Band Name: Demonica
Drummer Name: Mark Hernandez
Album Name: Demonstrous
Release Date: February 26th 2010
Studio Name: Audio Voyage
Engineer Name: Tim Narducci and Brad Barth
Cymbals: Zildjian
14” Mastersound Hihat
13” Mastersound HiHat ( Right Remote HiHat )
20" K Custom Ride ( Real old and very dirty )
18" Z Custom Medium Rock Crash
18” Z Custom Rock Crash
19" Z Custom Rock Crash
21" A Custom China (left)
21” A Custom China ( Right )
10" A Custom Splash ( Right )
10" K Custom Dark Splash ( Left above HiHat )
Drums: Sonor S-Classix Birch in Walnut Roots Finish
2-22" x 17.5" Bass drum (Evans EQ3 clear w/ Remo Falam Slam Impact Patch)
12" x 8" Rack tom (Remo Coated Ambassador)
13" x 10" Rack tom (Remo Coated Ambassador)
14" x 14" Floor tom (Remo Coated Ambassador)
16" x 16" Floor tom (Remo Coated Ambassador)
14 x 5" Snare (Evans Reverse Power Dot center)
Pedals: Axis A Shortboards with standard Axis Beaters (NOT Sonic Hammers)
Triggers / Microphones:
Sennheiser 421 for my 12", 13", 14”, 16” racks and floors
AKG D112 on the kicks
Shure SM57 on snare
Audio Technica 4033 for overheads
Studio Tips:
In the studio, I tend to tune my snare a little lower than I do live for more body and less over ring. I like to make a few full passes of a song and make sure we have what we need for that particular track and keep moving. I like to keep working when I am warmed up and in playing mode. There is always time to sit back and listen at the end of the day or before the next day starts. I use a single ply head on the toms for recording to get a brighter and more natural tone out of the drum. Always have my moon gel around as well.
Drummer Comments:
This was a particularly interesting recording session in that there was zero rehearsal as a band for this record. It was something that Hank and Klaus had recorded during the prior year and wanted live drums. As it turned out, everything was redone after drums were recorded. I received the tracks complete with vocals and click a 2 weeks before the sessions took place. We used the click as a map rather than the line so to speak. There is pushing and pulling on the tracks which I was really happy with in keeping the natural feel. Metal now a days is far to sterile and to the grid.
In this recording session, as with all sessions, the more wood shedding you do at home greatly reduces your time in the studio. I think the most important thing I have learned within my whole recording career, is that you really need to keep a positive outlook and keep positive people around your session. Too many armchair quarterbacks can really make a fun thing seem like work extremely fast!
Leave a Reply