drums from “september” by earth, wind & fire | ToneDB
september
earth, wind & fire
drums
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
The drums have a tight, punchy sound with a clear attack and controlled resonance, fitting perfectly within the track's upbeat and funky vibe. The overall character is clean and well-defined, contributing to the song's polished and professional sound.
Gear
- Rogers Drumsinstrument
- Reverb$40Sweetwater
- AKG D12microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Shure SM57mic
- ReverbSweetwater
- Neumann U87mic
- ReverbSweetwater
- Zildjian Cymbalsdrums
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
The drums on "September" were recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood by engineer George Massenburg, featuring a Rogers drum kit with Zildjian cymbals. The recording utilized close miking techniques with AKG D12 on kick, Shure SM57s on snare and toms, and Neumann U87s as overheads. The kit was well-damped with blankets or pillows in the kick drum to control resonance, and compression was applied to achieve the tight, punchy sound that became characteristic of late 70s funk and disco production.
Production Credits
Producer: Maurice White
Engineer: George Massenburg
Recorded at: Sunset Sound (Hollywood, CA)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Rogers Drums
Microphone: AKG D12
Recreation Tips
- Start with a well-tuned drum kit with damped heads to control resonance.
- Use close miking techniques on individual drums and overhead microphones for a balanced kit sound.
- Experiment with different microphone placements to capture the desired attack and tone of each drum.
- Apply compression to individual drums and the overall drum mix to enhance punch and sustain.
- Use EQ to shape the tonal character of the drums, emphasizing clarity and presence.
Original Gear
- Rogers Drums(drums)
- AKG D12(mic)
- Shure SM57(mic)
- Neumann U87(mic)
- Zildjian Cymbals(drums)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: AKG D12 kick drum microphone
Modern dynamic mic designed specifically for kick drums with similar frequency response to the D12, capturing that tight low-end punch
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Shure SM57 snare/tom microphones
The exact same microphone model is still manufactured and remains the industry standard for snare drums
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Neumann U87 overhead microphones
Large diaphragm condenser that captures similar cymbal shimmer and overall kit ambience as the U87 at a more accessible price
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: George Massenburg's analog compression
Emulates the fast attack analog compression used to tighten drums in 70s productions
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Rogers drums with controlled resonance
Built-in dampening ring creates the controlled, tight sound similar to the blanket-dampened Rogers kit
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Zildjian cymbals overhead sound
Budget-friendly dynamic mics that can capture overhead cymbal sound with less room noise than condensers
ReverbSweetwaterSources
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