drums from “money for nothing” by dire straits | ToneDB
money for nothing
dire straits
drums
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A driving and powerful drum sound with a mix of tight, punchy close mics and roomy ambience, characterized by a gated reverb effect.
Gear
- Tama Superstarinstrument
- Reverb$375Sweetwater
- Shure SM57microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- AMS RMX16processing
- ReverbSweetwater
- Neumann U87mic
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
The iconic drum sound on "Money for Nothing" was created by producer/engineer Neil Dorfsman at AIR Studios, London using a Tama Superstar drum kit. The signature element is the gated reverb effect achieved with an AMS RMX16 reverb unit, specifically using the "NonLin 2" patch. The drums were recorded with both close mics (Shure SM57) and room mics (Neumann U87), with the gated reverb applied to create the distinctive punchy, spacious sound that became synonymous with 1980s rock production.
Production Credits
Producer: Neil Dorfsman
Engineer: Neil Dorfsman
Recorded at: AIR Studios, London
Signal Chain
Instrument: Tama Superstar
Microphone: Shure SM57
Processing: AMS RMX16
Recreation Tips
- Start with a well-tuned drum kit, focusing on a punchy kick and snare.
- Experiment with different microphone placements to capture both the direct sound and room ambience.
- Use an AMS RMX16 (or a plugin emulation) with the "NonLin 2" setting to achieve the gated reverb effect. Adjust the gate threshold and reverb time to taste.
- Consider using compression to further shape the drum sounds, focusing on attack and sustain.
Original Gear
- Tama Superstar(drums)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Neumann U87(mic)
- AMS RMX16(other)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: AMS RMX16 with NonLin 2 patch
Official UAD emulation of the original RMX16 including the exact NonLin 2 patch used on the recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: AMS RMX16 with NonLin 2 patch
Includes authentic vintage digital reverb algorithms including gated reverb patches similar to the RMX16
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Shure SM57 on drums
The exact same microphone model used in the original recording, still manufactured today with identical sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Neumann U87 room mics
Large diaphragm condenser that captures room ambience similarly to the U87 at a more accessible price point
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Tama Superstar drums
Modern evolution of Tama's birch shell drums with similar punchy attack and sustain characteristics
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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