Recreating the Al Green/Hi Records Drum Sound | What's That Sound? Ep. 23

[@catface101]

On the actual original record they used a RCA DX77 on snare, EV635 (they nicknamed it the donkey dick lol) on kick and u67 overhead (centered 3ft over rack toms). Snare and Kick tracked to Track 1. Rest of kit to Track 2. MCI 428A, MCI JH16 2" 16 trk/then JH24 2" 24 trk, pair of Pultec EQP1As, LA2a. Supraphonic snare, rest of kit was Rogers Bass was DI. Conga doubled kick and snare on 2s and 4s. Tuned low with a wallet on the snare to deaden. No EQ on any of the masters. "Let's stay to Together" had +2 db @ 5k from a Spectrasonics 2-band EQ soft-limiting from a strapped pair of 1176LN's a couple of db @ 4:1 and a Pultec hi/lo pass filter @ 70hz and 12k for the 45 and a vertical cross-over @ 250 hz The low/hi pass and the x-over were always in the chain to protect the cutterhead/limit lateral excursion. All masters cut on a Scully/Westrex system

[@raysubsonic]

Nice work and spot on. The last thing you need is Al Jackson on the skins. I remember reading about this from an interview some years ago, and recalled the use of the RCA on the snare/hats/tom..

[@leethium6982]

wow how do you know that ?

[@catface101]

@@leethium6982 I replied to this yesterday with links but my comment isn't there, hmm. But if you search Google on for the following phrases, you'll find the threads on Gearspace where I got the info from: "Al Green-Console and Other Gear" "vintage 70's soul era recording techniques..." "That Al Green drum sound"

[@terminalbliss]

I'd love to see a "trip hop" type of kit (Portishead, Massive Attack, etc) which is essentially some of the old funk / 70s type of drums you've done a few times, but dirtying them up, gating them (and fattening the kick with a sub usually)

[@buhlir]

I think you just answered your own request haha!

[@verdean11]

Portishead drums would take printing takes to vinyl, and then resampling everything. 95% of their drum sound comes from slowing down a drum break sampled from vinyl. It would take a lot of money to achieve that today.

[@movimentodoscacos]

@@verdean11Apparently they would also abuse the shit out of the record, heard they would throw it around, walk over it etc. Explains how dirty they sound, literally

[@RickM0301]

I'd love to hear how "The Spinners" got the drum sound for "I'll Be Around" and "Could it be I'm Falling in Love".

[@eddiewhitcomb]

This was one of my suggestions, thanks guys! Would love to hear some Meters, James Brown, or Stax records stuff

[@rarianfields]

Oh man, JB would be the ultimate

[@dijjidog]

I would really like it if these guys did the glitchy yet real drum sound of Radiohead's song "kid a"

[@patromo]

Yes, or the distorted Airbag drums

[@tannerjmatheson]

Or 15 step

[@movimentodoscacos]

@@patromoI have got pretty close by processing a drum break through the Arturia Mini V plugin, messing with the filters can get you pretty close and I think they used a Moog to process it too.

[@fakename5247]

This is one of my favorite drum sound inspirations, and I think you nailed it. Great stuff!

[@tdrum21]

Love that Al drum sound

[@Pottwerke]

I love you.

[@andremansa1]

Those Hi records are just incredibly warm, the definition of soul

[@lundsweden]

Drummer has rock solid timing and groove, you nailed this sound 100%

[@paulrhodesquinn]

What a wonderful job you’ve done recreating these drums! Really impressive engineering and playing. 🙌

[@lameerjhontv6860]

Jimi Hendrix All along the watch tower. such big sounding, almost distorted, and dirty sounding drums

[@SuperdangerStudios]

Amazing sounds guys. Just downloaded the pack. Can’t wait to use it.

[@DaveKaplowitz]

Thanks so much for doing this and giving us the sample pack for free! I absolutely love Al Green and am always trying to get a little closer to his sound and Al Jackson Jr. is such a big part of his sound and feel. One request, next time could you give us all of the loops without the Conga in the download? The Conga is a big part of the sound but would love to hear more of just the drum kit that you recreated. Thanks either way!

[@blinknirvana11]

Obligatory ask for weezer’s “tired of sex” or nirvana’s “serve the servants”

[@davidonguitar]

Lots of room mic used in both tracks.

[@jackmmarsden]

The tape hiss is lovely

[@SinnetSongs]

This sounds so sweet! Very impressive work and recreation. It's especially interesting to know that they tuned the drums to match the key of the song. Such detail! Can't wait to check out those sample packs!

[@cathaldonnelly7662]

This is an amazing level of detail! Class.

[@Pottwerke]

The inner life of your pants has an amazing level of detail.

[@alexdawson7851]

The Stax drum sound has to be next!?

[@jakebeamish]

Yeah, Booker T & the MG's - Booker Loo is the track for me

[@tomcarl8021]

It's the same sound because it's the same drummer! It's Al Jackson.

[@alexdawson7851]

@@tomcarl8021 yes but difference recording space and equipment. They have a different sound.

[@tomcarl8021]

@@alexdawson7851 Al used the same set-up and mikes at both studios.

[@alexdawson7851]

@@tomcarl8021 the recordings don't sound the same though do they!

[@justincanton]

Love it, I have a beautiful vintage track I might try these samples on. Thanks for sharing ✌🏼😊🥁

[@Only1Science]

The Isely Brother's "Groove with you" and "Hello" are in the same ballpark with them drums here. Some Parliament Funkadelic would be sweet to hear recreated.

[@tilersun]

I love you. Been trying to recreate this sound. Reverb, so many freebies. Legends.

[@robsherfey4582]

I'd like to see them do some old school Blue Note, Columbia, or Impulse jazz drums & cymbals, al al Tony, Elvin or Art Blakey.

[@cameronvillarrealLp]

That snare is so nice

[@drumdiscussion7776]

Thanks Noam and Jessica for revealing such a classic sound. It's awesome music let alone gear and recording. ."Together...."

[@heavymachete6235]

attempt #5 at getting yall to cover "tired of sex" by weezer. its so unique and huge sounding.

[@christeuma]

Oh you've gotta give The Beatles' 'Sexy Sadie' a go. Have a go for Ringo. Peace and love.

[@theramden6025]

Would like to hear you do Al Jackson Jr's AL Green song I'm Still In Love With You. He kills that song.

[@schance1666]

you really killed it on this one!! wish you had some one-shot samples, i'd be all over them! love these vids.

[@Reverb]

Here ya go: reverb.com/software/samples-and-loops/reverb/3805-drums-in-the-style-of-al-green-s-let-s-stay-together

[@schance1666]

@@Reverb OMG you guys ROCK!!!!

[@HardyNahtal]

Thanks for the video!!

[@paumarfa]

You nailed it! Love the tape saturation sound

[@nicknovak1352]

I'd really love you to cover something like Matt Tongs drum sounds from Bloc Partys Silent Alarm.

[@matcoffidis1135]

It's amazing how much goes into recording an instrument to get a specific sound....

[@pablo.l]

Terrific sounds. Thanks for the samples ❤

[@mistergrooveman1018]

my favorit kind of sound ! thanks !

[@majorpie]

If you guys can do Jesus Lizard's "Goat" drum sound I think that would be awesome.

[@horacebond9394]

If we can remember what was going on musically during this time- James Brown was killing it. short stabbing guitar, hard hitting snare. Al Green as an artist wanted to do that. The folks up at his record company were like nah man, we gonna do it this way. The guitar-opposite JB, not stabbing or staccato, but melodic and even single notes. The drums, same thing, much more muted in comparison to JB. I would say Al’s sound was in response to JB, exactly opposite. The label was correct, and we have great Al Green songs. 🤘🏽👍🏽🤘🏽

[@wyshwood]

Beautiful. Love it.

[@rydeentokio]

I`d like you to recreate the very distorted yet funky sound of Chameleon by Herbie Hancock.

[@drumtuneprodrumtuner6249]

So thoughtful! Excellent insights. Thank you so much. :)

[@stealthyBLK]

you guys do a GREAT JOB with these videos ! keep it up

[@atlasmarr5230]

Yeah this was absolutely killer

[@matt1524]

Can you do the King Crimson first album drum sound?

[@PolaBurrr]

yes ! ,, i asked for this :)

[@dandan5270]

greaaatttt episode!!! which mic could substitute the re 20?

[@buhlir]

this one is my favourite!

[@StephenKrecklo]

Nicely done! Do the Amen break next :)

[@buhlir]

I also really want to know how you guys aligned your tape machine. because I think you absolutely nailed the sound, and I've been wanting to get that for a long time. How much was the high eq set at and was it over biased and by how much? what Tape did you use? It is such a huge part of how you got that sound, and you guys didnt really explain how you did it, I want NERDY details ha!

[@rickhbrown]

Thank you, love Al Green

[@JUNKO____]

I now FULLY understand the Pultec appeal thanks to that explanation.

[@PhatLvis]

One of the closer emulations they've done. Actual AG track has a bit more thump. But very nice job here.

[@lemonderangello]

thanks!

[@theonlycaamz]

y'all just read my mind

[@danaeherbert8867]

Thank you for a very informative video

[@angrykirby3121]

Finally some good fucking content

[@buhlir]

I really really wish that the samples and loops were multitracks though.. ! not to mention, there's no loops without the congas.. really sucks. maybe you guys could do a paid version, that has the multitracks, ie all the mikes/tracks separately, also would be cool to get all of that on both pre-tape and post tape

[@robertkent4929]

Hey look, a Mara Machine!

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

So Al Jackson Jr. played the drum kit and Grimes played the congas?

[@brettmccormack3860]

The growlers Hung at heart drum sound next?

[@ivannio8519]

Inspiring. Tahan you :)

[@rarianfields]

Do the amen break! 🔥😈🔥

[@AckeyJopes]

This is an amazing series, but why only drums?? Every video is drums...

[@wendypotmusic]

Hello. I’d like to understand the magic in Neil Young’s Harvest album drum sound !!!

[@MountCyanide]

Delicious tone. Doesn’t sound anything like the Al Green tone (IMO) but that’s what inspiration is for. Make something your own and held to high standard.

[@Marv4MoBeats]

Do that stuff by Parliament drummer is Jerome BigFoot Bailey

[@bpmdrums]

Cool, I just need a $4k overhead mic.

[@schoovaertssimon7904]

Most important you had a good drummer

[@j.r.7476]

Rudy Van Gelder style jazz drums, please.

[@ratamadiddle]

A couple of thoughts just using my ears and not doing actual research (see catface comment below for that): on the original song the rack tom sounds like is has no bottom resonant head (check out 1:54), the low note of the conga falls WITH the snare to give the backbeat that full sound, and the kick sound is much tighter, less woofy.

[@damienlewis7882]

It’s almost certainly a rca 77 overhead Willie Mitchell from Royal is well documented saying that everything they did there was on a 77 because that nearly all they had.

[@larrytan73]

You could have used a Tape plugin I was told it sounds the same as the hardware.. Right?

[@jessesmith4583]

could you do Melvins "Honey Bucket" or something from Houdini next?

[@surgerywithoutknives2353]

How about Beck Paper Tiger or hiatus coyote Red room ?

[@BashBrand]

The drum intro to the Kinks' "It's Alright" - the flip of "You Really Got Me". (Might be a bit before your time, though…)

[@setarehworek8387]

Could you guys please do a jamaican reggae drum recording. 🙏 ( raging fire by raging fyah)

[@Reverb]

We got you covered! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJ6ZqYKpYtqbpcU

[@atlasmarr5230]

What kind of beater is she using on the kick?

[@MrMikomi]

So the hihat is only hit on eighths? The chakka-cha is due to the conga being hit on sixteenths?

[@fleischer236]

What does the “length” of a drum mean?

[@tropbosspour]

Portishead please

[@slob]

The American Ruse -MC5

[@simply3141592654]

In the old days they had to make sure the actual recording was good and not depend as much on EQ or punch ins and such. Pre-production planning and testing was really important.

[@translila]

these days, getting a good recording still matters a lot - though it is a lot easier to get multiple takes than it was in the past

[@stealthyBLK]

could you guys do the drums for a song by Tom Petty or Neil Young ??

[@freshboi8745]

Stan lynch has that GROOVE

[@goldenlion8123]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@User-jk8wq]

Please do an episode about Steve Albini’s drum recording techniques. If you could replicate the In Utero drum sound I could die happy

[@brianbeauchamp9175]

Steve Albini has a ton of videos out there on his own techniques.

[@thomasdevlin3846]

How do I get the unnecessary "right?" sound?

[@primetimejabroni903]

Some suggestions: Tommy Lee/Bob Rocks drum sound on Dr. Feelgood. Travis Barkers drum sound The Mars Volta drum sound on any of their records.

[@tomswagner]

PLEASE can you do the drum sound of Khruangbin?

[@andercert70]

Fleetwood Mac Rumors?

[@Reverb]

We got you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p3vNm2aMqKtrbM0

[@Allison_Chaynes]

Break down Chad Sexton's drum sounds from 311's first album "MUSIC." Everything is so crisp. The opening track sets it off. Thanks

[@christeuma]

I dunno if it's a Piccolo snare but the sound of 311 and Helmet was that poppy small snare drum being smacked real efficiently.

[@shitcgi4470]

Plastic Ono Band

[@brbadge]

All of that explaining and they still didn't nail the snare sound. 🙄

[@recordguy4321]

dont sound like Howard Grimes to me.

[@Atari2600Gamer]

I sure love the continous homogenization of drums via sample packs. Nothing says "I appreciate drumming as a musical instrument" like that. Don't get me wrong, there's a time for samples. But you're literally killing off the need for drummers in the process. The better/more realistic drum samples get, the more likely people are going to just use those instead of working with a drummer or trying to craft their own sounds. And that's just sad.

[@cristianojeda810]

On the next episode: “ Recreating Rush’s Tom Sawyer drums”

[@zachary963]

Make sure you don’t do a video like this with anything remotely reminiscent of Marvin Gaye. You’ll get your pants sued off.

[@hpdrum]

Is it me or is the guitar out of tune?