Glo Kit #2

So I traded in my prototype Glo Kit for an expanded and upgraded one, which is being assembled this week. I’m taking it out on the Blenders upcoming Holiday Tour, so look for videos and pics of that coming soon.

In other Glo Kit news, all the custom drum manufacturers are starting to churn out glowing drums of their own, and I came across some of the videos online last night.  Shine Drums made a kit that Katy Perry’s drummer has been using, and Phattie Drums also has one.  Then there’s the SJC version.  But my favorite is this dude from Spaun Drums.  I think it’s his comfortable demeanor on camera that really sells me.

I was also told that Toby Mac’s drummer is touring with one, in addition to Mercy Me and then Katy Perry.  So the idea is getting out there!

PS… I noticed a debate in the comment sections of one of the videos, and interestingly enough, it appears that SJC had some internally-lit acrylic drums at their NAMM booth back in mid January.  I’m not sure if the lights are programmable LEDs or just bulbs, but regardless, those things are definitely glowing.  RD first purchased the parts and mapped out the kit idea in late November, but we didn’t complete the assembly until February 1st, so it looks like SJC wins the “first with a glow kit” prize!  The fact that someone else assembled a kit like that before RD did is news to me.  I was tossing the idea around the RD shop way back in the spring of ’09, but I guess I should have acted on it sooner.  Oh well.

Tumblr

So… fyi… I started a Tumblr site recently. Listen, it’s hard to stay up-to-date on social networking, but I’m trying over here.

Anyway, I think I’m going to use that site for posting photos and updates on my own gigs and such (much like a personal website), and start streamlining this blog toward only drum lesson posts and other general music thoughts.

So follow the link above, or else there’s a permanent link on this blog’s “photos” page (click the tab above next to “Bio”).

Paiste Cymbal Showdown

Paiste just put together a very cool “morph” video to demonstrate the difference between their various cymbal lines. Youtube video lesson hot shot Mike Johnston plays 8 bars of the same pattern on the same kit in the same room with the same mics, and some slick audio/video editing allows the viewer to watch and listen to the cymbal rig change on every repeat.  It’s a pretty cool trick and really shows the difference between the various options in the Paiste roster.

Great idea, Paiste.  If I was made of money I would do this kind of thing with a lot of my personal gear just for my own research.

PS… I’ve been using the Dark Energy line and the Traditional line for the past few years… the last two options in the morph sequence…

Bobby Owsinski Blog

I’ve come across a pretty cool blog about music and the art of audio recording written by the extremely prolific engineer/producer Bobby Owsinski. The blog mainly features isolated tracks from famous records with commentary and analysis from Bobby, but he also recently reposted a Modern Drummer Magazine article from L.A. session drummer Brian MacLeod (you may remember my SIS interview with him).  MacLeod’s got some great insights on famous tracks he’s recorded, and Owsinski’s blog in general is a good site to spend some time browsing.

HT: Senior Wong