TONEDB

drum from “byob” by system of a down | ToneDB

byob

system of a down

drum

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

An extremely punchy, tight, and aggressive drum sound with a prominent, clicky kick, a cracking snare with significant body, and clear, cutting cymbals, all driving the dense metal mix with precision and power.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Kick Drum (Tama Starclassic Maple, likely 22x18" or 24x18")

Microphone: AKG D112 or Shure Beta 52A (inside), Neumann U47 FET or Yamaha Subkick (outside)

Processing: Gating (tight), EQ (boost sub-lows ~50-80Hz, cut boxiness ~300-500Hz, boost beater attack ~3-6kHz), Compression (e.g., dbx 160, API 2500, SSL G-Comp; fast attack, medium release for punch), Possible sample layering/replacement (e.g., Slate Trigger with a punchy rock sample)

Other: Outer mic blended for low-end weight. Inner mic for attack. Often heavily processed for consistency and impact.

Recording Notes

  • Recorded at The Sound Factory in Hollywood, CA, known for its great-sounding drum rooms.
  • Album 'Mezmerize' produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian, engineered by David Schiffman, and mixed by Andy Wallace.
  • John Dolmayan's drumming style is precise and powerful, contributing significantly to the final sound.
  • Meticulous drum tuning and setup would have been essential.
  • Andy Wallace's mix heavily features aggressive compression, EQ, and careful use of ambience/reverb, contributing to the polished and impactful drum sound.
  • Sample augmentation or replacement on kick and snare is highly probable for consistency and enhanced attack, a common practice in this era of metal production.

Recreation Tips

  • Use high-quality, well-tuned maple or brass drums. John Dolmayan uses Tama Starclassic Maple and a signature brass snare.
  • Employ close miking on all drum shells. For kick, use an inside mic for attack and an outside mic (or sub-kick) for low-end weight.
  • Gate the kick and toms tightly to eliminate bleed and create a focused, punchy sound.
  • Apply aggressive compression to individual drums, especially kick and snare, to control dynamics and enhance attack and sustain.
  • Use EQ to sculpt each drum: boost sub-bass and click on the kick; body and crack on the snare; attack and fundamental on toms. Cut muddy midrange frequencies.
  • Blend in heavily compressed room mics to add size, energy, and depth. Experiment with different compression settings on the room mics for character.
  • Consider parallel compression on the snare and/or the entire drum bus for added punch and body without sacrificing transients.
  • If using samples (e.g., via Slate Trigger or similar), choose ones that complement the acoustic drums, focusing on attack for the kick and body/crack for the snare.
  • Ensure hi-hats are clear and present, either through overheads or a dedicated spot mic.
  • The overall drum bus will likely also have compression and EQ to glue the kit together and make it sit well in a dense mix.

Sources