Studio Drummer

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Digital. It's at the core of what I do!

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

A: I'll always do my best.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love to work with people to create wonderful music!

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

A: That sampled drums are rubbish, or too electronic, or not right for the style (I have played several jazz recordings using the electronic drums). The software and technology available today is extraordinary. The sounds that you will get are real drums, recorded in a real studio, not synthesized. The advantage of working in the digital realm are many, not least exceptional sound quality. I get so many comments about how great the drums sound, yet people are still wary of embracing this new technology. I believe that drums are going the same way as pianos. Whilst there is still a place for a beautifully recorded Steinway piano, many pianists now record on electronic keyboards, often triggering sampled Steinway pianos! This is widely accepted in the industry and I believe that it will soon be the same for drums.

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

A: I started back in 1993 as a gigging drummer, working with bands in pubs and clubs. I spent a number of years playing in function bands. I then joined a rock n roll band called 'The Rocking Devils', recording an album with them. After a few years I started working in theatres, touring musical theatre shows. I did over a hundred shows, including a four year stint on the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat UK tour. When I came back from that tour I wanted to settle at home and have a family, so I set up my teaching studio, which is still running today. I started recording from home in 2017. With new technology enabling new working practices I was able to work from my studio remotely and record for people all over the world, and I fell in love with the process.

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

A: My live playing has been predominantly musical theatre, which has given me a broad spectrum of styles to play over the years, but much of my recording work has been with singer/songwriters.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I always hope to bring a high level of musicianship to a project, creating a drum part that will enhance a song, using the latest technology and samples, ensuring that your song will have perfectly recorded drums every time, played professionally, making it sound awesome!!

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Once I've received the track I'll have a listen and begin to create the drum part based on our conversations and any specific requests you may have regarding sounds or playing style. I'll typically record within two days and send over an mp3 of the recording for your approval. If you require any changes I'll put those in place and send you the revised recording as an mp3. Once you are happy with everything and payment has been made I'll send over the stem files.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: At the heart of my Studio is my glorious Roland Vdrums kit, the TD30, which is running into Pro Tools. I use the Vdrums to drive Superior Drummer, the virtual drum studio software. This incredibly powerful tool allows me to play the Vdrums and trigger perfectly recorded drum samples. The samples are recorded in some of the best studios in the world, giving you exquisite sound quality every time. Because it's all digital, editing sounds, such as changing the snare sound or hi hat sound can be done at the touch of a button, eliminating the need to re-record the whole track. I also use a Roland SPD-SX for additional samples.