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

> Complete breakdown of Mike Portnoy's drum gear on Dream Theater's Falling into Infinity (1997). Discover the Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply kit, Sabian HH and HHX cymbals, Tama Iron Cobra pedals, and the gear behind DT's most commercially successful album — plus the untold story of Elektra's label interference.

**Type:** Album Drum Setup
**Drummer(s):** [Mike Portnoy](/llms/drummers/mike-portnoy.md)
**Band / Album:** Dream Theater — *Falling into Infinity* (1997)
**Genre:** Progressive Metal

## Overview

Released on September 23, 1997, *Falling into Infinity* occupies a uniquely complicated place in Dream Theater's catalogue. It is the band's highest-charting album of the Portnoy era — certified 5× Platinum in the United States — and yet it was recorded under severe creative pressure from Elektra Records, which demanded shorter songs, more accessible structures, and external co-writers including pop hitmaker Desmond Child. The result is a record that contains some of Mike Portnoy's most melodically sensitive drumming alongside some of the most commercially compromised Dream Theater material ever released.

Between *Awake* (1994) and *Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory* (1999), *Falling into Infinity* is the essential missing link — the album where Portnoy, John Petrucci, and new keyboardist Derek Sherinian (replacing Kevin Moore) navigated label politics without abandoning their musical identity. For Portnoy specifically, the album demanded a different kind of excellence: restraint, melodicism, and the discipline to serve songs that were shorter and more direct than anything Dream Theater had attempted since *When Dream and Day Unite* (1989).

The sessions at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York — the same facility where *Metropolis Pt. 2* would later be recorded — placed Portnoy behind a Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply kit with Sabian HH and HHX cymbals, a setup that represented a pivotal transition in his gear history. The Starclassic Maple's warmth and resonance suited the album's tonal palette: more melodic, more atmospheric, more openly emotional than the Artstar II birch kit of the *Awake* era.

## Gear Breakdown

- **Drums:** Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply (Tobacco Burst / Natural Maple finish)
- **Snare:** Tama Starclassic Maple Snare, 14" x 6.5"
- **Cymbals:** Sabian HH / HHX Series
- **Hardware / Pedals:** Tama Iron Cobra Double Pedal; Tama Iron Cobra Hi-Hat Stand; Tama Power Tower Rack; Tama 1st Chair; Vic Firth SD2 Bolero sticks
- **Heads:** Remo Powerstroke 3 Clear (kick batter), Remo Fiberskyn (kick front), Remo Ambassador Coated (tom batter), Remo Ambassador Clear (tom resonant), Remo Ambassador Coated (snare)
- **Snare tuning:** Medium tension for musical crack with broad dynamic range

### Drum Kit: Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply

| Component | Spec |
|-----------|------|
| Bass Drums | 22" x 18" (x2) |
| Rack Toms | 8"x7", 10"x8", 12"x9", 13"x10" |
| Floor Toms | 14"x14", 16"x16" |
| Shell Material | 10-ply maple |
| Mounting | Star-Cast system |
| Finish | Tobacco Burst / Natural Maple |

By 1997, Portnoy had made the full transition from the Tama Artstar II birch shells of the *Awake* era to the Starclassic Maple series. The 10-ply maple construction provided warmer, more resonant tone — better suited to the melodic, mid-tempo material that Elektra was pushing Dream Theater to record. Maple shells offer a rounder tone with longer sustain compared to birch's focused, punchy attack.

### Cymbal Setup

| Cymbal | Model | Position |
|--------|-------|----------|
| Hi-Hats | Sabian HH 14" Medium | Left side |
| Crash | Sabian HHX 16" Stage Crash | Left |
| Crash | Sabian HHX 17" Stage Crash | Left of toms |
| Crash | Sabian HHX 18" Stage Crash | Right of toms |
| Crash | Sabian HH 19" Medium Crash | Far right |
| Ride | Sabian HH 20" Medium Ride | Far right |
| China | Sabian HH 18" Chinese | Above left floor tom |
| Splash | Sabian HH 10" Splash | Above rack toms |

The Sabian HH (Hand Hammered) and HHX series provided a darker, more complex sound than the Zildjian A Customs used on earlier Dream Theater recordings. The HHX Stage Crashes offered faster attack suited to the album's shorter song structures; the HH main cymbals delivered warm, musical overtones that complemented the maple shell character.

## Key Tracks

**"New Millennium"** — Album opener. Portnoy's groove is melodic and supportive. HH 20" ride gives the verse warm, unobtrusive character. Most radio-ready DT track of this era.

**"Hollow Years"** — Acoustic ballad. Portnoy uses brushes and ghost notes, demonstrating near-invisible drumming. Widely cited as one of his finest melodic performances. Iron Cobra pedals barely touched throughout.

**"Trial of Tears"** — 13-minute progressive centerpiece. Full Dream Theater complexity: odd-time sections, extended instrumental passages, complete double-bass vocabulary on Iron Cobra. The track the band fought hardest to include.

**"Lines in the Sand"** (ft. Derek Sherinian) — Heaviest track on the album. HHX Stage Crashes cut through Petrucci's guitar tone. Double bass patterns at full authority.

**"Peruvian Skies"** — Atmospheric and melodic. HH ride throughout verse; HH crashes mark chorus entries with warmth, not aggression.

## Recording Context

Produced by Kevin Shirley and John Petrucci at BearTracks Studios, Suffern NY (same room as Metropolis Pt. 2). Elektra Records assigned Shirley — known for Aerosmith and Journey — to guide the album toward mainstream rock accessibility. External co-writers including Desmond Child contributed to several tracks.

Shirley's drum production was direct and forward in the mix — pragmatic for a radio-targeted album. The Starclassic Maple's natural warmth was captured cleanly, with less ambient character than earlier Dream Theater recordings.

## Gear Evolution: Awake → FII → Scenes from a Memory

| Category | Awake (1994) | FII (1997) | Scenes from a Memory (1999) |
|----------|-------------|------------|---------------------------|
| Kit | Tama Artstar II Birch | Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply | Tama Starclassic Maple (Cherry) |
| Cymbals | Zildjian A Custom | Sabian HH / HHX | Sabian Artisan |
| Pedals | Tama Iron Cobra | Tama Iron Cobra | DW 5000 |
| Bass Drums | 22"x16" | 22"x18" | 22"x18" |

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What drums did Mike Portnoy use on Falling into Infinity?**
A: Mike Portnoy used a Tama Starclassic Maple 10-ply kit on Falling into Infinity (1997), with double 22"x18" bass drums and six toms from 8" to 16". This was significantly warmer and more resonant than the Tama Artstar II birch shells he used on Awake (1994). The kit was recorded at BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York, with producer Kevin Shirley.

**Q: What cymbals did Mike Portnoy use on Falling into Infinity?**
A: Portnoy used Sabian HH (Hand Hammered) and HHX cymbals on Falling into Infinity. 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. The HH series offered darker, warmer character than his earlier Zildjian A Custom setup.

**Q: How did the Falling into Infinity drum setup differ from the Awake setup?**
A: Key differences: (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. (2) Cymbals — FII uses Sabian HH/HHX (dark, warm, hand-hammered) vs. Awake's Zildjian A Custom (bright, cutting). (3) Bass drum depth — FII's 22"x18" vs. 22"x16" on Awake. (4) Pedals — Tama Iron Cobra on both. The tonal shift reflects FII's move toward warmer, more melodic production under Elektra's commercial guidance.

**Q: Why did Falling into Infinity sound more commercial than earlier Dream Theater albums?**
A: Elektra Records demanded shorter, more radio-accessible songs and brought in external co-writers including pop producer Desmond Child. Producer Kevin Shirley was assigned to guide the sessions toward mainstream rock appeal. Despite this pressure, Dream Theater preserved progressive elements on "Trial of Tears" and "Lines in the Sand." After FII's disappointing commercial performance relative to Elektra's expectations, the band left the label and subsequently recorded Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory on full creative terms.

**Q: What pedals did Mike Portnoy use on Falling into Infinity?**
A: Portnoy used Tama Iron Cobra double pedals on Falling into Infinity — the rolling-glide cam model he favored through the mid-to-late 1990s. The Iron Cobra's smooth action suited the album's varied material. He later switched to DW 5000 pedals for the Metropolis Pt. 2 sessions in 1999.

## Related Articles

- [Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory drum setup](/articles/scenes-from-a-memory-drum-setup) — the 1999 follow-up and Portnoy's magnum opus
- [Mike Portnoy drummer profile](/drummer/mike-portnoy) — complete gear history and biography

**Source:** https://metalforge.io/articles/falling-into-infinity-drum-setup

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*Last updated: 2026-06-27 · Source: [MetalForge.io](https://metalforge.io)*