Tone Profile

Aggressive, punchy, and heavily compressed drums, with a prominent snare crack and a tight, controlled low end. The overall sound is powerful and designed to cut through a dense mix.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• The drum sound on "Painkiller" is characterized by its intense compression and tight, focused sound.
• Likely recorded in a treated studio environment to minimize unwanted room reflections.
• Close miking techniques were used to capture each drum individually.
• The Urei 1176 compressors were used aggressively to create the signature punch and sustain.

Recreation Tips

• Start with a well-tuned Tama drum kit, focusing on a snare with a sharp, cracking tone.
• Use close miking techniques on each drum to capture a detailed sound.
• Apply heavy compression using a Urei 1176 or similar FET compressor, paying attention to the attack and release settings to enhance the punch and sustain.
• Experiment with EQ to further shape the drum tones, boosting high frequencies on the snare for added crack and attenuating any unwanted low-frequency rumble.
• Consider using gating to tighten up the drum sounds and eliminate any lingering noise.

Recommended Gear

• Tama Drum Kit(drums)
• AKG D12(mic)
• Shure SM57(mic)
• Urei 1176(compressor)