Collective questions for Mr. Sneap -thread

[abyssofdreams]

any plugins for saturation you use yourself or could recommend?

[Ermz]

Seems this thread's gonna turn into a must-read sticky classic on here. Now if only we could get Colin, Randy, CLA, Nordstrom, & Bogren to jump on board..

Most of my questions are bass-related, so I'll keep asking in that spirit...

-Is there a particular way that you tend to compress bass? Certain attack and release settings, amount of GR etc.
-Do you divide the bass tracks up into 'low end' and 'mid/grit' tracks and process individually?
-Is there a particular amp sim that you process the 'grit' with if you decide not to reamp out to the real deal?
-What sort of EQ processes do you normally find yourself doing on the DI track? Cutting out notches for the kick to cut through, cutting out the low-mid mud etc.?

Thanks again. Very sportsmanlike to be so open with your processes. I thought you'd had enough when we documented everything you had to say a few years ago and threw it up on noise101 as a bible

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by ahjteam

Thank you for all the answers again

I am still quite interested in the drum tuning question of how do you prefer to tune the drums? batter head lower or higher than the resonant head on kick/snare/tom?

On toms its usually a tiny bit higher on the resonant head, kick I'll just try as low as possible before the drummer moans about it and snare is dependent on the snare.

[Via Noctis]

STICKY!!!!

Three cheers for Andy

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by kaomao

Hey Andy how do you get "da boom" ?
I mean how can you get that huge low end at -9.0 db rms and not distorting anything? everything is clear but has huge low end
Your old stuff lacks a bit of lowend compared to the latest stuff, I guess different approach.
You're just great at getting that warm sound with modern technology.

cheers

Interesting you mention that. I think my mixes got better on the low end once I moved studios and started working in a better control room that was treated for low end.

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by The Broodwich

I've just always kinda assumed he wasn't around that often *shrug*

yeah I kind of hover round here but alot of the time folks are comparing their latest Fredman impulses and writing killswitch songs with Drumkits from hell, which is fine but I'm not going to start commenting on individual mixes else I'll never be off here.

[~BURNY~]

Very simple and maybe dumb question :
Do you use a low-pass on gtrs?

[abyssofdreams]

Originally Posted by Andy Sneap

comparing their latest Fredman impulses and writing killswitch songs with Drumkits from hell

guilty as charged

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by cobhc

I guess that confirms that a TS was used on The Atrocity Exhibition. Thanks for that.

Actually, you got me there, that was a Peavey Triple X with a pre sonus parametric in front of it (eq3b I think) into a normal sized boogie cab with one 57. Check out the set up, this album was not glamorous!

[Chryst Krispies]

Originally Posted by Andy Sneap

folks are comparing their latest Fredman impulses and writing killswitch songs with Drumkits from hell, which is fine but I'm not going to start commenting on individual mixes else I'll never be off here.

QUOTED FOR TRUTH.

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by abyssofdreams

any plugins for saturation you use yourself or could recommend?

Crane song phoenix

[Lasse Lammert]

Originally Posted by Chryst Krispies

QUOTED FOR TRUTH.

YEAH!

[wyllie]

Originally Posted by Andy Sneap

Actually, you got me there, that was a Peavey Triple X with a pre sonus parametric in front of it (eq3b I think) into a normal sized boogie cab with one 57. Check out the set up, this album was not glamorous!

Hahaha holy crap Andy , thats how i used to record in my old house! Well know im feel really stupid cuz my tones were utter shite back then lol

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by Ermz

Seems this thread's gonna turn into a must-read sticky classic on here. Now if only we could get Colin, Randy, CLA, Nordstrom, & Bogren to jump on board..

Most of my questions are bass-related, so I'll keep asking in that spirit...

-Is there a particular way that you tend to compress bass? Certain attack and release settings, amount of GR etc.
-Do you divide the bass tracks up into 'low end' and 'mid/grit' tracks and process individually?
-Is there a particular amp sim that you process the 'grit' with if you decide not to reamp out to the real deal?
-What sort of EQ processes do you normally find yourself doing on the DI track? Cutting out notches for the kick to cut through, cutting out the low-mid mud etc.?

Thanks again. Very sportsmanlike to be so open with your processes. I thought you'd had enough when we documented everything you had to say a few years ago and threw it up on noise101 as a bible

It really depends on what I've got to work with. For a quick fix I tend to use a multi band compressor on the DI and then into either the sans amp plug in or amp Farm. I'm liking Waves GTR also at the moment, seems to have a pretty cool low end on a couple of settings. On the Megadeth record, James and I really went to town and we ended up using a 1 x 15 and 8 x 10 ashdown rig with quite an array of pedals, I'll try and get some set up pics off him. We did use 4 tracks in the end. 8", 15", yamama sub kick on an 8" and the DI. I have to say its a pretty killer tone. Another tome people like is Jacks tone from Exodus and thats pretty much the quick fix I mentioned above.

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by ~BURNY~

Very simple and maybe dumb question :
Do you use a low-pass on gtrs?

if it needs it

[Lasse Lammert]

just tried the sansamp psa1 blug on the SVT setting compared to the BDDI hardware on the svt setting....pretty similar actually, the BDDI had a fuller lowend....I'll try post a comparison clip later

[~BURNY~]

Originally Posted by Andy Sneap

if it needs it

Thanks.
I feel dumb now.

[Skinny Viking]

Kinda late jumping into this but also wanted to say thank you for taking time to answer all these questions.

[ahjteam]

Thank you again for your answers, here are the 3 unanswered questions left, you pretty much answered everything else already

- How do you usually mic and process snare (eq, comp, reverb...) and do you use softclipping on the snare?
- Which of your own productions do you think shows off your skills the best?
- How do mix drums? ¯\(°_o)/¯


edit: and an additional question: What has been the latest new gadget for you that you've fell in love with?

[Andy Sneap]

Originally Posted by ahjteam

Thank you again for your answers, here are the 3 unanswered questions left, you pretty much answered everything else already

- How do you usually mic and process snare (eq, comp, reverb...) and do you use softclipping on the snare?
- Which of your own productions do you think shows off your skills the best?
- How do mix drums? ¯(°_o)/¯


edit: and an additional question: What has been the latest new gadget for you that you've fell in love with?

Well I keep saying, Metric Halo channel strip on the snare for eq and comp, no soft clipping. Production that shows off my skills.....oh god..recently I'd say Exodus Atrocity and Testament Formation.
How do I mix drums? thats a bit of a vague question, do you mean what perspective? Crowd perspective.

[cobhc]

Originally Posted by Andy Sneap

Actually, you got me there, that was a Peavey Triple X with a pre sonus parametric in front of it (eq3b I think) into a normal sized boogie cab with one 57. Check out the set up, this album was not glamorous!

Thanks for that, I'm assuming the EQ3B was in the loop? That's the little blue thing that I think Lee still uses live?

[AdamWathan]

Originally Posted by cobhc

Thanks for that, I'm assuming the EQ3B was in the loop? That's the little blue thing that I think Lee still uses live?

He said in front of so I'm assuming not in the loop, probably set up as a boost + EQ for the same sort of purpose he normally uses a TS for

[Gustavo_Loureiro]

Hey Andy, thanks a lot for the answers!

[GarethSE]

Originally Posted by Andy Sneap

How do I mix drums? thats a bit of a vague question, do you mean what perspective? Crowd perspective.

I never thought I'd ever say this to you but
SON YOU NEED EDUCATIN'

[The_Shred]

I usually get told that putting duvets/blankets around guitar cabs gives a cloudy/woofy/boxy tone, whats your take on this? If your low on cash throw a blanket on? *If your in a un-treated room I mean..which I am*