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drums from “under the bridge” by red hot chili peppers | ToneDB

under the bridge

red hot chili peppers

drums

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

The drums have a roomy, slightly compressed sound with a natural, open quality, reflecting the song's emotional depth and spacious arrangement. They blend well with the other instruments while maintaining a distinct presence.

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The Story

The drums on "Under the Bridge" were recorded at The Mansion in Los Angeles with producer Rick Rubin and engineer Brendan O'Brien. Chad Smith's DW drums were captured using multiple microphones including Neumann U47s, with 1176 compression applied to enhance punch and sustain. The spacious room at The Mansion contributed to the natural, open quality of the drum sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Rick Rubin

Engineer: Brendan O'Brien

Recorded at: The Mansion (Los Angeles)

Signal Chain

Instrument: DW DrumsShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb

Processing: Urei 1176Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a high-quality drum kit, preferably one with a balanced and versatile sound.
  • Experiment with microphone placement to capture a natural and open drum sound. Consider using both close mics and overheads.
  • Use a compressor like the Urei 1176 to add punch and sustain to the drums. Adjust the settings to taste.
  • Record in a room with good acoustics or use reverb plugins to simulate a spacious environment.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

DW Performance Series KitShop on Reverb$1500-$2500

Alternative to: DW Drums

Modern DW kit with similar tonal character and build quality to vintage DW drums, delivering the balanced tone needed for this style

Warm Audio WA-47Shop on Reverb$900-$1000

Alternative to: Neumann U47

Faithful recreation of the U47's tube warmth and midrange character that captured the room ambience on the original recording

Warm Audio WA-2AShop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Urei 1176

Optical tube compressor that provides smooth, musical compression similar to what was used to add sustain and punch to the drums

Universal Audio 1176 Collection PluginPlugin Boutique$150-$300

Alternative to: Urei 1176

Digital emulation of the exact compressor model used on the original recording, perfect for adding that characteristic punch

Audio Ease AltiverbPlugin Boutique$500-$600

Alternative to: The Mansion room sound

Convolution reverb with samples of famous studio spaces that can recreate the spacious, natural room ambience

Sources

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