NILES, Ill., June 12, 2014—Peter Dyson, owner of the Studio West recording facility in San Diego, Calif., has long held a passion for drums. With a drumming background that spans three decades, it was no surprise that he wanted to host a clinic solely dedicated to the art of drumming when it came time to plan an event with The Recording Arts Center, School for Audio Engineering and Production. Through collaboration with industry professionals, Dyson launched the 2014 San Diego Drum Show, an interactive educational event featuring all-things drums.
From GRAMMY®-award winning engineer Steve Churchyard to eight-year-old kids who have never picked up a drum stick, almost 500 people gathered to teach and learn drumming tips and tricks. A range of vintage drum displays and newer drum kits filled the Studio West facility and parking lot. With support from Shure, the event’s exclusive microphone provider, attendees participated in a free drum miking clinic taught by Churchyard. Using a combination of Shure DMK57-52 Drum Mic Kits, BETA® 98AMP, BETA 181, BETA 56A, KSM 141, KSM 137, and a A56D drum mount system, among other microphones, Churchyard demonstrated what goes into accurate microphone placement across toms, snares, percussion, and cymbals.
“To prepare kids for real-world scenarios, it’s important for us to teach techniques that are tried and true,” said Dyson. “Everyone uses an SM57 for recording a snare drum, so when kids learn how to use this mic early on, they’ll be able to take that skill wherever their career takes them.”
The industry standard for snare and a reliable, high-performing choice for toms, the Shure SM57 features a contoured frequency response that cuts through the mix with exceptional impact, while reproducing sound accurately. Beta 52As were among the mics used for kick drums at the clinic. This mic derives low-end punch and sonic presence from a carefully tailored frequency response. Other Shure mics, such as the BETA 98AMP, were demonstrated for professional sound reinforcement and studio recording. The BETA 98AMP has a flexible gooseneck for accurate placement in any configuration of toms, snares, or percussion.
“Thanks to supporters like Shure, the San Diego Drum Show showcased all the possibilities the drumming world has to offer, and we can’t wait to do a similar event again in the future,” continued Dyson. “There’s nothing like picking up a stick and hitting a drum—it’s a fun, liberating thing to do.”
A day filled with courses, demos, and musicians young and old, the 2014 San Diego Drum Show went off without a hitch. A sizzle reel recapping the event can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/96971451.