If you listen carefully to the snare, it is obvious that the entire track is out of sync, delayed a few milliseconds. There are a few reasons why this can occur. The following is a list of examples that may have been the case in the above recording.
When the wave files were first brought into the session, the mix engineer forgot to check sync, slide files to correct any sync problems, and then lock every track down.
The CPU is too slow to process all those snare plugins without creating an obvious out of sync condition. Some of the more expensive DAW have plugins processed on an independent rack mount device. Waves have what’s called the DigiGrid system, and this reduces the plugin delay issues. Universal Audio has a little black box that manages the processing, and it too reduces plugin delay issues.
This next point has more to do with the reality of managing this delay issue. It can be an extremely frustrating thing to attempt the sliding back of a snare track only to discover that many of the drummer’s hits are not quite right. Ok, so things groove really nice in the verse, but when you get to some other part of the song, the snare has a few late hits. Editing corrections for poor drumming skills can be extremely time consuming. I make this last point because that is exactly what I hear in this drummer’s performance. Anyway, hope this was educational for some.
He makes mention of a Metalica drum recording method. I don’t hear any out of sync snare on the Metalica recording. This is the track he was referencing: [quote=“Tim, post:21, topic:495”]
I heard this on the radio the other day and I thought: “Man, I know how much Pat LOVES super-ringy snares - Pat would LOVE this!!!” Just remember, this song was an international hit!
…so, inspiration for your next snare sound perhaps, Mr Talbot?
No, the out of sync drums are completely intentional. Listen to Metallica’s Big Four shows, it’s a combination type of parody. At the Big Four shows, it’s obvious that his drumming is super out of time. At 2:25 there is an artificial tempo change completely for fun and there are various speedups at some points, as well as the snare hits being totally off. Everything bad has been accounted for, and was completely intentional. It’s meant to be exaggerated for comedic effect. I’m glad you guys are being so thorough with the feedback, but after listening to the backing vocals I think it’s funny that anything in this mix could be judged seriously. Keep doing your thing.
I can just see the high school garage band recording this into a cassette boom box, with the backup singers running up to scream right into the built-in microphones and the drummer beating on a metal toolbox instead of a snare. Very evocative! Almost makes me miss my crap-band days. Almost
