The 80s was a golden era for drum sounds in music. From the big, booming drums in pop anthems to the powerful beats in rock ballads, the drum sounds of that decade have left an indelible mark. These sounds are characterized by their punchy kick drums, sharp snare drums, and spacious toms. Whether you’re producing music in a studio or playing live, achieving that authentic 80s drum sound can add a touch of nostalgia and energy to your tracks. In this article, we’ll explore various ways to get that classic 80s drum sound.
Choose the Right Drum Kit
Acoustic Drums
Kick Drum
Look for a kick drum with a large diameter, around 22 inches or more. A bigger kick drum can produce the deep, booming sound that was typical in the 80s. Brands like Ludwig, Gretsch, and Tama made great kick drums during that time.
Use a single – ply batter head with a felt strip or a moongel to control the sustain and add a bit of attack. The felt strip or moongel can help reduce unwanted overtones and give the kick a more focused sound.
Snare Drum
A 5 – 6.5 inch deep snare drum made of metal, such as steel or brass, was very popular in the 80s. These materials can produce a bright, cutting sound. Models like the Ludwig Supraphonic or the Tama Starclassic snare are great examples.
Tighten the snares to get a crisp, snappy sound. You can also experiment with different snare wires. Thinner wires may give a more sensitive response, while thicker wires can add more power.
Tom Toms
Have a set of toms with a range of sizes. A common setup in the 80s included a 12 – inch rack tom, a 13 – inch rack tom, and a 16 – inch floor tom. Toms were often tuned to create a distinct, cascading sound.
Tune the toms higher than you might for other styles of music. This will give them a more open and ringing sound, which was characteristic of 80s drumming.
Electronic Drum Kits
Drum Machines
The Linn LM – 1 was a game – changer in the 80s. It was one of the first drum machines to use digital samples of real drums. Many hit songs of the era, like Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” used the Linn LM – 1. While it’s hard to find an original nowadays, there are software emulations available.
The Roland TR – 808 and TR – 909 are also iconic 80s drum machines. The TR – 808 is known for its deep, sub – bass kick sound and unique percussion sounds, while the TR – 909 has a more aggressive, dance – oriented sound. There are plugins and virtual instruments that replicate the sounds of these classic drum machines.
Sampling Keyboards
Sampling keyboards like the E-mu Emulator II or the Akai S900 were used to sample and play back drum sounds in the 80s. They had a limited sampling time and bit depth, which contributed to the characteristic lo – fi sound of the era. Again, there are modern plugins that can simulate the sound and functionality of these old – school sampling keyboards.
Drum Tuning
Kick Drum Tuning
Lower the Pitch
Tune the kick drum to a low pitch, around the C or D below middle C. This low frequency will give the kick that big, booming sound. You can use a drum tuner app on your phone or a dedicated drum tuner pedal to get the right pitch.
Control the Resonance
Adjust the tension of the resonant head (the head on the opposite side of the batter head) to control the resonance. Loosening the resonant head will increase the sustain, while tightening it will make the sound more focused. Experiment to find the right balance for the 80s sound you’re going for.
Snare Drum Tuning
High – Tension Batter Head
Tighten the batter head of the snare drum to a relatively high tension. This will create a sharp, snappy sound. A tight batter head also helps the snare wires to vibrate more effectively, producing that characteristic 80s snare crack.
Snares Adjustment
As mentioned earlier, keep the snares tight. You can also adjust the angle of the snares. A slightly angled snare setup can sometimes give a more even distribution of the snare sound across the drum head.
Tom Tuning
Higher Pitches
Tune the toms to higher pitches than normal. For example, a 12 – inch tom can be tuned to around G or A above middle C, a 13 – inch tom to A or B, and a 16 – inch floor tom to D or E. This higher tuning gives the toms a more open and bright sound, which was popular in 80s music.
Interval Tuning
Try to tune the toms in intervals that create a pleasant, cascading sound. A common interval for toms in the 80s was a major third or a perfect fourth between adjacent toms. This helps to create a smooth, musical progression when playing fills.
Use the Right Drumheads
Kick Drumheads
Single – Ply Batter Head
A single – ply batter head, such as the Remo Powerstroke 3 or the Evans EQ3, is a good choice for the kick drum. These heads are relatively thin, which allows for a quick attack and a lot of low – end response. The single – ply construction also helps to reduce overtones, giving the kick a more focused sound.
Felt or Moongel Damping
Apply a felt strip or a moongel to the batter head of the kick drum. The felt strip can be placed near the rim, and it will reduce the sustain and add a bit of attack. Moongel is a gel – like substance that can be placed in the center of the head to control overtones and give the kick a more punchy sound.
Snare Drumheads
Coated Batter Head
A coated batter head, like the Remo Ambassador Coated or the Evans G1 Coated, is ideal for the snare drum. The coating on the head adds a bit of warmth and reduces the harshness of the sound. It also helps to enhance the snare’s crack and give it a more natural tone.
Thin Resonant Head
Use a thin resonant head on the snare drum. A thin head, such as the Remo Diplomat or the Evans 300, will allow the snare wires to vibrate freely and produce a more sensitive and responsive sound.
Tom Drumheads
Clear Batter Heads
Clear batter heads, like the Remo Emperor Clear or the Evans EC2, are great for toms. They provide a bright, articulate sound and good projection. The clear material also allows for easy visual inspection of the head’s condition.
Resonant Head Tuning
The resonant heads on toms should be tuned slightly lower than the batter heads. This creates a more balanced sound and helps to enhance the toms’ sustain.
Apply Effects
Compression
Kick Drum Compression
Use a compressor on the kick drum to increase its punch and sustain. Set a high ratio, around 4:1 to 8:1, and a fast attack time to catch the initial transient of the kick. The release time should be adjusted so that the kick doesn’t sound choked but still has a controlled sustain. A compressor like the Universal Audio 1176 or the Waves CLA – 76 can be used to great effect.
Snare Drum Compression
For the snare drum, a compressor can help to even out the sound and make it more consistent. Set a medium ratio, around 2:1 to 4:1, with a fast attack to catch the snare’s crack. The release time should be adjusted to maintain the natural decay of the snare sound. The dbx 160X is a classic compressor that was often used on snares in the 80s.
Reverb
Large – Room Reverb
Apply a large – room reverb to the drums to create a spacious, 80s – style sound. Set the reverb time to around 2 – 4 seconds for a big, ambient sound. The Lexicon 224 was a popular reverb unit in the 80s, and there are plugins available that can replicate its sound, such as the Waves IR – 1 with appropriate impulse responses.
Send Levels
Adjust the send levels of the reverb carefully. You want the reverb to add depth and space to the drums without overwhelming the dry sound. Start with a low send level and gradually increase it until you get the desired effect.
Delay
Parallel Delay
Use a parallel delay on the drums, especially on the snare and kick. Set the delay time to around 100 – 200 milliseconds for a classic 80s slapback delay effect. This can add a sense of fullness and width to the drums. The Boss DD – 20 Giga Delay or the Eventide H9 can be used to create this effect.
Feedback Adjustment
Adjust the feedback of the delay to taste. A small amount of feedback can create a subtle echo effect, while more feedback can create a more pronounced, swirling echo. Experiment with the feedback level to get the right balance for your mix.
Recording Techniques
Microphone Placement
Kick Drum Microphones
Place a dynamic microphone, like the Shure Beta 52A, inside the kick drum, close to the beater head. This will capture the powerful attack of the kick. You can also place a condenser microphone, such as the AKG C414, outside the kick drum, near the resonant head, to pick up the low – end resonance and add more depth to the sound.
Snare Drum Microphones
Use a dynamic microphone, like the Shure SM57, on the top of the snare drum, aimed at the center of the batter head to capture the snare’s crack. Place a second microphone, such as the Audix i5, underneath the snare drum, close to the snare wires, to pick up the snare’s characteristic rattle.
Tom Microphones
For tom toms, place dynamic microphones, like the Sennheiser e604, on top of each tom, aimed at the center of the drum head. You can also use overhead microphones, such as the Rode NT55, to capture the overall sound of the toms and add a sense of space.
Multitrack Recording
Isolation
When recording drums, use isolation techniques to prevent bleed between microphones. You can use drum shields or record the drums in a well – isolated room. This will give you more control over the individual drum sounds in the mix.
Separate Tracks
Record each drum on a separate track in your digital audio workstation (DAW). This allows you to process each drum sound independently, applying different effects and EQ settings as needed to achieve the perfect 80s sound.
Mixing the Drums
EQ
Kick Drum EQ
Boost the low frequencies around 60 – 80 Hz to add more punch and depth to the kick drum. Cut any frequencies around 200 – 300 Hz that may be causing muddiness. You can also add a small boost around 2 – 4 kHz to enhance the attack of the kick.
Snare Drum EQ
Boost the frequencies around 500 – 800 Hz to add body to the snare. Cut any low frequencies below 200 Hz to reduce boominess. Add a significant boost around 2 – 5 kHz to enhance the snare’s crack.
Tom EQ
For toms, boost the low – mid frequencies around 200 – 400 Hz to add warmth and body. Cut any frequencies above 2 kHz that may be causing harshness. You can also add a small boost around 1 – 2 kHz to enhance the toms’ attack.
Panning
Kick and Snare Panning
Pan the kick drum to the center of the mix. The snare drum can be panned slightly off – center, around 5 – 10 degrees to the left or right, to create a more natural and balanced sound.
Tom Panning
Pan the toms according to their size. Smaller toms, like the 12 – inch and 13 – inch, can be panned towards the left side of the mix, while the larger 16 – inch floor tom can be panned towards the right side. This creates a sense of spatial separation and a more immersive listening experience.
Volume Balancing
Kick – Snare Balance
The kick and snare drums are the foundation of the drum sound. Make sure they are balanced well in the mix. The kick should be loud enough to drive the rhythm, while the snare should be prominent enough to cut through the mix. Adjust the volumes of the kick and snare until they work together harmoniously.
Tom Volume
The toms should be at a volume that complements the kick and snare. They should be audible during fills and accents but not overpower the main rhythm. Adjust the volumes of the toms so that they fit smoothly into the overall drum mix.
Conclusion
Achieving the 80s drum sound requires a combination of the right equipment, proper tuning, effective use of effects, good recording techniques, and careful mixing. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can capture the essence of the iconic drum sounds that defined the 80s music scene. Whether you’re producing a throwback track or just want to add a touch of 80s nostalgia to your music, these tips will help you get that classic 80s drum sound. So, go ahead and start experimenting, and let the big, bold drums of the 80s bring your music to life.
Related Topics:
- Behringer LM Drum: A Modern Take on the LinnDrum Legend
- What Is a Drum Loop? A Comprehensive Guide
- How to Play Electronic Drums?
