What drum kit did Danny Carey use on Lateralus?

Danny Carey used his Sonor Designer Series drum kit for the recording of "Lateralus." This kit is known for its deep, resonant tone and high-quality construction that contributes to the powerful drum sound on the album.

How to get Danny Carey's drum sound from Lateralus?

Start with deep, resonant drums similar to Sonor Designer Series, use multiple microphones including dynamic mics on kick and condensers on toms and overheads. Room microphones are crucial for the spacious ambience, and subtle compression helps control dynamics while preserving the natural tone.

Who produced Tool's Lateralus album?

David Bottrill produced Tool's "Lateralus" album. Bottrill is known for his work with progressive rock and metal bands, and his production style contributed to the album's powerful yet spacious drum sound.

What microphones were used on Lateralus drums?

The drums on "Lateralus" were recorded using high-end microphones including Neumann U47s, AKG D112 for kick drum, and Neumann KM84s on cymbals. This combination of vintage and professional microphones captured both the warmth and detail of Danny Carey's kit.

What cymbals does Danny Carey use?

Danny Carey uses Zildjian cymbals, which were part of his setup during the "Lateralus" recording sessions. The specific models haven't been fully documented, but Zildjian cymbals contributed to the crisp, cutting cymbal sound heard on the track.

drums from "lateralus" by tool

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Tone Profile

The drum sound is characterized by its deep, resonant toms, a punchy kick drum, and crisp cymbals, creating a spacious and impactful sonic landscape. It's a balance of natural acoustic tones enhanced with subtle studio processing to achieve clarity and power.

The Story

Danny Carey's drum sound on "Lateralus" was tracked using his Sonor Designer Series kit, produced by David Bottrill. The recording utilized high-end microphones including Neumann U47s and AKG D112 for kick drum, with Neumann KM84s on cymbals. The sound captures the natural resonance of the kit with room ambience, creating the spacious and powerful tone characteristic of the track.

Production Credits

Producer: David Bottrill

Engineer: 佚名

Recorded at: The O'Tool Shed

Signal Chain

Instrument: Sonor Designer Series

Microphone: Neumann U47

Recreation Tips

Start with a high-quality drum kit with deep, resonant toms.
Experiment with different microphone placements on each drum and cymbal to find the sweet spot.
Use a combination of close microphones and room microphones to capture both the direct sound and the ambience.
Use a gate and compressor to control the dynamics of the drums, while preserving the natural tone.
Use EQ to shape the overall sound of the drums, focusing on the low-end and high-end frequencies.
Experiment with different types of reverb to add space and depth to the drums.

Original Gear

Substitutions & Recommendations

Tama Starclassic Maple$1200-$2500

Alternative to: Sonor Designer Series drums

Offers similar deep, resonant tom sounds with maple construction that provides the warmth and projection needed for this tone

Warm Audio WA-47$800-$900

Alternative to: Neumann U47 microphone

Tube condenser microphone that captures the warmth and vintage character of the original U47 for tom and overhead recording

Shure Beta 52A$150-$180

Alternative to: AKG D112 kick drum microphone

Dynamic microphone specifically designed for kick drums with strong low-end response and attack similar to the D112

Audio-Technica AT4041$300-$350

Alternative to: Neumann KM84 cymbal microphones

Small diaphragm condenser with excellent transient response for capturing crisp, detailed cymbal sounds

FabFilter Pro-R$200-$250

Alternative to: Studio drum room ambience

High-quality reverb plugin that can recreate the spacious room sound crucial to this drum tone

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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drums from “lateralus” by tool | ToneDB