// studio
"I've always messed around with recording equipment. From day one. When I got my first drum kit at age 13, I also got some cheapo microphones and a small mixer. At 17, I got a professional 16 channel mixing board, professional microphones and a PC, and recorded rehearsals with my bands. I spent hours, days, weeks experimenting with microphones and microphone placement.
Having done dozens of professional recording sessions (with some major industry producers) over the past decade and a half, I've learned a lot. And I mean a lot. Drums are an incredibly complicated instrument to record, and I've gone through just about all the trial and error you could imagine. I've managed to distill this into a pretty solid feel and sense for recording (engineering, producing, mixing). I've (co-)engineered/produced a ton of recordings here in New York as well as in Europe, and have collected a good collection of high-end microphones over the years.
I have a full professional 16-track digital recording setup at my studio in NYC where I record drums for the various people I play with, and collaborations with artists all over the world."
"I've been recording drums for people ("session work") since 1995. I've recorded hundreds of songs by now. Some great, some not so great. But always fun! It's always great to be creative. As a session drummer, you're always the first to lay down tracks and even though you have a basic idea, it's always a surprise when you hear the finished product, months later.
Though I strongly prefer recording songs live with a full band the old-fashioned way, multritracking nowadays is a wonderful thing. I'm doing collaborations with people all over the world, which would otherwise never be possible. Because I've been doing this a lot, I've created a good feel for playing to "scratch" tracks, and usually manage to record tracks that feel live and are easy for the other musicians to lock into, without sounding sterile. That's the whole challenge when multitracking... To make it sound like it was played live!"
Need drums? This is how it works...
1. Contact Dennis. Explain your project and wishes. Dennis will reply to every email personally and discuss the options with you.
2. Send demo. This is usually an mp3 demo with either programmed drums, or no drums at all. Dennis will spend some time getting a feel for the song(s).
3. Send tracks. This should consist of a stereo guide track (all instruments, but no click or drums), and a separate mono click track. Usually Dennis will set up his own click track (you'll have to indicate the exact tempo). The click track you provide can be used to double-check if everything is lining up right.
For overal feel and vibe, a separate scratch bass track would be great. This will benefit the drum recording since the drumming should match the bass player's feel. Even if it's just a rough bass take that will be re-recorded later. Make sure all tracks are consolidated and line up at the same zero point. All tracks should be .wav files. Sample rates can vary from 44.1kHz to 96kHz according to your preference.
4. Recording of the drum tracks. After recording his tracks, Dennis will make a quick mix and email you an mp3. If there are parts you'd like to be changed, he can do some punch-ins and send you a new mix. Once you have approved the drum recording, the tracks will be consolidated, ziped up, and uploaded to a private server for download.
Dennis works at his studio almost every day. Unless he's on tour, he's usually able to finish a project of up to 12 songs within a week after receiving your tracks.
5. You import the drum tracks into your Digital Audio Workstation, lay down the rest of the tracks... music has been created!
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If you're interested in working with Dennis but unsure about certain aspects of the whole process, feel free to email him any time. Dennis is always happy to bounce ideas around with you until you come to an agreement. Optionally, Dennis can record a 30-second sample to your music so you can really get a good idea of what he can do for you.
Dennis has worked with dozens of people who you are welcome to contact to see how their experience working with him (and the tracks he delivered) was for them. Drums-only samples are available upon request as well.
Keep in mind that these are recordings of 100% professional quality. Dennis works with producers all over the world and his tracks are being used at high-end studios.
You will be surprised how affordable Dennis' recordings are. Just email him!
Although a lot of people know Dennis for the various hard rock/metal stuff he has done in the past, he does projects in all kinds of genres ranging from singer/song writer, to funk, R&B, hiphop, alternative, pop and electronic music. He owns a large collection of snares and cymbals, and can get the right sounds for any situation.
A good part of the samples available on the music page are songs for which Dennis recorded the drums at his studio.
Dennis is also available for second opinion or engineering assistance at recording sessions at professional studios.
>> Contact Dennis for info!
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