Best Examples Of Cymbal Decays On A Recording

@bdp24

Thanks for your insight into recording. Very interesting.

You still live in the Portland area? Have you been to the symphony since they renovated the stage acoustics and installed the DSP system? I was panicked when they announced the changes. But my understanding is that most of the renovation was acoustical… which has resulted in much better bass… differentiation is phenomenal in the bass instruments now, and a very profound reduction in reflections. My seats are front and center… I have not heard any amplified sound… so either they are not using it much for the syphony… or I am in a position where I can’t hear it.

My Foolish Heart, the first track on Bill Evans Waltz for Debby, has a prominent, extended ride cymbal to start off the song. Pretty much any track from that Village Vanguard session has delicate, airy, sweet cymbal decay. Just a lovely recording, perhaps my favorite live recording if I had to choose. Also, Chick Corea Trilogy or Trilogy 2 are also both fabulously recorded live sets, with multiple examples of extended cymbal decay, and fantastic drumming by Brian Blade taboot. For example, 500 Miles High, Blade starts his drumming about 2 minutes in, with perhaps the airiest, euphonic ride decays you will hear. An incredible recording, almost microscopic in its detail, but not fatiguing in that regard. Pretty much any track from Trilogy 2 has beautiful sounding cymbals. The fact that the decay is still enjoyable with compressed youtube audio linked below is impressive... Sounds better with proper quality from Qobuz which has Trilogy in 24 bit 96khz.

@bdp24 -

    During the playback of a track (whether in recording or mixing), the engineer will run his tape, A/B-ing the sound with that of a current best-selling song. He then manipulates the sound of his recording with a number of pieces of outboard gear (and of course his mixing board), all in his attempt to make the recording sound as much like a current hot song or album as possible. No references to the sound of live music at all, purely subjective.  

       I have not doubt: there are those following such a practice.      Happily: none I've ever met.

                                                Certainly: not my method!

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