Natural engineering techniques don't hold up much anymore in the home recording setting. Sure, nothing beats a mega bad ass drummer playing an amazing drum kit in a great room with a great console, etc etc etc. The bottom line is most of us don't have even one link in the chain that is that strong...much less every link.

I'm saying that if you are recording drums in your house using natural engineering techniques, your record PROBABLY won't sound great. If you just happen to have a few strong links and room with a a character that fits the song perfectly, you may get something great, but there is a lot of luck involved on that one. In other words, I'm saying that 99% of the people making records in their home don't have the tools, situation, or musicians to make a convincing record.

Have Hit Natural Records Really Been Natural?

The big thick snare sound of hard rock, like on AC/DC Back In Black is not natural. It has a Eventide Harmonizer / pitch shift effect on it. The guitars on Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leopard are not a magical Marshall cranked to 10. It was a direct recorded Rockman. Most people would consider the Line6 to be quite an improvement over even a modded Rockman. Do you think the drums on the last Nickelback record are real and 100% natural? I don't! I believe there is Sound Replacer all over them. Why?..... Why not?

I've noticed several occasions where the people who get all proud about their ?natural? productions are simply lacking creativity. The creative people are doing things that unconventional and it doesn't even occur to them that it's wrong.

Real Engineering Is An Excuse Not To Write Songs

For years, I've put on the recording engineer hat. I've worked with countless bands was in charge of engineering in mixing. I only produced for 10 seconds at a time and those were only to keep a band from making a decision that would effect the engineering and mixing of the record. I felt a safe place as an audio engineer and told myself that I didn't have to write music.

Well, fast forward a few years. I've recorded a few really good songs and ton of shitty songs. As far as contributing to music, I'm confident that I could have made more music that would have effected people if I would have focused more on the creative sides.

So if, I would have been using drum samples (which almost always sound way better and even more real than the crappy tones I've recorded) I would have forced myself into writing music. There would be no drummer there to play it for me!!

The Only Thing That Matters In Music Is The Listener

Every decision we make in preproduction, tracking, mixing, and mastering is based around the end listener. We are part of the entertainment business. If we don't entertain, we don't eat. So we have to think about entertaining the listener as much as possible.

The average listener doesn't know the difference between an acoustic guitar, a clean electric, and a full blown Rectifier. Do you think the listener gives a damn if sound replacer was used (as long as it doesn't sound retarded). The listener doesn't care a bit, but I bet you that the engineer who recorded the drums may feel a little funny. The engineer may feel inadequate or whatever, but one tech person's insecurity is no reason to make less of a record. Who gives a damn if the engineer feels like he cheated? What matters is if the record works.

Make Your Favorite Record!

In conclusion, I know my goal is to be that 40 year old guy who produced a 14 year old kid's favorite record that still holds up 12 years later. In order to that, I'm convinced that samplers, midi, and any other tool..conventional or not that can help achieve that goal are 100% valid ways of working! If you limit yourself to certain tactics, you are simply limiting what you are capable of. This isn't necessarily a bad thing....