They can dictate a track’s style, especially in dance music. As a drummer by trade, drums are important to me, but I\u2019m also a producer so I see and hear both sides of the puzzle. On one end, drums are drums and they can often sound very similar across different tracks and producers. That said, in my opinion, it\u2019s extremely valuable to have a signature drum sound that can set you apart from the rest. So, drawing on the sounds from my\u00a0drum sample pack,\u00a0 “60x60x60,”<\/a> here are some tips on how you can create a signature drum sound of your own.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to have a professional drum kit or studio to get good sounds. You can record using a field mic, a GoPro, or even your phone – just try to use a microphone that can capture the majority of the 20 – 20 kHz frequency spectrum. If you’re looking for affordability, the Audio Technica AT2022 and the AKG P170 (which is under $100!) are good places to start – I\u2019m not saying they’re the best microphones, but they\u2019ll do the job just fine. As much as possible, try to get clean recordings with minimal outside noise.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to just record drums, either. Try hitting cardboard boxes and pieces of paper. Try slapping the wall and the floor. Try clunking pieces of metal or crushing cans. The key is to capture 3 main elements: the fundamental<\/strong> (thud)<\/strong>, the body<\/strong> (tone)<\/strong>, and the top end<\/strong> (click)<\/strong>. The more you record your own material, the more you\u2019re going to have a unique drum sound.<\/p>\n There are countless ways you can manipulate your existing drums to add your own spin to them. For example, with some simple cutting and processing, you can turn any full drum loop into a cool hi hat groove to add to your own kick and snare patterns:<\/p>\n1. Record your own sounds<\/h2>\n
2. Use loops and one-shots in creative ways<\/h2>\n