As a drummer/percussionist myself...

Posted by Steven R. Rochlin on June 29, 2001 at 23:26:11

In Reply to: Why do cymbals in the some recordings sound broken or jagged? posted by One Dark Cat on June 29, 2001 at 22:30:45:

One Dark Cat,

My guess... could be a factor of various things such as bad recording technique (mic'ing, clipping input on mix board, etc). As a drummer myself, i have winced more than my fair share of time at how horribly cymbals can sound when recorded. Many people feel that cymbals also have a good amount of high frequency sound (over 20 kHz). This is said to be one reason why the early days of electronic drum cymbals sounded horrid.

The varying harmonic structure of a cymbal as it is hit and the sound produced afterwards has a very unique and fully varyied sound. Only recently have i heard a synthetic (electronic) drumset that comes quite close to the real thing (Roland TD-10 with TDW-1 card).

"Sampled" cymbals simply do not cut the mustard (usually, with the possible exception of the DDrums) though the Roland system uses a unique "modeling" of the sound called Composite Object Sound Modeling (COSM). This uses multiple modeling sound processes to create new sounds (NOT SAMPLED AND REPLAYED OR MINIPULATED SOUND). The reason i mention this is that IMHO it helps to know how to CREATE the sound in order to understand how the sound is formed and then to understand what it takes to reproduce it whether in a recording and during playback.

i could go on, but without you being here to watch me "create" new synthetic cymbal sounds and how that also pertains to my real cymbals here and then, in turn, how they are reproduced... Well, you get the idea.

PS: if you feel cymbals are hard, try recreating a good, LONG gong sound or, say, an 18" Chinese crash. VERY unique and different harmonic structures. The Chinese is FAST and weird with deep undertones while a gong has MANY various overtomes and undertones over a LONG period of time.

Steve sez: it is easy to destroy, but hard to create.

Enjoy the music,

Steven R. Rochlin

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Why do cymbals in the some recordings sound broken or jagged? - One Dark Cat 22:30:45 06/29/01 (14)

better on vinyl - Dr. Philosophy 12:48:05 07/1/01 (0)

Only *some* recordings? I would say most recordings... - Nemo 22:40:53 06/30/01 (5)

Try some of the Mapleshades - Steve 04:27:02 07/1/01 (1)

Thanks, I will. What titles should I get first (jazz)? [nt] - Nemo 13:14:30 07/1/01 (0)

I didn't mean to imply that they sounded accurate... - One Dark Cat 01:20:11 07/1/01 (2)

Have you noticed the same thing using headphones? - Nemo 13:19:53 07/1/01 (1)

Re: Have you noticed the same thing using headphones? - One Dark Cat 15:01:38 07/1/01 (0)

Your speakers also have alot to do with it - Brad V 12:27:29 06/30/01 (0)

Re: Why do cymbals in the some recordings sound broken or jagged? - Story 11:10:33 06/30/01 (0)

As a drummer/percussionist myself... - Steven R. Rochlin 06/29/0123:26:11 06/29/01 (4)

Re: As a drummer/percussionist myself... - steven oda 23:41:29 06/29/01 (3)

Re: As a drummer/percussionist myself... - Steven R. Rochlin 10:53:55 06/30/01 (2)

Terry Bozio! - steven oda 21:44:34 07/1/01 (1)

Re: Terry Bozio! - Steven R. Rochlin 19:46:39 07/2/01 (0)

Follow Ups

As a drummer/percussionist myself... - Steven R. Rochlin 06/29/0123:26:11 06/29/01 (4)

Re: As a drummer/percussionist myself... - steven oda 23:41:29 06/29/01 (3)

Re: As a drummer/percussionist myself... - Steven R. Rochlin 10:53:55 06/30/01 (2)

Terry Bozio! - steven oda 21:44:34 07/1/01 (1)

Re: Terry Bozio! - Steven R. Rochlin 19:46:39 07/2/01 (0)

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