What drum kit did U2 use on With or Without You?

U2 used a Tama drum kit for recording 'With or Without You' at Windmill Lane Studios. The specific model hasn't been definitively documented, but Tama kits were Larry Mullen Jr.'s preference during this period.

How to get U2 With or Without You drum sound?

The key is recording in a large room with natural reverb, using quality condenser mics for room ambience, and applying gentle compression. The spacious sound comes from careful room mic placement and the natural acoustics of Windmill Lane Studios.

What microphones were used on U2 With or Without You drums?

Neumann U47 microphones were used, particularly for capturing room ambience. Multiple microphones were employed in the setup to create the spacious, ambient drum sound characteristic of the track.

Who recorded drums on U2 With or Without You?

The drums were recorded by engineer Flood at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois producing. Larry Mullen Jr. played the drums on the track.

What studio recorded U2 With or Without You?

The song was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland. The studio's large rooms and natural acoustics contributed significantly to the ambient, spacious drum sound on the track.

drums from "with or without you" by u2

with or without you

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Tone Profile

The drums have a spacious and ambient sound, characterized by a deep, resonant kick and snare with a generous amount of natural reverb. The overall effect is both powerful and ethereal, contributing to the song's emotional intensity.

Shop This Rig

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Tama Drum Kit(instrument)
Neumann U47(microphone)

The Story

The drums on 'With or Without You' were recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin with engineers Flood and producers Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The spacious, ambient drum sound was captured using a Tama drum kit with Neumann U47 microphones, particularly for room ambience. The recording utilized the natural acoustics of a large room, with careful microphone placement and gentle compression to maintain dynamics while creating the song's signature ethereal yet powerful drum presence.

Production Credits

Producer: Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois

Engineer: Flood

Recorded at: Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin

Signal Chain

Instrument: Tama Drum KitShop on Reverb

Microphone: Neumann U47Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Tama drum kit or similar to capture the basic tonal characteristics.
Record in a large room or hall to emulate the natural reverb.
Use Neumann U47 microphones or similar high-quality condensers for room mics.
Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot for capturing ambience.
Apply gentle compression to the individual drum tracks and the overall mix to enhance impact without sacrificing dynamics.
Consider using a plate reverb or convolution reverb with a long decay time to enhance the spaciousness.

Original Gear

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Tama Drum KitShop on Reverb(drums)
Neumann U47Shop on Reverb(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Audio-Technica AT4050Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Neumann U47 room mics

Large-diaphragm condenser with similar warm character for capturing room ambience, budget-friendly alternative to vintage U47s

Tama Starclassic Walnut/BirchShop on Reverb$1800-$2500

Alternative to: Tama drum kit

Modern Tama kit with similar tonal characteristics to vintage models, walnut/birch shells provide warmth and resonance

Valhalla RoomPlugin Boutique$50

Alternative to: Natural room reverb

Excellent algorithmic reverb plugin that can recreate large room acoustics with adjustable decay and ambience

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

Alternative to: Neumann U47

Tube condenser microphone specifically designed to emulate U47 characteristics for room and overhead recording

Universal Audio 1176 pluginPlugin Boutique$150-$300

Alternative to: Studio compression chain

Classic compressor model that provides the gentle compression used on 80s drum recordings while maintaining dynamics

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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