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drums from “style” by taylor swift | ToneDB

style

taylor swift

drums

75% ai confidence

Tone Profile

The drums have a tight, punchy, and somewhat retro sound, reminiscent of 80s pop/rock. The kick and snare are prominent, with a gated reverb effect adding to the vintage vibe.

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The Story

Taylor Swift's "Style" drums were recorded with producer Max Martin and engineer Michael Ilbert, featuring a blend of close-mic'd drums with the signature 80s gated reverb effect created using an AMS RMX16 reverb unit. The drums receive heavy compression and EQ to achieve their tight, punchy character that defines the retro-pop aesthetic.

Production Credits

Producer: Max Martin

Engineer: Michael Ilbert

Recreation Tips

  • Start with a Yamaha Recording Custom drum kit for a similar tonal foundation.
  • Use a Neumann U47 microphone on the kick and snare drums to capture their full sonic character.
  • Apply compression to the kick and snare to enhance their punch and sustain.
  • Experiment with gated reverb using a plugin emulation of the AMS RMX16 to replicate the 80s-inspired reverb effect.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Eventide H9Shop on Reverb$599

Alternative to: AMS RMX16 gated reverb

Built-in reverb algorithms include accurate gated reverb that recreates the 80s snare sound from Style

UAD AMS RMX16 Digital Reverb PluginPlugin Boutique$149

Alternative to: AMS RMX16 reverb unit

Exact plugin emulation of the original hardware unit used on the recording

Audio-Technica AT2020Shop on Reverb$99

Alternative to: Neumann U47 microphone

Budget condenser mic that captures drum transients well for close-mic techniques used on Style

Warm Audio WA-47Shop on Reverb$899

Alternative to: Neumann U47 microphone

Tube condenser microphone designed to replicate the vintage U47 sound at a fraction of the cost

Yamaha Recording Custom SeriesShop on Reverb$1,200-$2,000

Alternative to: Yamaha Recording Custom drums

Same drum line used on the original recording, still in production with the same punchy maple shell tone

Sources

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