Drum Mix Since 2011 on Boots is Weak!

steved

I hate to get on a rant about the boots I love so much... This one has been getting to me though... so here goes.

On just about every Concert since the Canadian 2011 tour, the drum mix has been dulled to a point where the mix of the show has suffered in listening to it. Especially the snare drum! What would have been a "Crack" sound is now a "Thud" and a dull thud at that. It is not just the tone but the volume. If you compare the D.C. 98 Show, or any Euro 2000 show, or any 2000, 2003 show there is such a HUGE difference in the volume that the drums are placed in the mix, let alone the terrible mixing of the individual kick, toms, and snare drums that have no crispness to them.

The drums are the backbone of the live sound! What happened live is not being transmitted on these recordings at all. Instead of a clean, tight, crisp, dynamic sound it is getting mushy and compressed sounding sometimes not even distinguishable. Especially as we are getting into better technology with Hi-Def recordings it should be getting better not worse.

I'm not saying every song of every show is bad, but overall it is not good compared to any professional bootlegs out there, or just soundboards that have leaked.

Listen to Pearl Jam / Dave A. From Indio, Ca in 93, or the Orpheum 94

Whether you like them or not, listen to the tone and mix of Chad Smiths drums on any Live Chili Pepper Boot they put out last year.

drummerboy_73

Agree 100%.

The '98 boots to me are the standard that current boots need to be measured against. The Europe 2000 ones are decent too, if they just had a bit more Jeff in the mix.

CharlieP

I can definitely feel what you´re saying towards the 08 09 ones - mix is pretty bad on most boots. However since then it´s been going up again. I also thought the 12 boots sounded pretty good

steved

CharlieP wrote:

I can definitely feel what you´re saying towards the 08 09 ones - mix is pretty bad on most boots. However since then it´s been going up again. I also thought the 12 boots sounded pretty good

I agree the mixes have gotten better since 08' 09' overall, where those had some major flaws. I am specifically addressing the drums though.

If you listen to the drums in LA 09 in any of those shows, or even the Philly shows they are way louder and crisper than now.

CharlieP

steved wrote:

CharlieP wrote:

I can definitely feel what you´re saying towards the 08 09 ones - mix is pretty bad on most boots. However since then it´s been going up again. I also thought the 12 boots sounded pretty good

I agree the mixes have gotten better since 08' 09' overall, where those had some major flaws. I am specifically addressing the drums though.

If you listen to the drums in LA 09 in any of those shows, or even the Philly shows they are way louder and crisper than now.

Yeah you´re right. Was listening to Oslo 12 today. The drums sound OK crisp to me (can´t remember if that´s the cae with the other gigs that year) but compared to the 09 ones you mention, you´re absolutely right, there´s a huge difference. Í have all the official boots on my iPod and when shuffling them, you can tell there´s a huge difference in the mix from tour to tour. It really is hit or miss. Maybe Matt changing the kit from tour to tour has a little say in all this? I would have guessed they would use the same standard settings for recording, so it´s strange to me if this is only a mixing issue. If so, the mixing hasn´t been handled very well for some tours. Still prefer to have them professionally recorded, though :corn:

TP80932

I think the real issue is that Matt Cameron isn't a very good drummer.

Kidding. Just kidding.

evenflow82

I'll say what everyone is thinking...

Bring back Dave A.

mca47

New York #2 2010 had great drum mix. Very pronounced and quite awesome!
Just goes to show what a fn phenomenal drummer Mr. Cameron is!

TamaDrummer91

I felt Matt's tones on the 2011 and 2012 boots were his best tones since the Euro 00 bootlegs. His drum tones on Atlanta and Missoula 12 sound wonderful (especially his snare). 2011 finds him slightly low in the mix, but I don't find that too concerning (even as a drummer).