Session drummer

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: If you need an excellent bass player, check out Lannie -- https://soundbetter.com/profiles/384378-lannie-hilboldt. If you need a great keyboard player, try Phil -- https://soundbetter.com/profiles/633012-phil-chidester. Male rock vocalist? Chris rules -- https://soundbetter.com/profiles/56242-cris-hodges

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: What do you need to start? It's pretty easy. Just an MP3 or WAV with 8 counts of click before the song start (to help align my click). Or if the tempo or time signature varies, you can send a separate track of just click (make sure it starts from the same exact point as the music). If you want to send me a guide track with programmed drums or loops, that can also be helpful. Just let me know if you want me to follow it exactly, somewhat, or not at all... Also please let me know what sample/bit rate you use (if you send me a WAV I'll use the same as what you sent - unless you instruct me otherwise).

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: Many "remote session drummers" are recording in a low-budget home studio (aka bedroom). While my studio is private and at my home, it is not "in my home" and not a bedroom studio. It was constructed as a separate building for the sole purpose of being a recording studio and specifically for getting a great drum sound. I have a top-quality recording chain that is comparable to most commercial recording studios.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What kind of sound are you looking for? Do you want me to follow your programmed tracks/loops closely? Are you going to re-record your scratch tracks, or is what you are sending me the "keeper" (this guides me whether to follow the click, or follow the existing track)?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: If you want Steve Gadd or Bernard Purdie, and can afford their daily rate, you should definitely hire them - hits! Seriously. They are both awesome and you surely won't be disappointed. If that's not in your budget, I think you will find my rates are more than fair.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: I had a great time drumming on Tom Guerra's latest release. Fun roots, rock and roll. Go check it out! www.tomguerra.com I also drummed on and engineered a bunch of great tunes by ThemThatKnow. www.themthatknowtheband.com

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: programming and loops have improved but still can't really provide "feel" like a real, human drummer can. I will listen to your song and create a drum track that will make your song even better!

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Pro Tools 2024, Antelope Orion 32+ Gen4, API-500 series (A-Designs, Avedis Audio, CAPI, Hairball Audio, and more), and mics from Telefunken, Shure, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, Lauten Audio & more. See my website for a complete description.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I've been playing drums for 30+ years and have been doing remote/online drum recording for 15+ years and I can turn around tracks pretty quickly in most cases.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: send me an mp3 (or a WAV is fine too) with a click intro of at least 8 clicks - then mute it through the song. This allows me to sync my click and when you get the mix with drums sent back you won't hear the click in it (because that makes it really difficult to listen to the song!). Or if the song changes tempo, then include a separate click track (it can be mp3 or WAV or even MIDI, but make sure it starts from the exact same place as the music mix).

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: I like lots of different styles of music, but I gravitate toward songs that have great sounding drums!

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I enjoy listening to new songs and figuring out interesting drum parts that will hopefully complement the tune and help take it to the next level.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: since that desert island is unlikely to have power, I would bring acoustic drums, cymbals, sticks and probably some earplugs!

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: I like working on all kinds of music!

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: it has to feel good!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: playing for the song. if it's a love ballad, then I won't feel obliged to unleash the chops - unless that's what you are going for. :-) In the end it's your song, and your choice. I'm here to make it sound like you hear in your head!

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Acoustic drum tracks - typically replacing programmed tracks, loops, or drum machines

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Rock, blues, country, pop, Americana, and some prog rock

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: lots of projects!

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: digital, with a great analog front-end. best of both worlds.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I want to give you a drum track that makes you think "wow, my song sounds even better now!"

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I learn the song quickly and I have great intuition for where a song is going - even if it's only a scratch track.