drums from “i wish” by stevie wonder | ToneDB
i wish
stevie wonder
drums
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
Classic 70s Motown drum sound, tight and punchy with a slightly dry, controlled room ambience. The kit emphasizes the snap of the snare and a warm, rounded kick.
Gear
- Rogers Drumsinstrument
- Reverb$40Sweetwater
- Neumann U67microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
The drums on Stevie Wonder's 'I Wish' were recorded using a Rogers drum kit with close-miking techniques, primarily using Neumann U67 microphones. The track was recorded at Crystal Sound studio in Hollywood with engineer Gary Olazabal, and the production emphasized a controlled, dry sound with minimal room reflections and careful drum muffling to create the characteristic tight, punchy Motown feel of the era.
Production Credits
Producer: Stevie Wonder
Engineer: Gary Olazabal
Recorded at: Crystal Sound studio (Hollywood, CA)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Rogers Drums
Microphone: Neumann U67
Recreation Tips
- Start with a well-tuned drum kit, paying attention to head selection and tuning.
- Experiment with different muffling techniques to achieve the desired level of sustain and resonance.
- Use close-miking techniques to capture the individual sounds of each drum.
- Apply compression and EQ to shape the overall drum sound and create a tight, punchy feel.
- Add a touch of gated reverb to create a subtle sense of ambience.
Original Gear
- Rogers Drums(drums)
- Neumann U67(mic)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Rogers Drums
Vintage-inspired kit with similar shell construction to 70s Rogers, offering the warm woody tone perfect for close-miked Motown-style recording
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Neumann U67 tube microphone
Faithful recreation of the U67's tube warmth and midrange character that shaped the original drum sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Neumann U67 tube microphone
Budget option providing similar warmth and clarity for close-miking drums with good rejection of room noise
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Vintage analog console compression
Emulates the fast 1176-style compression used in 70s Motown productions for that punchy, controlled drum sound
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Crystal Sound studio reverb
Recreates the subtle plate reverb ambience typical of 70s studio productions when gated for controlled space
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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