Q: What is an online studio drummer?
Q: What makes a drummer good?
Q: Will I loose the control that I normally have on a session that is face to face in person?
Q: How do I get the files from you and what do they look like?
Q: What is the download time like for a typical song?
Q: How can I be sure that the files you send me will line up with my tracks?
Q: How does payment work again?
Q: What if I have a problem or complication with the download?
Q: What is an online studio drummer?
A: An online drummer or online studio drummer performs the very same service for musical clients such as producers and solo artists as a studio drummer would, the only difference being that they do so via the internet. Tracks are recorded off-site and simply passed back and forth over the internet.
Phil Robertson has been a first call session drummer for over a decade in Vancouver, B.C., Canada one of the music capitals of North America. ‘First Call’ implies just that…he is the first to receive a phone call from producers and artists looking for musicians to play on their recordings.
Phil’s clients over the years have included names like Electronic Arts, Atlantic Records, Elektra, Polygram, WEA and dozens of producers, and singer/songwriters such as Carolyn Arends and Layton Howerton.
Q: What makes a drummer “good”?
A: Many erroneously believe that the ability to play “fast” is what makes for a great drummer. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Timing, or the ability to maintain an even meter (beat) without drifting, is by far the single biggest skill that separates the professional drummer from the amateur drummer. Feel, touch, placement, dexterity, along many other factors are involved.
Phil is known by many in the music business to be a drummer who has it all. His chops are rivalled only by his impeccable time and feel. His grooves are sought after by producers and artists across North America. Having played for many hundreds of live and studio gigs over a 25 year period, Phil brings a wealth of experience and understanding to every project he undertakes.
Q: Will I loose the control that I normally have on a session that is face
to face in person?
A: No you won’t. It’s entirely up to you how much interaction you require.
We can talk via phone or email about your exact requirements. Once I have tracked the song I will send you an mp3 with the drums highlighted.*
I will endeavour to give you exactly what you require! Remember that it does me no good to have a customer not completely satisfied. My goal is that you will be a RETURN customer as well as spread the word about your excellent experience.
Q: How do I get the files from you and what do they look like?
A: If I send you the files via the internet I will send a download link to your email. All you have to do is click on the link and the download is automatic. You save it to your computer at a location such as the desktop. The files are zipped for PC or Stuffed for Macintosh to insure that there is no file corruption.
Just unzip or unstuff the file and it will then show up as a folder. The folder will have all the broken down files or mixed files, whatever you have specified to me prior. (If you have a problem with unzipping let me send you a disc instead.)
From there you simply import them into your session at bar 1, beat one.
If on the other hand I send you a disc, you would just insert the disc and save the files to your hard drive whereby you would perform the same procedure. These files would not be zipped or stuffed however as there is no need to do so in this circumstance.
Q: What is the download time like for a typical song?
A: Since I record at 44.1/24 bit (unless otherwise requested) the download time is roughly 40 minutes at most if you have high speed internet.
If you don’t have high speed internet I suggest that I send the files to you by courier or mail.
A: Be careful to do a couple of simple but very important things:
1. When you burn me your reference mix that I play to, begin the mix from the very beginning of the session, not from the start of the audio. They can be 2 different places. People often leave a few bars silence off the top for count-in purposes. If you have silence before your performance starts make sure that the silence is in there. In other words Bar 1 Beat 1. (The farthest left hand position of your song page)
2. This ensures that when you fly my tracks in which will all start at Bar 1 Beat 1, they will line up precisely to your audio. For example if you had left 2 bars silence before the start of your performance, those 2 bars of silence will be there in my tracks as well and we’ll enter exactly at the same point!
3. If you have a problem with this aspect just feel free to give me a call and I’ll talk you through it.
Q: How does payment work again?
A: After you have approved the reference mp3, payment is due via PayPal. At which point I recieve payment I will send the tracks immediately to you. I personally guarantee that you will recieve the product in full compliance and working order.
Q: What if I have a problem or complication with the download? What then?
A: As I had said before I guarantee my work and delivery! Sometimes downloads are problematic. Don’t worry I will immediately send you a disc via courier or post!
* Please note that a small degradation blip is added to the approval mp3 file. On occasion I’ve had a bad experience of people attempting to use the file as their performance file. This has required me to add this. However, it does not impede your ability to assess the performance.