What drum machine did Garbage use on Only Happy When It Rains?

Garbage used a Roland TR-808 drum machine on "Only Happy When It Rains." The 808 was layered with acoustic drums to create the song's distinctive hybrid drum sound that blends electronic and organic elements.

How did Butch Vig get the drum sound on Only Happy When It Rains?

Butch Vig achieved the drum sound by combining acoustic drums recorded with Shure SM57 microphones and an Empirical Labs Distressor compressor for punch and tightness. He layered these with Roland TR-808 drum machine sounds to create the processed, alternative rock aesthetic.

What studio was Only Happy When It Rains recorded at?

"Only Happy When It Rains" was recorded at Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin. This was Butch Vig's own studio where many notable alternative rock albums were produced in the 1990s.

How to recreate Garbage's drum sound from Only Happy When It Rains?

To recreate this sound, layer acoustic drums recorded with dynamic microphones like the SM57 with TR-808 drum machine samples. Apply heavy compression using a Distressor-style compressor to achieve the tight, punchy character, and use parallel processing to maintain impact while controlling dynamics.

What compressor was used on Garbage Only Happy When It Rains drums?

The drums on "Only Happy When It Rains" were processed through an Empirical Labs Distressor compressor. This unit was crucial for achieving the tight, punchy drum sound that characterizes the track's alternative rock production style.

drums from "only happy when it rains" by garbage

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Tone Profile

The drums have a tight, punchy, and somewhat processed sound with a blend of electronic and acoustic elements. They contribute to the song's overall alternative rock vibe, with a slightly industrial edge.

Shop This Rig

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Roland TR-808(instrument)
Shure SM57(mic)
Empirical Labs Distressor(compressor)

The Story

The drums on "Only Happy When It Rains" were recorded by producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, WI, featuring a hybrid approach that blended acoustic drums with electronic elements from a Roland TR-808 drum machine. The acoustic drums were captured with Shure SM57 microphones and processed through an Empirical Labs Distressor compressor to achieve the tight, punchy sound that became a signature of Garbage's alternative rock aesthetic.

Production Credits

Producer: Butch Vig

Engineer: Billy Bush

Recorded at: Smart Studios (Madison, WI)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Roland TR-808Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a clean, well-tuned drum kit.
Experiment with layering electronic drum samples (like the TR-808) with your acoustic drum recordings.
Use a compressor like the Empirical Labs Distressor to add punch and tightness to the drum sound.
Pay close attention to EQ to sculpt the frequencies and create separation between the different drum elements.
Consider using parallel processing techniques, such as parallel compression, to further enhance the drum's impact.

Original Gear

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Shure SM57Shop on Reverb(mic)
Roland TR-808Shop on Reverb(drums)
Empirical Labs DistressorShop on Reverb(compressor)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Behringer RD-8Shop on Reverb$300-350

Alternative to: Roland TR-808

Analog clone of the TR-808 that provides the same punchy kick and snare sounds for layering with acoustic drums

Warm AudioBus-CompShop on Reverb$400-500

Alternative to: Empirical Labs Distressor

SSL-style bus compressor that delivers similar tight, punchy drum compression at a fraction of the cost

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

The exact same microphone used on the original recording, still manufactured and perfect for close-miking drums

FabFilter Pro-C 2Plugin Boutique$170-200

Alternative to: Empirical Labs Distressor

Digital compressor plugin with multiple vintage emulations including Distressor-style compression modes

Native Instruments Battery 4Plugin Boutique$150-200