Recording Drums in Modern Rhythm and Blues
Recording Drums in Modern Rhythm and Blues
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Date
2023-12
Authors
Harrison, Charese
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University Honors College, Middle Tennessee State University
Abstract
As a drummer and an audio engineer, I have been interested in learning how
knowledge in separate disciplines inform each other. For example, when recording an
acoustic drum set, one must consider musical, technical, and architectural influences on
the results. Learning how these interact highlights the importance of each area and
benefits listeners who understand that music is a subjective art form as well as deliverable
medium. Objectively, producers’ technical choices during a recording like drum tuning
and microphone selection, affect the resultant sounds, which may vary between styles.
For this project, my primary focus was recording an acoustic drum set for modern
Rhythm and Blues, a pop music genre that combines elements of jazz, gospel, and blues.
For the audience to understand objective choices in music, it can be beneficial to compare
sonic differences between specific techniques. To accomplish this, I conducted an
experiment to showcase how instrument tuning, acoustic spaces, and microphone choices
affect the sound of studio recordings. Using these recordings, I illustrate the impact subtle
differences make in capturing sounds from an acoustic drum set in the context of a
modern rhythm and blues arrangement. One of my goals for this project was to gain
knowledge and experience and to become a better audio engineer, achieving sounds with
knowledge of how to capture compelling sounds consistently.