I now recommend using the Yamaha DTXM12 in the recording studio. Previously, I had been using my Yamaha Multi-12 in live applications. I used it for musicals and orchestral gigs when I couldn’t cover all the parts, didn’t want to move large/heavy equipment or there wasn’t much space for percussion. See: Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12. But recently, I decided to use it in a recording studio setting.
A friend of mine was recording his guitar and bass arrangements in his home studio. He is a fine player and his digital gear is top notch. He asked me to: “Sweeten some of his Latin arrangements with maybe some Congas”. I listened to the scratch tracks and there was so much more potential than just adding “some Congas”. Two of the tracks were in a Bossa Nova style, one in a Mambo style and one in a Samba style. From a drummers perspective, there is quite a difference between Brazilian and Afro Cuban percussion instruments and musical styles. The recording needed a wide selection of percussion instruments. So rather than load my car with a bunch of gear – I simply loaded up my Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12 and a pair of sticks.
Going Digital
When I arrived for the session my friend was surprised that I had gone “digital” on him. We unplugged the two microphones he had set up for recording the congas and simply plugged then into the stereo outputs on the back of the DTX-MULTI 12. Since I already had stored Salsa and Samba preset User Kits, programing or selecting instruments was not an issue. I wanted to give him multiple tracks from which he could choose. I knew I was going to record more tracks and parts than he would (or should) use. But I wanted to give him instruments, patterns and ideas that were authentic and stylistically correct for his arrangements.
The sounds on the Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12 are great. Especially the World Percussion sounds which I was using. Clean stereo signal with no screwing around with mic selection, mic placement or sound processing typically associated with recording acoustic instruments. For the Bossa Nova tunes I laid down two clave tracks – one on traditional Claves, the other on Jam Block; a Shaker track; a Guiro track; a Bongo track and finally a Conga track. For the Afro Cuban number I used the same instrumentation but added a Cowbell track. For the Samba chart I recorded tracks using Surdo, Tamborm, Ganza, Pandeiro, and Agogo bells. The recording process was quick and easy with studio time being devoted entirely to actually recording tracks.
Excerpts of the tracks using the Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12
I have experience recording in the studio with acoustic World percussion instruments and now using a Yamaha DTXM12 in the recording studio. For adding percussion and “sweetening” a mix in the studio, the DTX-MULTI 12 is really the way to go. I can’t wait for my next recording session and the opportunity to again use the Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12, lay down some quality tracks, get the check, and go home early. Life just got better…
You may also want to see: Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12 as Drum Set