Credits include Brett Eldredge, Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown. Nashville-based drummer Caleb Gilbreath here. I want to use my background in audio engineering, as well as extensive experience in touring and session drumming, to bring your music to life!
My experience begins with a degree in Music Production and Engineering from Berklee College of Music. My audio background has provided me with a foundation of skills that allow me to deliver high-quality sound, delivered as neat, contiguous .wav files to make make integration into your session a simple process.
Since moving to Nashville in 2011, my more notable studio/touring credits include country artist, Zac Brown (for his pop band Sir Rosevelt), Hunter Hayes, Brett Eldredge, and Gabby Barrett. Other credits include a wide range of country, pop, CCM, and Americana artists: Grammy-nominee Sierra Hull, Michael Ray, Gloriana, Charlie Worsham, Maddie and Tae, Clare Dunn, Jenn Bostic, and many more.
My setup includes an array of industry-standard microphones (Shure SM 57s and KSM 137s, AKG 214s, Sennheiser 421s), a Universal Audio x8p interface with multiple outboard preamps, and Pro Tools, fully outfitted with UAD, Steven Slate and Waves plugins as well as Maschine for custom drum loop programming. Also including a wide inventory of drums, cymbals, and percussion toys to compliment any style. My focus, above all, is to serve the song!
Tell me about your project and how I can help, through the 'Contact' button above.
Credits
17 Reviews - 4 Repeat Clients
Endorse Caleb Gilbreath
check_circleVerifiedTop notch
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Very modern, expressive drumming. Always solid results
check_circleVerifiedFantastic drum programming and percussion ideas with very fast turn around time! I highly recommend Caleb!
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Caleb did a phenomenal job. He was quick to respond, asked the appropriate questions and delivers a great product. I would highly recommend him for drum and programmed drum work.
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Caleb is incredible! Beautiful parts and pristine tracks that rival any record coming out of Nashville.He's really worth it you won't be disappointed.
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Pro work as always
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I've used Caleb for 4-5 tracks now, and the performances and sonics are top-notch. He goes out of his way to provide a great blend of live and programmed drums (when appropriate), which is a significant amount of effort and quality for the price.
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Pro work. Great instincts, and puts in the extra effort to provide additional/optional layers, etc.
check_circleVerifiedI am beyond delighted with Caleb's contribution to my project. My song had a laid back feeling to it, but a definite sorta groove. Caleb knew just what to do with it, to make it sound awesome! Highly recommend him! I will come back to him again for future projects, no doubt.
check_circleVerifiedCaleb is a super talented guy and was super easy to work with. I highly recommend him!
check_circleVerifiedMy second job with Caleb, and an awesome experience again! nailed it!! Brilliant drummer!
check_circleVerifiedNeeded some programming/beats done for for an upcoming demo session. Very quick turn around, easy communication, and gave solid ideas to work with. Smoothest no-hiccup process I've had on Soundbetter so far...I'd give him five stars simply for not taking two weeks in between messages :) Hit him up!
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Caleb is a drumming genius! Utterly professional, unbelievably skilled, and was just a pleasure to work with him, he went over and beyond what I was expecting! Thanks Caleb!
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Caleb is the real deal! An incredible musician with the precision and finesse only a seasoned Nashville session player can command. A 10 out of 10 and I will definitely be working with him again.
check_circleVerifiedGreat working with Caleb! He gave me some top quality drum tracks and some really good feedback and ideas for my song. In addition to the recorded drums, he also provided me with some programed claps and stomps to give the song more life. Thanks for such a nice job Caleb. Talk soon!
Great communication, and always goes above and beyond. Can't recommend him enough. He'll definitely be featured on every track that I work on!
Caleb was fantastic to work with!!! He had wonderful communication and killer playing! I highly recommend working with him in the future!
Interview with Caleb Gilbreath
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: First, I listen to the song! Then, I typically start with playing a full kit, to dive right into getting a full sound, then ornament with loops and percussion. Sometime's that's not the move though. Sometimes I might program a loop to play along to, for added inspiration, or start with some simple percussion to get the vibe going. I always start with listening, then I let inspiration take it from there.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: My mic/drum setup varies from song to song, but a typical mic/input list would look like this 1. Kick In - Beta 52 2. Kick Out- Subkick 3. Snare Top- SM57 4. Snare Bottom- SM57 5. Hi Hat- Shure KM81 6. Tom 1- Sennheiser 421 7. Tom 2- 421 8. Tom 3- 421 9-10. Stereo OH- KSM 137 11-12. Stereo Room- Cascade Fathead I have an array of Pearl, Ludwig, and Barton drums, a near endless stack of Zildjian cymbals, and no shortage of shakers, tambourines, hand drums, toys that make interesting sounds, whatever I need to make cool sounds.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: I like drummers and producers who play without ego. It's not about having the coolest drum part (though it's always fun when you get one!), it's about drawing focus to the lyric and emotion behind the song. Aaron Sterling is one of my biggest influences in the drum world because of this approach
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: In short, I play drums on records. This can mean anything from programming pop and hip-hop style loops, laying down big huge drums on a rock song, playing that one brush part that makes your Americana song pop, or doing it all at once on the same song! Whatever the song needs, I've got the gear and the experience to make it happen.
I was the Drummer and Producer in this production
- Live drum trackAverage price - $125 per song
- Programmed drumAverage price - $100 per song
- PercussionAverage price - $50 per song
- Vocal TuningAverage price - $40 per track
- Time alignment - QuantizingAverage price - $40 per track
- Mixing EngineerAverage price - $200 per song
Typical turn-around time is 1-3 days, 2-3 revisions allowed (initial communication about vibe/parts will minimize revisions).
- Pearl Drums
- Zildjian Cymbals
- Evans Drumheads
- Shure SM57s
- Shure KSM 137s
- Sennheiser 421s
- AKG 214s
- UA x8p
- Pro Tools
- Steven Slate Trigger
- Waves Plugins
