How To Mix Rock Cymbals w/ Tom Lord-Alge and Angels & Airwaves

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. You open up a session, solo the drum room mics, and you’re hit with a tidal wave of harsh, washy cymbals. It’s a classic mixing nightmare. This exact scenario is what legendary mixer Tom Lord-Alge (TLA) faced when he cracked open the multi-tracks for “Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce” by Angels & Airwaves.

But here’s the thing about a pro like TLA: where many of us would just hit mute and move on, he saw an opportunity. He took those problematic room tracks—the ones swimming in unwanted cymbal information—and transformed them into the very glue that provided the depth and power for the entire drum mix.

Here are some of the killer, counter-intuitive techniques he used to salvage these tracks and turn them into a secret weapon.

The Problem: All Sizzle, No Space

The core issue with the Angels & Airwaves room tracks was excessive cymbal buildup. Every crash and hi-hat hit was dominating the ambiance, masking the punch of the snare and the body of the tom