It’s a bit of a meme among (some?) music producers that picking the right snare sound takes 12 hours and still ends up sounding like dogshit in a wet paper bag. This is more in the electronic / beatmaking circles as I understand, but I’m sure there might be some overlap with production involving live/acoustic drums as well.
So, I want to know some examples of snare drums that you love. Please try to describe why you are fond of it.
For me the one I think of first is the snare sound on Deftones’ album White Pony. It has such a satisfying crack paired with a big haunting room reverb. Example: Deftones - Digital Bath
I think I gravitate towards snare with some body to them, as in some lower mid-range. If I grab a regular 808 snare, I find I like to boost a bit of the 200-300hz-ish range to achieve that.
Some more examples off the top of my head: Blue Oyster Cult - I Love the Night
I also enjoy an oddball snare sound with character (at least I think it’s a (closed?) snare and not a tom) : Joy Division - She’s Lost Control
The snare sounds on White Pony are incredible. I remember reading that Abe Cunningham spent a lot of time experimenting with different snare sounds for each track and I love that kind of attention to detail.
My snare drum obssession is the snare on Isis’s album “Oceanic”. It’s perfect for the style: it’s boxy, and the mids and bass aren’t scooped out. The result is it sounds really full and big in the mix. I love it!