Gabriel's solo project

[@Djfmdotcom]

@@chromebull884 Yep. The engineer had the talk back mic on to try and talk to Phil, but he was still playing his drums and they heard the reverb sound THROUGH that mic. Then they said, "how do we get THAT?"

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

@@Djfmdotcom Yep, that's what I was told, and the of course there was a gate to prevent background noise in the conversation, so they heard a big reverb sound, but with the tail chopped off, whenever a drum was hit.

[@RobShannanigans]

Yay, more drum recording tutorials! Thanks Glenn!

[@matiosmi137]

OMG, this is the "The Way You Make Me Feel" intro snare sound! I had an instant neuron activation moment, this is one of my strongest musical memories from childhood

[@AnthonyVolpe]

Saving this video. I’ve experimented with trying to come up with my own gated reverbs and couldn’t quite get it. Thank you for this.

[@lucylebronhernandez8126]

I simply cannot express how much I thank you 🙏🏽 🌞I heal myself with music. I live in endless pain and no medication. Nothing helps, but in mental health they told me to use the arts and a group talk on anything. I felt never to rise and play again. I sang in the choir from age seven. Music is a passion. I wasn’t going to watch you, because you reminded me too much of music classes and how I felt sunshine from me. But, I’ve watched and you play the best cigar box guitar, it’s all my mom could buy me. Thanks I’m happier.

[@antcall6779]

Great trick Glenn! 🤘

[@athonygraham8353]

This is the sort of thing I subscribed for, great stuff Glenn!

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

You’re welcome! Now if only MORE people would watch!

[@barryb903]

When I was mixing with a really good producer back in the day he always screamed, make it sound like a gun shot!!! You got it man!!!

[@notarealperson87]

the guitarist on your last few videos has a really strong Zakk Wylde influence and i fucking love it

[@tommyareli]

Sometimes simpler is better, so I don't try to be another Petrucci, because I know I'm not :D Love the older simpler rockin' wibes as well bro...

[@leh0941]

It's interesting on how we approached the infamous punchy snare in the same way (with other plugins, but the workflow I use it's the same). BRAVO!

[@Djfmdotcom]

04:28 That's a pretty mighty bass guitar tone going on there, too!

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Can’t wait to show you guys how to get it!

[@Djfmdotcom]

@@SpectreSoundStudios As a bass player myself, who can read, not drool AND CHEW GUM at the same time, I’m excited for it!

[@g0shd4rn1t]

Valhalla Room has a gated snare preset that I've been using in this manner for a while. It really adds that extra oomph that a regular reverb can't always provide, especially in a dense mix.

[@Djfmdotcom]

Just recently started working with Valhalla and man, I'll NEVER go back.

[@anthonyoresteen4767]

Thanks I will check it out.

[@pstudio4096]

yay a drum video!!

[@oddrage1706]

Love this trick, especially considering how you've ribbed me for my snare sound on Mix Reviews! I'm going to be using this more prominently in my mixes from now on! Thanks and F YOU GLENNNN!

[@AREA_FIFTY_1]

Love this technique glenn! what i phat snare sound! im obsessed with how the snare sounds and this is a good one!

[@fernandoramoa7079]

sounds super dope man

[@nogodsnomasters666]

Loved the snare at the beginning..

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

I was waiting for this since watching you mix Juiceboxs' song. 🙂👍

[@GANTOBARN]

I wasn't the only one singing "Addicted To Love" to that drum beat soaked in reverb. YES!

[@hugoleclerc-charron3757]

80's AMS stuff was the shit , Max Norman used it on Ozzy's first solo record , sounds stellar

[@csiszerg]

Wow, this sounds awesome and what a cool plugin it is. Btw you can achieve a very similar result with one of Glenn's earlier tip: duplicate and group your snare track(s), flip the phase/polarity and use a compressor with a fast attack on the double(s). This method was mainly for handling bleed, since adjusing the release on the compressor affects the tail lenght - but this also can make the snare sound very 80s-gate-ish. Adding a plate-style reverb to this will result in a very similar sound.

[@aeonic_drums]

This is great! While I've been more open to samples, I still do my best to get the live snare sounding its best, even at the source. At that point, I find myself not even using a sample at all because if the live snare is tuned right, played well, and isn't lacking, then it really shines. Just don't be afraid to really do a relatively heavy amount of compression overall between the snare track and drum bus. That and a solid plate or gated reverb, and you'll be surprised as to what is possible. Great job Glenn!

[@CantAffordToRecord]

Look forward to trying this out :-)

[@Auldhelm]

Thank you - I need this - I struggle to get that metal snare sound - During recording in some studios recently I have seen this used on Bass in a similar way

[@mickeymessstudios109]

Glenn.... I got a very unexpectedly great cracking snare sound using the Soundevice ROYAL Compressor. Unexpected cuz I was actually accidentally messing with extreme settings on that compressor. Dude, you gotta check it out - it will actually blow your mind. Greetings from Switzerland

[@janvirtanen6199]

You get "In the air tonight" vibes xD Nice. :)

[@mickeybarajas4865]

More Glenn !!

[@francobuzzetti9424]

clipping the inputs work wonders specially on those analog modeled stuff, definitely try it on every plugin you have. as always just crank everything to max to see what it does first

[@jpizzleforizzle]

I've said this before on another video, this reminds me a bit of the snare sound on Queensryche's album, Empire. Still one of my favorite snare sounds, as well as a superbly produced album overall.

[@metalinyourhead3604]

I hate how that snare sounds on its own, but holy shit does it ever sound good in the mix. Great tutorial, god have I ever missed these.

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Share with your friends! This video is doing terrible! :)

[@guitarnutbolinuli5788]

I'm always interested in learning and improving my (limited) recording knowledge; more? yes please.

[@jonathandavis9504]

Cheers that’s some knowledge I needed 🙏

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

Yeah UAD has had one of these AMX emulations forever. Also there are other companies that make similar ones. Thanks for sharing your tips Glenn!

[@strong_voice_of_truth]

Nice. You can also get the same results with a reverb that has an adjustable early reflection. That's essentially what's going on by using a gated verb into a plate.

[@Levibetz]

Great trick! I learned the clip your snare reverbs from a Dave Rat video he did on reverbs. Worth checking out other audio disciplines, you never know what you'll find! I just run a saturation plugin before my verb plugin, often just using d-verb and melda's free saturation.

[@braxal6983]

Back in the day (80's) we used a reverse gated plate reverb to get that sound and then add a second plate reverb to it.

[@alrecks619]

Periphery newest record was apparently sample-free and it sounds BEEG and cuts like butter knife.

[@aeonic_drums]

Loads of saturation and compression really helped that snare stay on top!

[@SenseiKreese]

I preferred the original snare you had over the 80's gate. You had it right the first time.

[@Klevaer]

Great video Glenn. I would love to see how you mixed the whole kit, It's fucking slamming dude!

[@matiosmi137]

I'd be continuously happy to hear your mixing portfolio! Is there a way to track all commercially released music mixed in Spectre Sound Studios?

[@the_malefactor]

I want an Ulric DLC more than any other. I grew to love Empire through Total War but I always loved the Middenheimers. Hammer time!

[@kangazkorva5674]

I’m using a tube screamer or some other distortion and playing around with reverb. Gives me a pretty nice effect

[@PooNinja]

Ooh shiny!!! ✨ Gonna have to face it you’re addicted to Neve .

[@DrMobiusOfficial]

Nevo Studios have an IR of the RMX16 including the non-lin. It's like 15 bucks till the end of the year and you can load it via a free IR loader like Convology. Been using it a lot lately :D

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

In 1987, I was taught how to get this with a compressor, reverb and a gate. Since I don't have that plugin, it looks like that's how I'll be doing it! 😁

[@billhooper4182]

For an outboard piece of hardware to give you that gated snare sound try the Alesis XTC reverb. Yes it's a vintage piece but it won't cost you 5 grand (more like 100 to 200 USD) and it sounds awesome!!!

[@TheRoseCityRockers]

Love the recording tutorials, Glenn. Do you have a favorite recording snare?

[@chromebull884]

Do you think you could add some gain compression reverb and over drive to get the same effect?

[@koalanectar9382]

Best way to get an explosive snare sound, especially in metal, is for the drummer to play rimshots on basically every snare hit. A rimshot is when you hit the rim and the head at the same time (some people confuse rimshots with cross sticks, where you lay the stick on the drum and just play the rim, like in reggae). It completely changes the tone of the hit. It's frustrating to see so many drummers struggle with their snare sound in the studio, and then you see that they're just limply plopping the tip of the stick into the head.

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Yes of course. Went over this in great detail in 2015. Please see “how to record heavy drums”

[@koalanectar9382]

@@SpectreSoundStudios Oh I know man, I was just posting for other people's benefit because I struggled with recording snares without samples for a long time. I'm a big fan, no shade intended.

[@TransistorLSD]

Nevermind the snare, that BASS tone is freaking amazing!!!

[@fstudiosmusicandvideo7795]

Hey man! Is this just an early reflections reverb? I have one built into my Yamaha system, and it pretty much sounds like that type of verb.

[@DYK-Music]

Hi Glenn, cool stuff, question4U: this is something that is kept as a small big secret, no one is documenting MIC placement for bottom snare, from Dave Weckl, which happens to have amazing snare sound, I picked from one of his videos in like 2 seconds camera movement, positioning the bottom snare mic, not at the bottom, but sideways, next to the shelf(opposite from the bass drum), perhaps about 1/2 inch(lots of proximity effect), I tried, and the results is amazing, no bleed from the hats, and more clarity and body than directly from the bottom, do you mind, please if you can to share your thoughts on this topic? Cheers, triple power for you🤛🤛🤛

[@tibi1687]

Hey Glenn! Unrelated to video question: What are you running on the laptop on your left! I see it running a monitoring screen of what the camera sees. What is that software?

[@Its_Screecher]

Hey Glenn I'm having an issue with inconsistent snare hits. I'm not using samples. I have the ART compressor rack which helps a little but it doesn't seem to get every hit sounding the same. What do you suggest?

[@lodougherty]

I feel like that snare sound would have been cherry with a bit different ratio with attack/release on the compression, but perhaps I'm wrong. It felt really wide open which def suited this mix, but I really have grown to like the super compressed snare stuff on modern records.

[@plumbummusic2051]

That's a very familiar drum sound, especially when it's flooded in reverb. Reminded me of Phil Collins, then I saw the comments on how this trick was discovered. The gate gives the snare its signature, but to my taste is still a little too much, kills the natural decay

[@SamBassal]

How can I get that exact bass tone?!

[@greylocke100]

Glen are you going to the concert in Detroit tonight?

[@adam872]

Nice results, though I was right with you on that snare ring. I'd totally be EQ'ing that on the way out of the effect.

[@Osscars]

Ive always wondered how to get the wasp sound out of drums! Its my favorite metal drum sound i think they have dialed it to perfection on songs like fuck like a beast, maneater, I wanna be somebody, Love machine and wild child. It would be awesome if someone knows anything about it if the could write a comment thx!:) And Glen as always thanks for a great video without bullshit!

[@Keep_On_Tolkien]

You being such a fan of mixing in room mic sounds, have you ever tried/heard the Sylvia Massey trick of using a SM57 in about 20’ or so of garden hose? Just encircle the kit with the hose on the floor and shove a 57 into one end. Try it. You’re going love it

[@Keep_On_Tolkien]

No I’m not kidding. It is at the very least an excellent substitute for room mics if you’re budget doesn’t allow for them.

[@seanabbottband]

Just wondering if you flipped the phase on the bottom snare Mic, I find it gives me more crack.

[@SpectreSoundStudios]

Yes.

[@rolsen1304]

Heard the snare on Lorna Shore - To The Hellfire? Sounds like a gunshot😂

[@CFChristian]

I was going to say, half-jokingly, to use the "Canon toms" that come with Reaper but apparently that was what you actually went for. Albeit a much more polished toolkit.

[@hugoleclerc-charron3757]

That riff sounds like Skid Row, it's awesome What's the band / song ?

[@tommyareli]

Don't know the drummers name, but I received the drums from Glenn and made some noise up to it.

[@allendean9807]

I’d love to see how you mix guitar solos to make them stand out, and not blur the rhythms

[@koalanectar9382]

Roll the low end off and play the solo on a different pickup than the rhythms were recorded on.

[@tommyareli]

@@koalanectar9382 I think the different cab and probably different settings on the amp at least (more gain in general) is much more important (than some delay or reverb). I actually played both pickups in the solo section (first part bridge, second neck), both sounds stands out well. Of course, neck for solos is more full of tone and voicy than the bridge, no doubt about that.

[@PPNStudio]

I have seen and heard this video before.. I just can't quite put my finger on where.. its making my head twitch.

[@ronaldmalcolm5609]

Fun fact: the Robert Palmer song to which Glenn refers--Addicted to Love--is a parody of a Weird Al song, Addicted to Spuds. True story.😮

[@ChristopherHallett]

Glenn: "$5k for a rack mount reverb?!?" Next minute: "Welcome to my 'how to build your own REAL plate reverb' video!"

[@m.a.6478]

How to get an explosive snare: 1. Fill with powder 2. Ignite 3. Boom!

[@primitiveT]

Do pickguards change the tone?

[@verticalhamburger9517]

Yes. Tortoise pickguards sound warmer and more endangered

[@SansNeural]

Both of you are nuts. The most important thing for guitar tone is the color of the nail polish the guitarist's SO is wearing. Duh.

[@verticalhamburger9517]

@@SansNeural What about the length of their uncle's beard? That influences the overtones tenfold.

[@Molotov_Milkshake]

It's simple: Hire Ryosuke Kiyasu and his infamous snare 😅

[@gilbertspader7974]

While Phil Collins was doing the Nina sessions. He was warming up and getting levels. Hugh Padgham the engineer switched his new Neve console to talk back and in his headphones Phil heard the biggest, badest drums on earth.

[@pumbabeats420]

Thumbnail made me think u filled it with weed lol

[@chaptermasterpedrokantor1623]

I think it might have been the U2 fanboys who drove up the prices for the AMS rack units. The Edge was famous for having up to 2 to 3 of them in his live rack.

[@SansNeural]

I think as a tutorial this was valid and enlightening... but I didn't like the actual sound so much myself. I thought of Robert Palmer waaay before you mentioned him. Sounded like you'd pushed a real tom into the red so far it turned into a synth drum.

[@FoulOwl2112]

Better tone wood on snare shell and natual calfskin drum heads retained by 24kt gold hardware and kiln dried roasted old growth hickory sticks and you'd never have this problem!

[@andym28]

As a drummer there's not that many drum recordings in history that are great eg led zep 1 cynic traced in air. As someone who bought a house to get great drum recordings I advise to get a session player to record a session for you and save your money.

[@sword-and-shield]

The biggest missing ingredient in most snares is what actually brings the most energy from the snare "Crack". Raping transients always decreases it. Now sure, if the tune doesn't want the snare bringing or carrying the energy, then its no big deal, dull punchy snares can work. Fat n Crack are inverse and always the bane for tuning heads, overtone was easy to dial in. Having Fat and Crack snare tones dialed in on separate tracks and blending the faders is what I do now, proper crack bringing the energy will always increase transient and lower headroom tho...good luck...biased old school hardcore drummer.

[@pipelineaudio]

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (that sound 1985 has both AMS tricks on some different types of drums)

[@drdelewded]

Its not a NEVE unit.. its AMS. Siemens bought and combined AMS and NEVE in 1992.. AMS had already made those old reverb/delay units well before this.

[@JuiceboxDesmond]

Rad

[@primitiveT]

Welcome to.. the wild side

[@Turboy65]

The most unfortunate thing about recording drums is that it means you usually have to deal with drummers. But it could be worse....you could have a "percussionist" in the band as well.

[@BlazonStone]

80s snare reverb = Homer Simpson drool

[@Ernesto87]

The snare sounds a lot more beefy in the mix. If only the snare in St. Anger had this much polish and care, otherwise it wouldn't have sounded LIKE A F****KIN' TRASH CAN.

[@JoeStuffzAlt]

It's a shame. I heard a few live recordings of St Anger songs, and some of the songs sound pretty good.

[@Ernesto87]

@@JoeStuffzAlt Whoever did the mix should NEVER be allowed anywhere near a mixing board.

[@jesuscontreras124]

Sounds like Alice in Chains's Facelift

[@chrisj4570g]

The only way that sound could get more 80s metal is if this video smelled like sweaty leather pants, Jack Daniels, and Marlboro reds. 🤘

[@hadleymanmusic]

Well fuck twitch now itsa fukin runaround

[@davidbaron8892]

That ringing snare is awful. They should have deadened that BEFORE they recorded it. I hate having to EQ that stuff out later. You did it, but you shouldn't have had to.

[@TarnishedViking.]

🤘