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drums from “rockit” by herbie hancock | ToneDB

rockit

herbie hancock

drums

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A heavily processed, electronic drum sound with a distinct early 80s vibe. The tone is crisp, punchy, and futuristic, leaning heavily on gated reverb and synthesized elements.

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The Story

The drum sound on Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit' was recorded at RPM Studios in New York, produced by Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn with engineer Tony Meilandt. The signature sound combines acoustic drums with the iconic Linn LM-1 drum machine, heavily processed through an AMS RMX16 digital reverb for the distinctive gated reverb effect and an SSL G Series compressor for punch and tightness. This combination created the futuristic, electronic-influenced drum sound that became synonymous with early 80s production.

Production Credits

Producer: Bill Laswell, Michael Beinhorn

Engineer: Tony Meilandt

Recorded at: RPM Studios, New York

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a clean, well-tuned acoustic drum kit.
  • Use a drum machine like the Linn LM-1 for electronic percussion elements.
  • Apply heavy compression using an SSL-style compressor to get a tight, punchy sound.
  • Use a gated reverb effect, like the AMS RMX16, to create the signature 80s drum sound.
  • Experiment with layering different drum sounds and effects to achieve the desired level of complexity.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia DrumBrute ImpactShop on Reverb$300-350

Alternative to: Linn LM-1 Drum Machine

Analog drum machine with punchy, electronic sounds that can recreate the LM-1's crisp digital character when processed

Eventide Space Reverb PedalShop on Reverb$400-500

Alternative to: AMS RMX16 Reverb

Features authentic gated reverb algorithms including vintage digital reverb emulations perfect for 80s-style gated drums

SSL G-Master Buss CompressorShop on Reverb$3000-3500

Alternative to: SSL G Series Compressor

Authentic SSL compression with the exact punch and glue characteristics of the original G Series console

UAD AMS RMX16 PluginPlugin Boutique$150-200

Alternative to: AMS RMX16 Reverb

Official emulation of the exact RMX16 unit used on the original recording, with all the classic gated reverb programs

SSL G-Comp PluginPlugin Boutique$200-250

Alternative to: SSL G Series Compressor

Software version of the SSL G Series buss compressor providing the same tight, punchy drum compression as the hardware

Sources

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