What drum machine was used on Billie Jean?

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" used a LinnDrum machine for the main drum sounds. The LinnDrum was a popular digital drum machine in the early 1980s known for its punchy, electronic sound that became a hallmark of the era.

How to get the Billie Jean snare sound?

The iconic "Billie Jean" snare sound comes from a LinnDrum machine processed with gated reverb. Start with a tight, electronic snare sample, then apply a reverb with a gate that cuts off abruptly after a short decay time, typically around 1-2 seconds.

Who programmed the drums on Billie Jean?

The drums on "Billie Jean" were programmed by producer Quincy Jones and engineer Bruce Swedien using a LinnDrum machine. The programming was done at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles during the Thriller album sessions.

What makes the Billie Jean drum sound so punchy?

The punchy drum sound comes from heavy compression, likely using a Urei 1176 compressor, applied to the LinnDrum sounds. The kick drum was particularly compressed to achieve its tight attack, while the overall mix was processed to make the drums sit prominently in the mix.

What synths were used on Billie Jean drums?

A Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer was likely used to add additional layers and augment the LinnDrum sounds on "Billie Jean." These synthesized elements helped create a fuller, more complex drum arrangement beyond the basic drum machine programming.

drums from "billie jean" by michael jackson

billie jean

michael jackson

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Tone Profile

Tight, punchy, and somewhat dry electronic drums with a distinct 80s vibe, characterized by a prominent kick and snare with gated reverb. The sound is clean and impactful, designed to drive the rhythm of the song.

Shop This Rig

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LinnDrum(instrument)
Yamaha CS-80(synth)
Urei 1176(compressor)

The Story

The drums on "Billie Jean" were created using a LinnDrum machine, programmed and arranged by Quincy Jones and Bruce Swedien at Westlake Recording Studios. The characteristic snare sound features the famous gated reverb effect that became synonymous with 80s production, while the kick drum was heavily compressed to achieve its tight, punchy attack. Additional synthesized elements, possibly from a Yamaha CS-80, were layered to enhance the overall drum sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Quincy Jones

Engineer: Bruce Swedien

Recorded at: Westlake Recording Studios, Los Angeles

Signal Chain

Instrument: LinnDrumShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a LinnDrum sample library or virtual instrument to get the basic drum sounds.
Use a compressor to tighten up the kick drum and make it punchier.
Apply a gated reverb to the snare drum, adjusting the gate time for the desired effect.
Experiment with synth layers to add depth and complexity to the drum sounds.
Pay attention to the overall mix, ensuring that the drums are prominent but not overwhelming.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Arturia DrumBrute ImpactShop on Reverb$299-$349

Alternative to: LinnDrum

Analog drum machine with classic 80s-style sounds and built-in distortion that can recreate the punchy, electronic character of the LinnDrum

Native Instruments Battery 4Plugin Boutique$199-$249

Alternative to: LinnDrum

Includes authentic LinnDrum samples and extensive processing options to recreate the exact drum sounds from the original recording

Universal Audio 1176 Classic Limiter CollectionPlugin Boutique$299-$349

Alternative to: Urei 1176 compressor

Faithful emulation of the original 1176 used to compress and tighten the kick drum on the recording

Eventide UltraReverbPlugin Boutique$179-$199

Alternative to: Gated reverb effect

Features authentic 80s gated reverb algorithms that can recreate the iconic snare sound with precise gate timing control

Arturia CS-80 VPlugin Boutique$199-$249

Alternative to: Yamaha CS-80

Accurate software emulation of the CS-80 used for the synthesized percussion layers that augment the drum sounds

Roland TR-8SShop on Reverb$699-$799

Alternative to: Complete drum setup

Modern drum machine with authentic Roland samples plus the ability to load custom LinnDrum samples, with built-in effects for gated reverb

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