Ken Scott is one of the most renowned recording engineers and producers around. I mean, the guy’s first real recording session was with The Beatles, working on Magical Mystery Tour! His other credits include seminal albums with Elton John, David Bowie, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Supertramp, Missing Persons, the Dixie Dregs, Jeff Beck, Kansas… the list is incredible!
Now, in partnership with Sonic Reality, Ken has created EPIC drums. The idea was to gather five of the best drummers he’s worked with – Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs), Terry Bozzio (Missing Persons), Bob Seibenberg (Supertramp), and Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie) – and re-create EXACTLY the sound of the drums that were used on those players’ respective albums. To do this, Sonic Reality and Ken tracked down the original drums and the original gear. They used similar spaces and had the original drummers play the drums. It was all in pursuit of creating the ultimate sampled drum instrument: Epik Drums.
But Epik Drums doesn’t stop at stellar sampled drums! There are also multitrack grooves, with some duplicating the original tracks and some (as Ken puts it) with the drummers going mad. In every case, you’re getting the sound of real drums, as only Ken Scott can capture them.
Lest you think Epik Drums will only be useful for ’60s- and ’70s-style drum tracks, think again! You can use these drums, either the grooves or the samples, in any style of music, from any era.
To learn more about these drums, check out the “Featured Videos” in this issue of Select, which include my interviews with Ken Scott. Also check out the feature on Ken in this issue, where we discuss his miking and recording techniques.