TONEDB

drums from “sultans of swing” by dire straits | ToneDB

sultans of swing

dire straits

drums

AI generatedv1.0

Tone Profile

Clean and crisp vintage drum sound with a tight, controlled room ambience. The kit has a balanced sound with a clear snare and punchy kick.

Gear

Ludwig Super Classicinstrument
Reverb$575Sweetwater
AKG D12microphone
ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57mic
ReverbSweetwater

ToneDB may earn a commission from purchases made through these links.

The Story

"Sultans of Swing" was recorded at Pathway Studios in London with producer Muff Winwood. The drum sound was built around a Ludwig kit with careful microphone placement, using an AKG D12 on the kick drum and Shure SM57 on the snare. The approach focused on capturing a clean, controlled room sound with minimal processing during tracking, allowing the natural character of the drums and room to come through.

Production Credits

Producer: Muff Winwood

Engineer: Gregg Geller

Recorded at: Pathway Studios, London

Signal Chain

Instrument: Ludwig Super Classic

Microphone: AKG D12

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a vintage Ludwig Super Classic or similar kit with coated heads for a controlled resonance.
  • Tune the snare drum high and tight for a crisp, cutting sound.
  • Use a combination of close mics (AKG D12 on kick, Shure SM57 on snare) and overheads to capture the kit's overall sound.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot for each drum.
  • Use minimal compression and EQ during tracking.
  • In the mix, use subtractive EQ to remove any unwanted frequencies and further shape the sound.
  • Add a touch of plate reverb to the snare to enhance its presence and sustain.

Original Gear

  • Ludwig Super Classic(drums)
  • AKG D12(mic)
  • Shure SM57(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

AKG D112$150-$200

Alternative to: AKG D12 kick drum microphone

Direct descendant of the D12 with similar frequency response optimized for kick drums, maintaining that vintage punch and clarity

ReverbSweetwater
Shure Beta 52A$120-$160

Alternative to: AKG D12 kick drum microphone

Budget alternative that delivers tight, punchy kick drum sound with good low-end control similar to the D12's characteristics

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 snare microphone

Still manufactured and unchanged - the exact same microphone used on the original recording

ReverbSweetwater
Ludwig Classic Maple$1200-$2500

Alternative to: Ludwig Super Classic drum kit

Modern Ludwig kit that captures the vintage warmth and punch of the original Super Classic series

ReverbSweetwater
Waves Abbey Road Chambers$30-$80

Alternative to: Pathway Studios room sound

Provides controlled vintage room ambience that matches the crisp but not overly dry character of the original

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Community Insights

No community insights yet. Be the first to contribute!