I’m currently producing a new version of a song that I recorded four years ago. I’m using some of the tracks that I previously recorded along with newly recorded instrument overdubs and lead vocals. Since I am keeping the song in the same key and am keeping the overall song structure the same, I’m able to use most of these tracks without any problems.

 

We recorded the basic tracks in early 2019, myself on digital piano and Stefano Giacomarra on drums, live in a room. With the keys bleeding into the drum mics, it would have been impossible for me to change the key of the song and if I wanted to use these drum recordings. That was definitely my first reason for keeping the song in the same key. I wanted to be able to get this song out soon, so I avoided having to re-record everything.

 

So all that is to say that I have a well-recorded stereo mix of the drums for this song. I’m experimenting with different arrangement ideas as I rework the song, and I decided to try changing the tonality of the drums. I re-amped my stereo drum mix using both a monitor and a guitar amp.

 

So here’s what I did: I routed the left channel only of my stereo drum track out to a studio monitor which I placed on the floor in my apartment. I also routed that same audio (the left channel) to my Fender Twin Reverb amp, with a little bit of reverb. I placed a large condenser microphone near the monitor speaker, for the “dry” signal, with the amp in the distance (the “wet” signal). By altering the positioning of the mic and the two speakers, I was able to capture the same drum part but with a different sonic character. I repeated this whole process with the right channel of my stereo drum track. After recording both left and right, I had my new stereo drum track.

 

The result didn’t blow me away, but the whole thing just left me feeling inspired and happy. Whenever I get creative with the recording process, it reminds me why I got into recording in the first place. Capturing sound is pretty awesome and capturing a feeling with sound is one of the coolest things in the world.