How to Produce a Drum Cover Video
Advancements in technology, particularly recording equipment and the power of the internet, have enabled hobbyist musicians to produce high-quality content from the comfort of their own home. Even just 25 years ago, producing any sort of quality performance video required expensive camera equipment and gear found only in a recording studio, which all necessitated assistance from other people that knew how to use it.
But nowadays, most smartphones contain cameras that are leaps and bounds better than early digital cameras. Digital audio workstations (DAWs) can operate on most personal computers and simulate an entire recording studio. There are many affordable options of microphones and audio interfaces, which can result in some truly professional-sounding recordings when coupled with a DAW. Have no idea which microphones to buy, how to set them up, or how to use a DAW? There are hundreds of elaborate tutorials available completely for free on YouTube. The average musician never had so much power at their disposal!
Drum cover videos are a fun way to show off the drum skills you’ve developed and become part of a larger online drumming community. But since so many people now have access to the equipment and knowledge required to produce quality content, it’s easy for your own content to get lost in the noise. Thankfully, there are a few particular elements to keep in mind, which can set your drum cover video apart from others.
Camera
The camera included on most smartphones rivals the quality of some standalone digital cameras. You certainly don’t need to run out and purchase a new DSLR to get started making drum covers. Your phone’s camera will work just fine! GoPro cameras are also a frequent choice among drummers and other musicians since their tiny size allows for otherwise impossible positioning.
Camera Positioning
Picture by Nick Cesarz
First and foremost, you’ll want to position the camera somewhere that captures you and the entire drum set. It’s better to frame the shot in a way that includes more in view than you need. You can always zoom in slightly and crop in editing, but you won’t be able to zoom out at all if you accidentally leave something out of the initial frame. The camera should also have a clear view of your hands so viewers can better see what you’re playing.
A tripod or some form of flexible mount (if using a phone) is crucial for capturing a stable shot.
If you have more than one camera that you can use, getting an alternate angle does a lot to break up the monotony of a single, static shot. Most primary angles show the drums from either the side or head-on. An overhead angle is a common alternate view among drum covers and essentially places the viewer in the driver’s seat, creating an immersive experience. A foot camera is a common feature in drum covers, especially if the song contains double kick.
Try a few different camera angles to see what positioning best captures everything you want viewers to see.
Lighting
Lighting can make or break a drum video regardless of camera quality. If there’s too much or too little light, no amount of editing can salvage the shot. While a lighting kit with multiple lights and diffusers would be ideal, no additional lights beyond what you might have laying around your apartment or house are required.
What’s more important is how the lights are placed relative to the camera. Ideally, lights will stand behind the camera or out of the frame to the sides. Avoid having direct light in the shot. Light sources in the shot throw-off the exposure and color balance. Too much light washes out the subject matter, whereas not enough light results in a grainy shot lacking in detail.
If you have two moveable lights, positioning them on opposite sides of the camera helps to reduce shadows. Take some time to try out different lighting placement to see what works best with your recording space and camera. And also check out a couple tutorials on lighting techniques, such as 3-point lighting.
If possible, use one uniform tone of light. Mixing colder lighting (white, blue) with warmer lighting (yellow, orange) looks kind of jarring. A consistent light tone creates more of a cohesive environment with uniform color, resulting in a more polished final product that’s easier on the eyes.
Sound
Even though recording gear has become much more affordable over the years, a set of microphones and an interface big enough to accommodate them all can easily run over $1,500 total. Not to mention that recording acoustic drums is an art form on its own that requires a ton of research and practice.
If you have an electronic drum set, then recording is a piece of cake. Simply plug your drum module into your computer with a USB cable, open up your DAW of choice, select your desired sounds, and hit record. Easy!
But recording acoustic drums is a bit more complex. Thankfully, there are some simple and very practical options for getting a decent recorded sound with minimal equipment. The Yamaha EAD10 (pictured right) is a marvelous piece of gear that includes several microphones bundled into one unit that mounts on the rim of the bass drum and plugs into an included module. The placement of this unit captures a surprisingly accurate depiction of the drums as you hear them in the room. There’s nothing else like it on the market specifically designed for recording drums. However, a single well-placed condenser microphone or a basic 4-mic setup (snare, kick, two overheads) is still far superior over the audio captured by your phone or camera.
While you don’t need to strive for professional-level quality to produce a solid drum cover video, learning a little bit about the importance of mic placement and some basic mixing techniques can really help bring your drumming to life.
Style
While a properly framed shot with good lighting and sound provide a solid foundation for a good drum cover, there needs to be some extra flare to set you apart from the thousands of other cover videos. That flare can come in many forms: clothing, stick tricks, props, colored lighting, art in the background, etc. This is your chance to really inject your personality into the scene. Create a vibe for your viewers and have fun! If you look bored playing the song, people will get bored watching you. Check out popular cover drummers like El Estepario Siberiano and Kristina Shiano for inspiration.
Practicing Production
Video production is a separate skill from drumming that requires practice. There’s free video editing software, such as Apple iMovie (exclusively for Mac users) and DaVinci Resolve (for Windows and Mac), to get you started. Free audio editing software such as GarageBand (Mac only) and Reaper are necessary to getting a better sound out of your recording.
Your first video might look and sound a little rough as you develop a workflow and learn to use the video and audio editing software, but it gets easier the more you do it. And don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive millions of views on your first awesome drum cover! You should only create cover videos for your own enjoyment anyway. If you start gaining a following, then that’s great! But that shouldn’t be your primary objective.
Producing drum covers is a great way to chronicle your skills over a longer period of time and can help you connect with the huge drumming community that exists online. It’s also a fantastic way to challenge yourself to tackle tougher material, which further improves your skill set. And of course, if you aren’t having fun, then you’re messing up!
All of music instructors here at Loudlands Music Lab draw from years of experience studying, playing, and performing on the drums in every capacity imaginable. Interested in starting your drumming journey or taking your skills to the next level? Schedule a trial drum lesson near Newton to get closer to your goals!