Daniel Torgal on SoundBetter

Need some killer drum parts for your songs? I will gladly handle any task within the heavier spectrum of music. From the slowest doom to the most schizophrenic beats you can think of, I’m here for you.

Hi! I'm currently the drummer of The Voynich Code (Deathcore/Technical Death Metal) and I have been playing and working with lots of artists from different genres and backgrounds both live and in the studio for the last +10 years. Although I’m full-time dedicated to the heavy music scene, I have a degree in Jazz and Modern Music, which broad my musical horizons and helped me to develop my own style of playing and a solid technique, while boosting my creativity and deepening my knowledge in music.

The services I offer at SoundBetter as a drummer are composition, recording and editing.

My studio, located in Almada on the south bay of Lisbon, is perfect for my drumming endeavors. Having a very versatile recording room, great gear and a super comfortable environment, I have the perfect conditions to deliver high end tracks!

In case you would rather go with programmed drums, I'll write the parts as I would play them giving them an organic, humane and dynamic feel. Since I have a vast collection of some of the best drum libraries and samples, I'll provide you with incredible professional stems that will fit your mix like a glove.

Looking forward to work with you!

Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.

Credits

55 Reviews - 12 Repeat Clients

Endorse Daniel Torgal

by Morvia 8.
Verified
The effort put into the music/sound venture is done to as expected and nearest to professional as possible.
by Morvia 8.
Verified
The live drumming came through clear and forthcoming to the rhythm as is to expectation.
by John L.
Verified
Daniel is an incredible talent, professional and the results are amazing! You will not regret brining Daniel in on any project, he will go above and beyond. It’s a pleasure collaborating with you Daniel!
by Morvia 8.
Verified
The project in its entirety was done to expectation.
by Morvia 8.
Verified
Spent the additional time towards completing a rendition for professional results.
by Mike K.
Verified
Daniel is always awesome! When I get the email saying he has sent over the files it feels like Christmas morning. He ALWAYS delivers!
by Mike K.
Verified
As always, Daniel is amazing! We've worked on several songs now and have more in line. I can't wait to see what he does with those. He's on time, professional, friendly and an amazing talent. He's always a real joy to work with.
by Boris S.
Verified
Daniel did an excellent job mixing our track. He has an excellent ear and his attention to details is second to none. Definitely recommend!
by Nan L.
Verified
Daniel has the perfect technique! He made the extreme metal drums sound so musical! He knows just what a song needs, and he can do it ALL!
by Morvia 8.
Verified
The expectations are met every time when asked for a project to be done.
by Mike K.
Verified
This is my second time working with Daniel and he has delivered beyond what I expected. I can't say enough good things about him. I just can't wait to work with him again!
by Derek R.
Verified
The man, the myth, the legend; Daniel Torgal. He has transformed and elevated every track of mine that he's touched so far. The fills, man...the fills!! See you on the next one!
by John L.
Verified
Fantastic work! On time, amazing work and easy to collaborate with! Looking forward to working with him again!
by Steven G.
Verified
Daniel kills it again. He always comes through with top quality drumming.
by Derek R.
Verified
Very easy to work with and delivered as promised. Added some great drums, too, for an affordable price! Recommended!
by James H.
Verified
Daniel did an killer job on some pretty challenging material. Solidly engineered and amazingly performed drums tracks. Throughout the process he was super communicative and a pleasure to work with. Absolutely recommended!
by Mesker
Verified
Daniel recorded drums for a challenging 7 track hardcore EP. He 100% nailed it, playing with feel and taking a musical approach that complimented every song. There were barely any revisions over this whole project because he showed such an extremely high attention to detail, amazing! I would 1000% recommend Daniel to anyone/everyone and I’m honoured to have him playing on the EP.
by Mike K.
Verified
Daniel is the best! Great guy and an AMAZING talent! He stayed in touch through the whole process and delivered on everything he promised then some. Listening to what he brought to the project raised the hairs on my arms. I have an album worth of material written and you can bet Daniel will be a big part of getting it complete. I couldn’t be happier!
by Chris R.
Verified
We worked on a 4 song EP together. I'm not a drummer so, when I write drum parts, I try to figure out how to make them challenging, interesting and most importantly, playable. Daniel didn't even flinch when I handed him the demos. Not surprising because, if you've ever heard his band Voynich Code, the man is a BEAST on drums. Do yourself a favor and hire Daniel for your next project. I know I will.
by Steven G.
Verified
Complete professional, easy to work. Full filled my vision beyond expectations. He totally killed it. Even for my crazy offbeat song. lol

Interview with Daniel Torgal

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: The debut Enblood album "Cast To Exile". This was my first full length where I recorded live drums and wrote the drum parts. It went better than we expected and I feel grateful for that.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: 100% dedicated to living as a full time musician. New The Voynich Code stuff is on the way!
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: César Moreira and João Miguel all day long. I've been working with them for so long, we actually have a band, Enblood, besides being great individuals and two of my best friends they're also outstanding professionals.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital. It's 2023 and I'm not rich.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: Unique and very professional audio tracks. Also, my full commitment.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Playing the drums. I wouldn't mind doing it 24/7.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can programmed drums sound better than recorded? Depending on the final production you're aiming, your budget and how you would record the drums. So yes they can sound better (non-intended pun!).
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Think about what kind of performance you want and check if the performer is in fact the right person for the job. Also have it all set and tidy when getting in touch.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Any high-end Roland kit, my MacBook Pro, a good interface, some in-ears and a pair of Vic Firth sticks.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I've been playing live and recording for +10 years. I've hundreds shows (lost the count a few of years ago), recorded +3 albums, +10 singles and there's plenty more to come. I also have a degree in Jazz and Modern Music.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Use parallel compression on your drum bus to level up your drum mixes!
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: For drum tracking, I usually study the track until I can nail the best performance, usually 1-3 days depending on the difficulty. Then, I experiment the best way to record it in order to achieve the sound I'm looking for. On the same day or the next I start recording it and just stop when I'm pleased with the result. The next day will be spent editing and getting the files all tidy and ready to deliver.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: Mapex Drums, Meinl/Zildjian Cymblas, Remo/Evans Drumheads, Gibraltar Hardware, Vic Firth Sticks, Macbook Pro 13'' Retina/Mac mini M1, Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, EVO 4, AKG Drumset I, Sontronics STC-2, Shure SM57 and SM7B, Roland/Alesis/OnTrigger Electronics, Yamaha HS7, Beyerdynamic 770 Pro 250 Ohm and a few more toys (have a huge drum library and VST collection).
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: That triggers are cheating. It actually involves way more training and time to play tight with that type of gear.
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What do you need? Processed and edited or raw and unedited tracks? Do you already have ideas for the drum parts? What to you expect of the tracks?
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Technical.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: I would like one day to record drums with Kristian Kohle. He is one of my favorite producers in the death metal scene.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Death Metal.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Versatility.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: My creativity as a versatile musician, yet well fitted. I like to get really deep into what I'm working on. Also perfectionism always push me to do better.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Ken Bedene, Eugene Ryabchenko, Kevin Paradis, Sebastian Lanser, Hans Grossman, George Kolias and so many more!
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Record and edit high quality drum tracks for heavy productions.

The Voynich Code - The Art Of War

I was the drummer in this production

Live drum trackAverage price - $150 per song
EditingAverage price - $50 per track
Programmed drumAverage price - $100 per song
Mixing EngineerContact for pricing
Mastering EngineerContact for pricing
Full instrumental productionContact for pricing

I allow up to 3 revisions. Delivery depends on my availability but it usually takes 1-3 days (Single) or 1-4 weeks (EP, Album). Programmed MIDI drums usually take me 1-3 days per track to deliver.