Review – Ludwig Concert Series Seamless Raw Copper Snare Drum

June 17, 2024

Here’s the latest review from our sister-site Drummer’s Review featuring a Concert Series Seamless Raw Copper Snare Drum from Ludwig Drums. Filmed April 2024 (scroll down for recording & equipment details).

Features…

14″ x 5″, Seamless Raw Copper Shell,
Ludwig P89 snare throw off,
Tri-snare wire system featuring Coated Cable, Spiral Steel Wire and Uncoated Cable,
45˚ bearing edges,
18-strand snare wire,
10 x chrome tube lugs,
Die Cast hoops,
Remo M5 Diplomat batter head over Ludwig Weather Master X-Thin Resonant.

Ludwig Concert Series Seamless Raw Copper Snare Drum UK SRP: £1099.00

Ludwig says...”Often imitated, never duplicated, Ludwig snare drums have set an undeniable benchmark for quality and versatility since 1911. Ludwig snare drums are the most toured and recorded snare drums in the world. With this tradition of excellence Ludwig presents the all new Concert Series.

Offered in 5 x 14 and 6.5 x 14 in both Maple and Raw Copper, the Concert Series delivers incredible tonal response and versatility for all applications. Maple snare drums are available in Natural Maple, Charcoal, Mahogany and a durable Black Cortex.”

For more details, head to: conn-selmer.com

Recording Details:

Filmed at Paul Caboche Studios (Cornwall UK).

Microphone List:

Kick Rear: Audix D6
Kick Front: Electrovoice RE27ND
Snare Top: Electrovoice PL80
Snare Bottom: Electrovoice PL80
Hi Hat: Oktava MK-012-01 Cardio
Ride: Oktava MK-012-01 Cardio
Over Head wide: AKG C414B (pair)
Centre Over Heads: AEA R88 MK2 Stereo Ribbon Mic
Front Centre Room : AEA R88 MK2 Stereo Ribbon Mic
Wide Room Mic’s: sE2200T Tube Mic’s (pair)

Recording Process:

Microphone Pre amps: 16x Rupert Neve Designs 5052

Pre amp outs to Avid HD analog to digital converters connected to Avid HDX card

Recorded into Pro Tools Ultimate latest version running HDX cards mounted in an Apple Mac Pro 2019 16core.

Audio Template Details:

No EQ:

Direct microphone sound – no EQ either pre or post recording applied from the Neve 5052 Pre-Amps EQ section.

Basic EQ:

Basic EQ setting using the EQ section of the Neve 5052 mic Pre-Amps. No post recoded EQ or processing applied.

A Note From Paul…

“The microphones were set up with the overheads and room mic’s measured to the centre of the snare drum to keep the phase of any stereo pair in phase. The AEA R88 MK2 mic’s being stereo mic’s had no issue with phase but the front centre room mic and centre overhead where aligned with each other to keep the same stereo image. The phase reverse switch on the front kick mic was used to correct the phase between the two bass drum mic’s. The phase reverse switch was engaged on the bottom snare mic to correct the phase between the two snare mic’s. Hi pass filters only used on the hi hat mic, Ride mic and overheads. The AKG C414B mic’s on the toms have very little proximity bass boost so can be considered a pretty flat representation of the toms. The same can be said for the Electrovoice PL80 mic’s on the snare drum. Every effort was made so that the NO EQ sound example audio on the video was as true a representation of what the drums sounded like in the live room. The live room of the studio has been treated to also provide a neutral sound close to the drums with the room mic’s then giving a true representation of what the drums sound like in the room. Using 16 identical Mic Pre amps also helps with electrical phase so there is no difference between tone and phase of the Mic Pre amps. The brief for recoding the drums was to give as true a representation as possible of what the drums actually sound like and to then give examples of what can be done to the sound of the drums.”

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