Acoustic drums vs Vdrums

[ldevaney]

I am experimenting with my acoustic kit and took a quick shot at rerecording a drum track on a demo I played on. I never liked the Vdrum kit on this tune and figured it was a good song to experiment with. So far I feel the real drums are much better. Let me know what ya think.

Oh and any other suggestion too. Bash away!
I know the timing is a bit off in a couple spots. This was just to get the tracks down and hear differences. You will notice some bleed on the acoustic version in the very beginning from the original recoding. All the instruments were recorded live when originally done.

Acoustic:
Box.net - Free Online File Storage, Internet File Sharing, Online Storage, Access Documents & Files Anywhere, Backup Data, Send Files

Original:
Box.net - Free Online File Storage, Internet File Sharing, Online Storage, Access Documents & Files Anywhere, Backup Data, Send Files

[DT Chris]

Of course the acoustic drums sound better. The other ones sound like you did it on a cheap Casio keyboard

I have to use computerized drums on my tracks because I don't have a drummer handy to play the parts. So I just do my best trying to make them sound real. Some samples can be really good though, and don't sound like fake drums. Maybe try to get some really good drum samples and see if you can get away with it.

[ldevaney]

Yea I feel the same way about the vdrums. Sometimes the vdrums sounds just do not blend well. The hi hat was killing me on the demo. There are times where you need all the in between control that only a real hat can give you. I can control the tone of the real hat much easier.

There have been times where my vdrum kit does very well on some material but not always. It is a bit more challenging for me to work with my acoustic kit but the payoff seems greater.

[brandondrury]

Sometimes the vdrums sounds just do not blend well.

It's not an issue of "blending". It's an issue of them being wrong for the song. vdrums are good at Color Me Badd type of songs. Not so good when you want real drum sounds. The same applies to direct guitar recording. Direct guitar recording is useful for Nine Inch Nail type industrial stuff. Not so good when you need the sound of a real / conventional guitar and amp.

You did a great job recording your acoustic kit, by the way.

[ldevaney]

True, I just think of it as blending but it does come down to that on some tunes they just do not work well. As a drummer the hi hat still has a ways to go. The vdrum has worked well on some stuff I have played on as well as some live gigs. But there are times they just do not work. I try to think of it as using the best tool for the job. And in this case the acoustic drums excel.

And thanks on the recording comment. I wish the room was a bit livelier and the ceiling a little higher (8ft) but it does work ok. As other have pointed out a large percentage of a kits sound is the tuning, heads, playing etc. The good room gives it that extra something!

Just recently I came to the realization I have a more lively room with a 12 ft ceiling. It is my garage. I did some sample recording in there and I was impressed to say the least. I think it has great potential! I am going to clean it up a bit and insulate the outward wall as well as apply some form of sheeting etc. I am in the process of figuring out how to finish it. Expect more questions on this subject on another thread at a later date.

[brandondrury]

The good room gives it that extra something!

The room is just as important as the tuning and all that crap.

The recording didnt' sound like an 8ft ceiling drum recording!

Let us know about the garage. I'd love to hear it.

Brandon

[VSDrummer]

Originally Posted by DT Chris

Of course the acoustic drums sound better. The other ones sound like you did it on a cheap Casio keyboard

I have to use computerized drums on my tracks because I don't have a drummer handy to play the parts. So I just do my best trying to make them sound real. Some samples can be really good though, and don't sound like fake drums. Maybe try to get some really good drum samples and see if you can get away with it.

You must be working with a cheap set then, I've been playing a double set of TD10's for about 8 years in the studio and live and they blow away just about any acoustic kit I;ve ever owned - If they suck I wonder why so many pro's use them??? Hmmmmm

[VSDrummer]

Originally Posted by ldevaney

I am experimenting with my acoustic kit and took a quick shot at rerecording a drum track on a demo I played on. I never liked the Vdrum kit on this tune and figured it was a good song to experiment with. So far I feel the real drums are much better. Let me know what ya think.

Oh and any other suggestion too. Bash away!
I know the timing is a bit off in a couple spots. This was just to get the tracks down and hear differences. You will notice some bleed on the acoustic version in the very beginning from the original recoding. All the instruments were recorded live when originally done.

Acoustic:
Box.net - Free Online File Storage, Internet File Sharing, Online Storage, Access Documents & Files Anywhere, Backup Data, Send Files

Original:
Box.net - Free Online File Storage, Internet File Sharing, Online Storage, Access Documents & Files Anywhere, Backup Data, Send Files

I would need to know more about your set up to give you honest feedback - What V Kit do you have ( HD1 / TD3SW / TD6SW / TD6sxt ?? Or the high end TD12 or TD20 ???? ) you need to remember that they are a different type of instrument than an acoustic kit - much the same as an EWI is differnt than a saxaphone!! I have been using Roland V's in the studio,and on the road for over 8 years and they kick !! Reply with what you're running them through, what you are recording on ( reel - cass - ADAT - HDD etc ) maybe I can help sort out the bugs for you.

[VSDrummer]

Originally Posted by ldevaney

Yea I feel the same way about the vdrums. Sometimes the vdrums sounds just do not blend well. The hi hat was killing me on the demo. There are times where you need all the in between control that only a real hat can give you. I can control the tone of the real hat much easier.

There have been times where my vdrum kit does very well on some material but not always. It is a bit more challenging for me to work with my acoustic kit but the payoff seems greater.

You are not letting yourself get used to the V kit - Blending is the magical part of this kit (depending on which one you have ) to me that is what makes them so useful in the studio and live. The payoff may bewith the player but not necessarily with the listener!

[VSDrummer]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

It's not an issue of "blending". It's an issue of them being wrong for the song. vdrums are good at Color Me Badd type of songs. Not so good when you want real drum sounds. The same applies to direct guitar recording. Direct guitar recording is useful for Nine Inch Nail type industrial stuff. Not so good when you need the sound of a real / conventional guitar and amp.

You did a great job recording your acoustic kit, by the way.

What have you been listening to???? I can point out countless examples of the opposite - Jazz, Fusion, Rock, Metal, Rap, country, soundtracks, industrial, TV Commercials - not to mention the players who either use the V Kits or trigger their acoustic drums through a VS sound module - I bet if I sent you a sample of my kit you would not be able to tell the difference.