Drum It With Brummet

I both play and teach drum set and auxiliary percussion - congas, bongos, timbales, cowbells, blocks, shakers, etc. When I am playing live in the percussionist mode I am usually limited to how many channels on the sound board I can have for my microphones. Typically I’ll get one each for my congas and bongos and a third for over my rack, which has my timbales, cowbells and blocks. From experience in both live and studio work I have learned that there is a certain way to set up my rack so that sounds of different “sonic intensities” – or volumes are balanced for the one and only microphone that lurks above the rack.  Obviously my bar chimes that are tinkly and delicate are no match for full blown rim shots on the timbales – so yes, they would be un-matched in intensity. But what about the cowbells, woodblocks, and weird sound effects in between all that? Sometimes we have to gauge what is more intense by simply using our own ears as a guide. For example: you wouldn’t play a cowbell ...