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drums from “only happy when it rains” by garbage | ToneDB

only happy when it rains

garbage

drums

AI generatedv1.0

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.

Gear

Roland TR-808instrument
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Shure SM57mic
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Empirical Labs Distressorcompressor
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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-808

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

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

Substitutions & Recommendations

Behringer RD-8$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

ReverbSweetwater
Warm AudioBus-Comp$400-500

Alternative to: Empirical Labs Distressor

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

ReverbSweetwater
Shure SM57$100-120

Alternative to: Shure SM57

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

ReverbSweetwater
FabFilter Pro-C 2$170-200

Alternative to: Empirical Labs Distressor

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

ReverbSweetwater
Native Instruments Battery 4$150-200

Alternative to: Roland TR-808

Comprehensive drum sampler with authentic TR-808 samples and layering capabilities for blending with acoustic drums

ReverbSweetwater

Sources

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