Simon Phillips, studio tips and tricks

This is an excerpt of the DVD called 'The Art and Science of Sound Recording'. Simon Phillips explains some of the secrets to achieve such an amazing drum sound. You can download the whole drums part (25 mins) for just $4,99 on the website:
www.artandscien...

[@freeat_last7375]

I am always amazed at how sweet this man comes off, how normal, rational, and intelligent he is. He just slams the rock and roll image with a gentle and humble personality.

[@ewouthonig371]

6:45 and on... Man I could listen to this for hours. Such a great sounding kit, so much feel in the playing..

[@pglogofilms]

Simon is simply one of the best drummers you could ever wish to hear. Just listen to his playing on "Sukarita" by Judy Tzuke. Everything he plays is so crisp and 'right'. An absolute genius.

[@adam872]

Incredible drummer and one of my favourites. He has just about the best tom sound I've ever heard.

[@RacManRhythm]

I look upon Simon as an icon in drumming, but one things struck me when going through in my mind my fave, not just drummers but other musicians, Simon Phillips, Gary Husband, Gavin Harrison, and the late Jeff Porcaro, that they've all had a kinda head start in music business by having a parent in the biz, It makes you wonder if they never had this exposure to music contacts in there background when growing up, would they be where they are today without this unique early help.

[@joenelson7995]

Great video!! Notice the windy sound effects at 4:00 (LOL!!)

[@rkl08551]

+Joe Nelson damn man..i have watched this several times over the years..this is the first time i noticed it after your comment..thanks :-)

[@PedroRodriguez-ij3wn]

haha came here to comment that! amazing

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

Me too !!! He's one of my great heroes...but I didn't think his hands were THAT fast. lol

[@stalledrangen]

I really like his drumplaying. Especially in the song "Poison arrows" with Mike Oldfield.

[@MrFchank]

Saw Simon many years ago in a clinic. He convinced me right then to not dampen my drums. I agree with him. Drums should be wide open and the entire set should work as one instrument

[@alhuber144]

Simon is the man!!!

[@porcaro75]

Simon really does get one of the best drum sounds around, he has good ears

[@frozenrope2822]

It is Bill Bob Thorton.

[@JohnLnyc]

Frozen Rope Also sounds like Al Kooper!

[@fatsokickass85]

Life is just a game with Stanley Clarke is one of my favorite performances to watch Simon go to work. Kick Ass!!!

[@jgmiller804]

I like how Alan Parsons pretends like he doesn't know any of this stuff for the video.

[@mixerguru]

he's not pretending lol

[@ickysticky3672]

JGMiller Wasn’t he Nick Mason’s drum tech for years? Helped mix everything, fine tune his set?

[@tonypowell250]

I don't think Alan was acting thick.

[@fabianernestopacheco]

Hell yeah hahahaha, as if he didn't know xD. Alan rules!! 🤟🤟🤟

[@pannocchio]

best sounding drums ever!

[@thegayge]

It's like a seven minute commercial for Tama drums, and then the second they should a grommet inside a badge, it's the Ludwig keystone.

[@goyolake]

I really like that Alan Parsons has to act as all this stuff is new for him (for those who do not know, that fat guy recorded some of the greatest sounding albums of all times)

[@PhantomDrums917]

He's one of my heroes....he's an incredible musician....and he has GREAT hair! :):)

[@tornmask7]

fantastic interview!

[@Twotontessie]

The gong bass drum within the groove at the end - that's just cool.

[@geronimocantu6286]

Hey, thanks for posting the knowledge.

[@jamesrockford2626]

this guy was great on the Judas priest albums, bets drummer they had

[@wildanS]

They didn't even pay him.

[@recordman555]

Simon and Les Binks. Phenoms, both!

[@rubytuesday1345]

From reading Hal Blaine’s autobiography, I think he claims that it was he who first removed the front head on his bass drum.

[@dirtydave2691]

As much time as Hal spent in the studio he probably knew lots of tips and techniques for changing drum sounds.

[@josedavidehenriqueslobodem2461]

I don't know if you noticed, but whoever is interviewing is Alan Parsons.

[@indieHindleyMusic]

LOVE THAT BASS DRUM SOUND MAN! THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF BOOM!

[@wyliefoster2481]

What a STUD!

[@JerryMetal1979]

Great Simon !!!!!!

[@applerydh]

Is that Alan Parsson?

[@1111Paiste]

Yep!

[@samscott54]

the man ...got his loops today ....happy bout that

[@gerdrummer]

with that voice drums seem to be part of those stories of pararell universes. awesome!

[@2k95aero]

Simon wonders who it was who first took off the reso kick head. In his book "Here, There and Everywhere - My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles", Geoff Emerick describes taking the front head off of Ringo's kick for the Revolver sessions.

[@robertosanelli9920]

I think you have done a superb job covering for jeff in toto ! i love and miss jeff but i give you credit my friend

[@UnofficialSimonPhillipsArchive]

@AustinGraggmusician You are talking about Simon's voice? Yes, I agree about that. His voice is very clear and relaxed.

[@yutuubfreak]

who first took the front bass drum off? Geoff Emerick thats who!

[@PerMygindStrandgaard]

The paint can trick is awesome! :)

[@FightingTiranny]

Dude ! I just tought the same thing, haha.I looked him up, he actually plays drums and has a band.

[@cometcanada]

It would be cool to hear the different sounds in a recording, especially with the bass drum. I want to hear examples of with the head, the hole in the head, without the head.etc

[@cesaralexis73]

Best instrument ever, the drums.

[@stumpdrum]

I don't get why Taylor Hawkins was in two shots in the end of the video. What was that about?

[@jasondotson]

@maelstone Yes, I do believe it is Alan Parsons, of Alan Parsons Project fame and also also one of the assistant engineers on Dark Side Of The Moon."

[@tomasandresvelizcampos959]

Great!!

[@TheZappawizard]

My guess is Hal Blaine, he's the one who popularized it for recording, but he was doing it long before Ringo did it for sure.

[@MusicLessonsComp]

Hal Blaine, the 60's studio legend, was the one who started experimenting with taking off the front head on the bass drum mostly for definition. Geoff Emerick, The Beatles' recording engineer then, liked and suggested it, and the band loved it; like with so many things they did, everybody copied the idea.

[@Hoze666]

Nice info about kick drum recording :)

[@PeteRamos7]

Simon Kicks ASS!!!!

[@Olivere118]

I'd agree with you, but the problem is the brand at 6:11 . Go take a look

[@SXI96]

That random Taylor Hawkins shot at 6:50 had kind of a homoerotic vibe, wtf was that? lol

[@LetsTalkAboutFeelings]

yeah wtf.. where did he came from hahaha

[@markmccoy3369]

There is a close up of a Ludwig tom when he shows the interviewer the vent hole. They must have just used a clip of a drum they had lying around during editing and didn't think anyone would notice, LOL.

[@viruslived]

Those Bubinga Elites are beautiful. Simon, just out of curiosity, have you played the new TAMA STAR's? Are you contemplating switching to the new flagship? I'm curious of your opinion and perspective on the new STAR drums in comparison with the Starclassic Bubinga Elites / Maple.

[@cedarandsound]

I've seen the "ASSR" videos, and I wish they would've touched on recording drums with only 2-3 or 4 mics. that way you record the drums as one instrument. in these videos they choose to only tell you how to record with a hundred mics, as if dozens of mics is the best and only way

[@Lengonator]

Is that Billy Bob Thornton speaking in the beginning?

[@InFiiLtRaTor]

The intro voice sounds like Billy Bob Thornton. Which is strange coz I just finished watching Fargo... haha

[@djevisceration2733]

thought that exact same thing when I heard this

[@purpleflyingmonkeys4]

i think you mean 6:48 and thts taylor hawkins... the drummer for the foo fighters, you may have heard of them

[@simonbarth3181]

Wow ll these open toms, already give the drum reverb. similar to plate reverb. They resonate when he is playing. you can hear it when he speaks.

[@romainbalboa4416]

Bravo à Simon Phillips le drums de Toto.

[@edudrums8891]

Hola buenisimo video!! pregunta para afinar toms y snare utiliza el parche de arriba mas tenso que parche de abajo de abajo?

[@recordman555]

BTW, Simon, Sin After Sin is STILL a great work! #judaspriest

[@Twotontessie]

Simon knows his stuff. Great drum sounds back when drums sounded horrible on records usually (as far back as 1979-1980 Empty Glass, There and Back, etc.). I saw him live with the Who in 1989. Best rock drumming performance I ever saw live - along with the best drum sound.

[@Craego]

question: is the paint can in the kick drum full?

[@dcmastermindfirst9418]

I swear Simon is the Bob Ross of drums

[@HugoRibeiroDrummer]

my thought exactly! It really sounds like him!! haha

[@riccardoNL2]

@0509killer It's added when the vid was edited...

[@markblanch2905]

Whats wirh the bizaree Taylor Hawkins fade ins....?

[@FlyingFooBalls]

4:02 is the best thing ever

[@marcohernandez9674]

is that the asset from Jason bourne?

[@mikenicora6701]

Paint can full or empty? Or have to play with it

[@dafontenot]

What does Billy Bob Thrornton know about drums?

[@drumdigger]

@AustinGraggmusician That's the voice of Billy Bob Thornton :) /check the website/

[@veerchasm1]

Wait, is this the same instrument I’ve been beating the crap out of ???

[@jordanX1A]

what's with the short clip of Taylor Hawkins @ 6:48?

[@4StringDomination]

Man, i got the exact same thought... the do look similar though

[@otc517]

Most guys use different snare drums in the studio. Or maybe there is a Ludwig snare close by.

[@ouwe1990]

I think he means Taylor Hawkins? Drummer of the Foo Fighters? But he is at the end of the video:)

[@mr.brownstone9943]

Didn‘t know that Gilmour is doing interviews.

[@StoobyToons]

@AustinGraggmusician The guy in the beginning sounds like Billy Bob Thorton.

[@0509killer]

@rareinc7794 Simon's hand is so dang fast, he created a breeze of wind past the mic.

[@Kaledrums]

Why does Simmon remind me of Eric Idle?

[@SolidTime]

is that billy bob thornton narrating?

[@eternallyminded7]

Haha... I had to rewind it a few times to try and figure out if that sound was added in. weird!

[@cameloguenight]

sorry my english, but, what microphones is on the tom and floor tom?

[@MonomeTechnology]

anybody know where i can find instrumentals like this to jam to? thanks!

[@MusicLessonsComp]

@shardennefroider Totally agree.

[@DeadtreeFilms1]

Is the narrator Billy Bob Thorton?

[@jsilence418]

Marvelous fucking drummer, and he was from a young age .

[@75DrummerBoy]

What kinda paint in the can enamel or latex? Water based or oil based? LOL!!!!

[@gethsenamane]

Is that a full or empty paint can?. Either way it does not make to much sense. I have not tried this. Has anyone else?. Let me know how it worked. I do not have any paint cans and don't know if I should spend the 12 or so dollars on a gallon of paint. I think he is pulling our leg on that one. Let me know. Cheers.

[@KevWhitehead]

It's full of either paint or sand .... anything that give's it some weight! Many years ago people used stage weight in a kick and it does make a difference!

[@rareinc7794]

LOL! whats that sound at 4:01?

[@tsmith7371]

Anybody else notice Billy Bob Thornton's voice at 5;45?

[@tsmith7371]

apparently so (just finished reading the comments below...)

[@cmath8577]

Weird.Taylor cross fades over the end.....He's only recently just started to learn about tuning drums to make them more Stuart like when Dave isn't around

[@djvdrums]

That's Alan Parson's, the random guy who recorded Dark Side of the Moon...

[@edgenovese]

Right off~ my ears were thinking It's Dave Weckl narrating this! Anyone else hearing his tone and annunciation?

[@thelopeisback]

i believe it was ringo who first took the resonant head off

[@Shaded07]

At 4:01 you can hear the wind of his hand swatting by...

[@kristoscan]

is that billy bob thornton narrating this ?

[@stevespatucci6502]

I thought the same thing!

[@joeyhandeland]

Is the paint can; empty or full?

[@thegayge]

+joey handeland Certainly sounds full when he pats it. Looks full given how much the foam depresses underneath. But, what is it full of? THESE ARE THE ANSWERS WE NEED, SIMON.

[@-skylark234]

+joey handeland Yes, full... You may want to experiment with differing amounts of paint (although I prefer a full US gallon). I was surprised, however, that Simon didn't devote any time to the TYPE of paint. Water vs. oil based paints sound VERY different. And -- depending on the genre -- I like to carry a gallon of slate blue and one of tobacco. They give a real "smokey" sound. Whatever you do, don't use white or eggshell; they have no character at all. ;^)

[@NicroticSouls]

+joey handeland Its filled 3/4 of the way with sand. Its a "trick" he learned from Eddie Kramer

[@schaddalton2506]

Both. It's a Schroedinger's Paint Can.

[@flymarvin]

I LOVE JAZZ !!!

[@TheMichaelseymour]

harpo marx is a great drummer !

[@xxmlhedxx]

is that billy bob narrating?

[@charlesandhisworld]

@maelstone Yep!