Falling into Infinity Drum Setup — Mike Portnoy's Tama Starclassic Maple Era (1997) | MetalForge

Frequently Asked Questions

What drums did Mike Portnoy use on Falling into Infinity?

Mike Portnoy recorded Falling into Infinity (1997) on a Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply kit, with double 22"x18" bass drums and six toms ranging from 8" to 16". This was a significant step up from the Tama Artstar II birch shells he had used on Awake (1994) — the Starclassic Maple provided warmer, more resonant tone better suited to the album's melodic direction. The setup used Tama's Star-Cast mounting to preserve shell resonance. For Portnoy's complete gear history, see the [Mike Portnoy drummer profile](/drummer/mike-portnoy).

What cymbals did Mike Portnoy use on Falling into Infinity?

For the Falling into Infinity sessions, Portnoy used Sabian HH (Hand Hammered) and HHX cymbals. His setup included Sabian HH 14" medium hi-hats, HHX Stage Crashes at 16", 17", and 18", a Sabian HH 19" medium crash, a Sabian HH 20" medium ride, and a Sabian HH 18" Chinese cymbal, plus a 10" splash. The HH series — hand-hammered for complex, warm overtones — was darker and more musical than the Zildjian A Customs he had used on earlier Dream Theater recordings. This setup carried through to the early Metropolis Pt. 2 sessions and influenced his choice of Sabian Artisan cymbals for that album.

How did the Falling into Infinity drum setup differ from the Awake setup?

The key differences between the Awake (1994) and Falling into Infinity (1997) setups are: (1) Shell material — FII uses Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply vs. Awake's Tama Artstar II birch. Maple is warmer and more resonant; birch is punchier and more attack-focused. (2) Cymbals — FII uses Sabian HH/HHX (warm, dark, hand-hammered) vs. Awake's Zildjian A Custom (bright, cutting). (3) Depth — FII's 22"x18" bass drums vs. 22"x16" on Awake gives more low-end body. (4) Pedals — Tama Iron Cobra was used on both albums. The overall tonal shift from birch/Zildjian to maple/Sabian HH reflects FII's move toward warmer, more melodic production. See the [Scenes from a Memory drum setup article](/articles/scenes-from-a-memory-drum-setup) for how the setup evolved by 1999.

Why did Dream Theater sound so different on Falling into Infinity?

Falling into Infinity was recorded under direct pressure from Elektra Records, which demanded shorter, more radio-accessible songs. The label brought in external co-writers including pop producer Desmond Child and assigned producer Kevin Shirley (Aerosmith, Journey) to guide the sessions toward mainstream rock appeal. Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci have discussed the label interference extensively in interviews, describing it as one of the most difficult creative periods of their careers. Despite the pressure, the band preserved progressive elements on "Trial of Tears" and "Lines in the Sand." After the album's disappointing commercial performance relative to Elektra's expectations, Dream Theater parted with the label and subsequently recorded Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory on full creative terms.

What pedals did Mike Portnoy use on Falling into Infinity?

Mike Portnoy used Tama Iron Cobra double pedals on Falling into Infinity — the rolling-glide cam model that he favored through the mid-to-late 1990s. The Iron Cobra's smooth, long-throw action was well-suited to the album's varied material: restrained enough for melodic tracks like "Hollow Years" and powerful enough for the double-bass runs on "Trial of Tears" and "Lines in the Sand." He later switched to DW 5000 pedals for the Metropolis Pt. 2 sessions in 1999.