Drum fest event brings new appreciation of music and dynamics.


I spend a day ay the Victoria BC 14th annual Drum fest event. 5 hours of professional; drummers doing their thing. There were some impressive musicians there. What really took me was the sheer dynamics and impact of being that close to a drum set, well many of them. Of course I was wearing ear protection. After a couple hours I was spent from the impact and loudness, really can appreciate what these musicians have to live with every day of their lives.

 Also makes me understand more clearly how subwoofers are needed and how they still lack in portraying a real drum kit and its scale, immediacy and impact. But I also came away knowing I don’t want that in my home, I don’t think I could take that level of sound impacting my body daily, in a multi room system, maybe occasionally in a dedicated room.

I’ll be attending next years as well.

Drummers in attendance,

Craig Blundell

Brooke Colucci, great up and coming drummer.

Steve Ferrone

Tosh Perterson

Tommy Clufetos 

glennewdick

Wonderful post!  I grew up drumming.  Wanted more than anything to be a drummer.  Attended Berklee School of Music, was in the Navy Band program.  Really was into it.  Then I went another direction entirely.  Still have a set of drums set up in my house.  Some things don't change.  I took my son and his high school friend to clinics too.  His friend went to Hartt and now plays in Nashville.  I gave him a nice Gretsch kit.  One thing you learn though, our home systems, no matter how much they cost, no matter what technology they employ, cannot even duplicate the sound of a hi-hat in real terms.  Like you said, though, we wouldn't want it to anyway.  Keep up the pursuit.  Awesome.

It is not very often that recordings try to record the raw dynamics of what drums are capable. 

The Sheffield Track/Drum Record was produced back in 1982, did capture the essence of drumming on the best technology of its time. I remember chasing the impact that this recording can provide. But typically drums are one of many instruments... kind of like a trumpet (although this can be a bad thing) in a group.

There may be other newer recordings that will at least help you gauge how good your system is at the drumming specialty. It isn’t at all just bass, it is also speed froth sticks that cut from high frequency throw to midrange and bigger drums moving from mid to bass... they are a lot of things going on. But one must be careful not to go hog wild on one tiny aspect of sound reproduction, lest one screw up the overall gestalt or other instruments. 

 

Dear @ghdprentice ​​@glennewdick  : That I know there is not other recording that coulds help how good is our system/room in all thoe MUSIC characteristics you mention and adding: transient response and  dynamics power ( sevralothers too ).

 

"  Also makes me understand more clearly how subwoofers are needed and how they still lack in portraying a real drum kit and its scale, immediacy and impact.", I think " nothing can do it but only live MUSIC seated at nearfield position.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSICNOT DISTORTIONS,

R.