Today, I’ll be trying to ‘Mix Drums in 10 seconds, 1 minute, and 10 minutes.’
Now on the surface, this may sound like a silly video topic…
But in professional recording and production work there is often a time crunch, even if you’re not paying for a studio by the hour.
Some clients can be very critical of their sound, even their performance is adequate.
And we want to get them to a ‘radio-ready’ sound (playlist ready?) ASAP.
Once the drummer has finished recording, and their coming into the control room to listen back, well you’ve gotta work fast!
Now the effectiveness of the drum mix all depends on the drum recording.
Garbage in > Garbage Out
Truthfully, you’re not going to be able to achieve anything in a few minutes of mixing if your drums are not recorded well so really quick here’s 5 drum recording best practices.
Some Drum Recording best practices:
1. Tune the Drums (don’t settle/ save the headache)
2. Set up a Drum Bus before recording. (Extra volume/ move as a group, still have control of faders)
3. Use Preamp Gain before moving faders (build the gain structure on the way in)
4. check Phase between mics, against Overheads (make sure all mics work together)
5. Mix faders as needed as you record (fine adjustment on the fly)
6. Don’t be afraid of the Mute button (remove what’s unnecessary)
Alright with that out of the way – Let’s see what magic we can conjure up in these short time frames. Starting with the 10 second challenge!
Remember, time is limited in this scenario, so focus on making broad strokes that improve the overall drum sound.
Don’t get lost in fine-tuning every detail; instead, aim to achieve a basic drum mix that lays the foundation for the rest of the mix.
Trust your instincts and experience, and make the most of the limited time available.
Time constraints require you to think on your feet and find solutions to audio problems more efficiently.
This enhances your problem-solving skills and encourages creative thinking to achieve desired results within the limited time frame.
In professional audio environments, quick turnarounds are common.
By practicing time-based challenges, you gain realistic experience and become better prepared for fast-paced recording sessions, or time-critical projects like live events.
Working under time pressure helps you develop the ability to manage stress and maintain composure.
Learning to stay focused and calm during time-based challenges prepares you for high-pressure situations and maintain a more professional approach to audio engineering.
So what did you think of the difference between the 10 second, 1 minute, and 10 minute mixes?
3:11 – 10 Second Drum Mixing Challenge
3:47 – 1 Minute Drum Mixing Challenge
5:29 – 10 Minute Drum Mixing Challenge
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