Break the rules of drum programming

If it sounds good, it IS good – period.

You know what drives me nuts? The idea that there are rules to music (or art of any kind, for that matter). It’s kind of ridiculous, especially when the self-appointed authorities making and enforcing the rules are a bunch of random people on Facebook. The fact of the matter is that there are NO rules to music – the only that matters is whether you and the audience like the sound coming out of the speakers!

One of the best examples is drum programming: we all assume that the “right” way to program drums is to mimic as closely as possible the way in which a human plays drums. Nobody questions this – and I’ll admit that I’ve always thought of this as an unbreakable rule. You never program parts a human couldn’t play (for example, hitting two cymbals and the snare at the same time), you don’t use 127 velocity for every hit, and so forth.

But the truth is that (like most “rules” in music), that isn’t a rule at all – it’s just a guideline. Sometimes your music sounds better when you break the rules, so why not go for it? If you think it sounds better with everything at 127, then do it!

For a real world example, check out WZRD BLD and Jeff Dunne programming drums on the latest EMMURE album in this clip from their Nail The Mix session. As they point out, some of these parts are physically impossible to play, but they just went with it because it sounded better that way.

Remember: the goal isn’t to please a bunch of nerds on Facebook by slavishly following their made-up “rules,” the goal is to make great music 🙂

Nail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and State Champs. Join now for instant access!