Markos Vassiliou on SoundBetter

Real REGGAE drums recording is what I do best! Recording other styles too. If you need a mix of vintage and/or modern, you're in the right place. Recorded many albums & songs for many artists with positive reviews. Fast learner, read drum notes if needed and record with or without an additional touch.

Playing/recording the drums for more than 20 years already. I love Reggae music, toured & recorded it the most that it became my specialty. Also skilled in genres like Afrobeat, Dancehall, Reggaeton, Rock, Pop, Funk, Oriental, Country... I have also been asked to tune drums & set up microphone positioning for bands in festivals and before their own recordings. I have been told to have golden ears.

I am using the right selection of drums, drumheads, & cymbals and recording gear for the sound you need! Drums will be tuned to your preference. Through time and lots of trial, I have found the best microphone positioning & drum tuning strategies.

Please note that the song in my profile has been mixed/mastered by a hobby mixing person and no quantise at all. This is just a version for you to listen to the style of what I deliver.

I look forward to hearing from you & delivering exactly what you are looking for.

Send me a note through the contact button above.

Credits

7 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse Markos Vassiliou

by Jim W.
Verified
Another great track from Markos. Brought him a bossa nova project and he totally nailed it on first take. No revisions. Kick drum sounds amazing. Playing is super tight and tasteful as always. His fills are never flashy, but they get better and better with each listen. Great communication and speedy delivery. Thank you!
by Lori J.
Verified
Markos recorded drum tracks for an original reggae song for me, and he nailed it! He communicated throughout the process, and not only was his performance stellar, the recording was really well balanced. I intend to work with him again.
by Jim W.
Verified
Another awesome drum track from Markos. I brought him a very unique song (jazz fusion / doo wop / big band) with lots of changes and gave him little guidance. He provided a buck of samples and has me pick the best approach for each section. A true professional capable of any style.
by Jim W.
Verified
Markos teases the listener in the best way. Lots of taste, subtlety, and most importantly restraint in his playing. He doesn't have to show off because he knows he's got CHOPS. His playing grows on me with each listen. So glad I enlisted his help - hope to work together again!
by Devyn Faucher
Verified
Markos is a stellar drummer. He nailed the parts and his turnaround was fast. I'll definitely hire him again - great work!
by khaled s.
Verified
Great experience working with Markos, he was able to follow the song's direction and deliver great drums performance and sounds, choosing the right tone for the drum kit and delivering multiple takes to choose from, would love to work with him again on another song.
by Julian R.
Verified
What a great experience. Markos was so clear in his communication, wanted to know my thoughts, and shared his expertise when asked. The product was everything I had hoped for. Great style, and great sounds. Will hire again.

Interview with Markos Vassiliou

Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Both I would say, because there are positives and negatives in both. It also depends on the music genre being recorded.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I will deliver to their expectations.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Everything
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Can you tune your snare like this song? Yes, but please consider that the song mix has a lot to do with the snare sound.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Give me as much information as possible for me to listen through your ears and make your project sound as close as you want to hear it. Also be open to what the recording artist can offer that might have not thought of.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started young with hard rock & metal. Then went into reggae which I can say I played the most. Then funk came into my life for the creative grooves. Also played a lot of dance disco stuff, blues, oriental Arabic music, and jazz.
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Listen through the client's ear. Tune the drums right first, use the right microphones and angle the microphones correctly to the drumheads. Then hit the record buttons.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Reggae, Funk, Rock, Blues, Country, Pop..
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: I usually listen to what the client is looking for, then I listen to the song as much as I can adapting the client's ideas into it before sending a first draft. After the first draft, the client would tell me what to change and I would re-record accordingly, until the client is satisfied.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I use a mix of vintage and modern instruments. Snares: 1976 Ludwig Supraphonic 14x6,5 - Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute 14x5,5 - Pearl Masters MMX 14x5,5 - Sonor Benny Greb Sig 13x5,75. Drums: Tama Birch/Walnut 22,10,12,16. This kit is ultimate for recording - Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute 22,10,12,14,16 - Pearl Session Studio Birch 20,10,12,14 for a more funky sound. Cymbals: Mostly all Zildjian cymbals. Early 80s 14" New Beat Hi-Hat - 21" A Sweet Ride - 20 K custom Ride - 18" A Custom Crash - 17" K Custom Hybrid Crash - 16" A Microphones: I have a huge selection of microphones from different brands. Audix, Shure, Sennheiser & AKG.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: All the jobs on Soundbetter. Especially the one with Jim W. on the song Sarah.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Right now I'm recording my book that will be released soon.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Everyone I've worked with on Soundbetter until now AND -I've shared the stage with Kelly O'Donohue who is a very talented trumpet and other brass player: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/229981-kelly-o'donohue -Björn Werra is a quality bass player that I also worked with in Berlin: https://soundbetter.com/profiles/258030-björn-werra
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Tuning and playing tight serving what the song needs.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I surely bring creativity, taste, subtlety, and an overall positive vibe.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Reggae and all its sub-genres like Afrobeat, Dancehall, Reggaeton & Dub, but thats not only what I offer. Funk, Rock, Blues, Country, Pop..