Tom Hipskind

Professional Drum Tracking Studio

I’m pleased to offer high-quality, affordable, multi-channel custom drum tracks for your recording from my fully-equipped, professional recording studio.

Any decent recording engineer will tell you that while mic placement, gain structure, and use of equipment is important, the most critical aspect of recording is the source. One can have all the top-end gear in the world, but in order to make a truly great recording, you need players who get a big, musical sound, great time, and the experience and savvy to make the right musical decisions. I draw upon three decades of experience in (and out of) the studio, and over a decade in my own studio, to bring an approach to your music that is solid, versatile and musical.

How It Works

You’ll send me:

-An audio file or set of stems of your track for me to play to (WAV or AIFF are the preferred formats), along with an exact tempo marking (or tempo map if it changes)
-Bit depth/sample rate info of your track: up to 24 bit, 96khz
-A PDF or JPG of a chart of the song, when applicable (always appreciated to expedite things)

After I record my initial tracks, I’ll send you a rough-mix mp3 of what I recorded, then if adjustments to the performance or sound (if applicable) are needed/requested, I’ll finish the process. After you give final approval and I then receive final payment, I’ll immediately upload the tracks to a file-sharing site for you to retrieve.

Studio

Microphones

Shure Beta 52
AKG D112
Shure SM57
Shure Beta 57A
Shure Beta 98
Shure SM81
Michael Joly/OktavaMod MK-012
AKG 414 TL-II
Shure KSM 44
Shure SM7B
Audio-Technica ATM450
E/V N/D 408, 468

Mogami Gold cables

Digital Hardware Setup

RME Fireface UFX premium audio interface
Daking Mic Pre IV 4-channel preamp (2)
Focusrite ISA428 4-channel preamp with 828 A/D digital card
Focusrite Platinum Octopre 8-channel mic preamp
Yamaha HS50 studio monitor speakers with HS10W subwoofer

Software

Avid Pro Tools; Apple Logic Pro X; Ableton Live

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate how much you CARE about the details of your work. It would be enough that you are a world-class drummer with consummate skills, but you take it to the next level with how careful and conscientious you are about everything.

I’m thrilled at your ability to make such a simple groove feel so good. You have transformed this project. The tracks sound amazing, with nothing whatsoever done to them. I just drag them in and they sound great. Don’t know how you did it, but great job!”

-Paul Langford, Paul Langford Music; worked with Celine Dion, David Foster, Michael Buble, Heather Headley

“As a songwriter and producer of various kinds of music, the sonic quality and rhythmic integrity of the drums is an unwavering expectation. There are timekeepers and then there are artists that happen to keep time like no one else. Tom Hipskind is such an artist. His devotion to excellence in execution along with his unique brand of artistry manufactures what many professional musicians have come to love as the “Hipskind” sound. The recent launching of his personal drum studio has provided me with an exceptional option when tracking drums. I am able to produce from the comfort of my project studio and in return Tom promptly provides amazing sounding drum tracks.”

-Gene Garcia, Tenito Productions; worked with Willow Creek, Crossroads church