Recreating A ROOTS RADICS Song - Pt 1 - Tracking BIG SHIP Drums, Piano, Bass, Percussions, & Guitar

Kahn recreates the Roots Radics backed song 'Big Ship' by Freddie McGregor using live drums, bass, guitar, percussions, and VST piano. Kahn explains his drum micing, tuning, and muffling techniques to achieve a classic dry and heavy sound – his best attempt at the Channel One sound capture. Kahn then recreates the iconic piano line by Steely, going into detail on the different little melodies and iconic lines on the track. He then records the drums and explains Flabba Holt’s awesome bass line and techniques. After that he records the vibraslab and guiro percussions, and ends with the rhythm guitar recording. In the upcoming part 2 of this video series, Kahn is going to process all of the tracks and create the mix.

Time Stamps:
0:00 Intro/Disclaimer
1:35 – Drum Kit Overview – Tuning/Micing/Muffling
17:25 – Piano Overview and Recording
26:09 – Drum Techniques and Recording
33:14 – Bass Technique and Bass line Overview
38:34 – Percussions
40:44 – Guitar

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Cheers

[DMKahn]

Note: in the intro I mention Radics tracking in "Studio One" when I should have said" Channel One".

[ej]

not only are you revealing the secrets of producing authentic reggae through fundamental ideas, but you are also revealing how a full track can be recorded, drums and all, in a 5x5 foot space (like mine) - no excuses now!!!!

[masonfiregun]

Pram Pram Pram! Respect to the man DM Kahn! And Respect to the Roots Radios!

[guttyrankz]

You’re truly becoming a master. Big ups for the knowledge

[justagamebeatz]

Sounds really good 👏 big up from France 🇫🇷

[willhorton]

This is so great, I have been a huge Roots Radics fan for many many years and I love how you highlight so many of the little subtle flourishes and techniques that each of the players bring to the table. You don't credit yourself as a good player, but your recordings clearly sound intentionally like the Radics, great job! Don't shortchange yourself. I also love that you have echoed many of the little things that I love about the Radics as my number one Jamaican session band. Its those things that alot of people maybe don't even notice. That is part of what makes the Radics so good, on first listen it seems so basic and simple, maybe even boring, but when you listen closer, its all the little subtle things that when all put together has that big impact and genius, that is where they are actually pretty complex in their simplicity. You mention that you aren't sure who actually played the rhythm guitar on Big Ship, but when you talk about what the technique is, and the chop as you call it, that could only really have been Bingy Bunny. I have heard his sound referred to as the "Skeng" sound (I think by Dwight), however you want to describe it, that sound is synonymous with Bingy Bunny, that bright skeng sound with the little perfect accents in the song gaps. I have seen alot of footage of him playing various guitars, but I would guess he would have used a telecaster for this, not sure exactly but that is the guitar I have seen him play the most in the 80's. I guess Its also possible that Bingy did not play rhythm guits on this, I think there were a few sessions where he was not available from my vague recollection (I obsess over the credits that many times are not fully accurate or have omissions), and someone filled in for him, but that would have been very unusual. I think 99% of all "Radics" credited sessions would have had at least Bingy Bunny and Flabba Holt on the recording. Other players tended to come and go in order to fulfill the producers booked session time at Channel One usually. But going by ear, the players that are the MOST distintive are Flabba, Bingy Bunny and Style or even Santa before Style joined the Radics. You can also clearly tell when its Dwight Pinckney or Chinna in the early days (usually with paired with Santa on drums) or Sowell before Dwight joined. The other players tend to be harder for me to pick out by ear. Anyway, great job overall here. I will be watching your other videos. The other reggae studio bands that are worthy of a treatment like this would be The Soul Syndicate and even the High Times Players. But I will always rate the Roots Radics as number one. They are all awesome, but for some reason the Radics speak to me more. Cheers.

[seemo]

Respect Man. Please more of this brilliant stuff. Peace

[netuno_music]

Man, this channel is amazing. I would never think of using the cuba library piano for a reggae track.

[daveatkinson]

Nice And to think the room isn't filled with any ganja smoke!!!! Lol. Drums sounded Nice timing and feel

[matthiasheintzsch]

Thanks for another great video! 🔥👏🏻🇪🇹 What I like the most about it is your enthusiasm for those little bits and pieces such as unplayed notes etc., which make the music so cool and unique. I have a drummer friend with whom I drool over the same things (I play bass)! Flabba and Style are the rulerz! 😎🇯🇲

[outtayardstudio]

Yo Kahn.I also noticed the bass goof flabba did I laugh hard every time I hear it..LOL..and hey btw I'm well stoked with the drum kit pack..there's some sweet synare hits in there boss! Forward ever backward never iyah!!!

[danielo]

Had such a buzz watching you do this. Thanks bro.

[watsonunlimitedmusic]

Humbleness is next to godliness :) Good job !

[slimjoneslocker]

this is so unbelievably thorough man - what a goldmine thanks for sharing this

[thefoxfamily]

And ya interpretation is very very good, flow perfectly ❤️👌

[dubroomdread]

Yes I, the Half Drop...

What an interesting video this (and part 2 as well)!

[lujanreggae]

Big up bredda your truly doing a great thing 🤜🏽🤛🏽❤💛💚 much respect everytime 🤜🏽🤛🏽

[InvisibleElements]

Hi DMK,
Great content as always.
You have been making good music for a long time, I remember you from the "Versionist" days😀

[benburnside]

Amazing, wicked work mate. Thanks for the insight !

[diegos.beristain]

Really great video!!!! Keep going!!! Thx a lot!!!