Tone Profile

The drums have a big, gated reverb sound that is characteristic of 1980s rock. The kick and snare are punchy and prominent, with a clear and present overall tone.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The drum sound on "Livin' on a Prayer" is heavily processed, with a focus on gated reverb to create a large, impactful sound.
• Multiple microphones were likely used to capture the drum kit, including close mics on the kick and snare, and overheads for the cymbals.
• The SSL console would have been used for EQ, compression, and gating to shape the drum sounds.
• The AMS RMX16 reverb unit was used to add a distinct, gated reverb effect, which is a signature sound of the era.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a punchy drum kit, such as a Tama Superstar or similar.
• Use close microphones on the kick and snare, such as an AKG D12 for the kick and a Shure SM57 for the snare.
• Use overhead microphones, such as Neumann U87s, to capture the cymbals.
• Apply EQ and compression to the individual drum tracks to shape the sound.
• Add gated reverb using a plugin or hardware unit that emulates the AMS RMX16.

Recommended Gear

• Tama Superstar(drums)
• AKG D12(mic)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• Neumann U87(mic)
• SSL 4000 G+(channel_strip)
• AMS RMX16(pedal)