What drums did Lars Ulrich use on Enter Sandman?

Lars Ulrich used a Tama Granstar drum kit for the recording of "Enter Sandman." The kit was heavily dampened, particularly the kick drum, to achieve the tight and focused sound heard on the track.

What mics were used to record Enter Sandman drums?

The drums were recorded using Shure SM57 microphones for close-miking individual drums and Neumann U87 condenser microphones as overheads for the cymbals. Additional room mics were used to capture ambience and spatial depth.

How to get Lars Ulrich Enter Sandman drum tone?

Start with a well-tuned kit with new heads, heavily dampen the kick drum for tight attack, tune the snare high and tight for cut. Use close mics on each drum plus overhead mics, and blend in some room sound for depth while maintaining clarity.

Who produced Metallica Enter Sandman?

"Enter Sandman" was produced by Bob Rock and engineered by Randy Staub at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Bob Rock was known for his polished, radio-friendly metal production style that defined Metallica's Black Album sound.

What studio was Enter Sandman recorded at?

"Enter Sandman" was recorded at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California. The studio's rooms and acoustics contributed to the spatial depth heard in the drum sound on the track.

drums from "enter sandman" by metallica

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Tone Profile

A tight, punchy, and aggressive hard rock drum sound with a focus on clarity and impact. The kick drum is prominent, and the overall tone is polished and powerful.

Shop This Rig

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Tama Granstar(instrument)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Neumann U87(mic)
API 512c(preamp)
Urei 1176(compressor)
Zildjian Cymbals(drums)

The Story

The drums on "Enter Sandman" were recorded at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles, produced by Bob Rock and engineered by Randy Staub. Lars Ulrich's Tama Granstar kit was recorded using close-miking techniques, with Shure SM57s on individual drums and Neumann U87s as overheads for the cymbals. The kick drum was heavily dampened for a tight, focused attack, while the snare was tuned high and tight for maximum cut. The recording combined close mics with room mics to capture both clarity and spatial depth.

Production Credits

Producer: Bob Rock

Engineer: Randy Staub

Recorded at: One on One Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: Tama GranstarShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a well-tuned drum kit with new or relatively new heads.
Experiment with different muffling techniques to achieve the desired level of damping on the kick and snare drums.
Use a combination of close mics and overhead mics to capture the full sound of the kit.
Pay close attention to microphone placement to achieve the desired balance and tonality.
Use a high-quality preamp and compressor to shape the sound of each drum.
Consider using a console or channel strip to EQ the individual drum tracks to get the perfect sound.
Experiment with room mics to capture the ambience of the recording space.
Mix the drums with a focus on clarity, impact, and aggression.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Tama Starclassic Walnut/BirchShop on Reverb$1200-$2000

Alternative to: Tama Granstar drums

Modern Tama kit with similar shell construction and aggressive attack characteristics needed for metal tones

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 microphones

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

Audio-Technica AT4050Shop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Neumann U87 overhead mics

Large diaphragm condenser that captures cymbal detail and room ambience similar to the U87 at a more accessible price

Warm Audio WA12-500Shop on Reverb$300-$400

Alternative to: API 512c preamp

API-style preamp clone that provides the punchy, colored sound characteristics of the original API preamps

Universal Audio 1176LN PluginPlugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Urei 1176 compressor

Faithful emulation of the original 1176 compressor used to achieve the tight, aggressive drum compression on the track

Steven Slate Drums 5Plugin Boutique$200-$250

Alternative to: Complete drum recording setup

Includes samples specifically modeled after this era of metal drum sounds with built-in processing chains

Sources

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drums from “enter sandman” by metallica | ToneDB