Drum micing in studio

Tonyh · #1 01-31-2000

Hello,
Can anyone help me with micing drums in the studio? I am a recording student at UNC Asheville. I am lucky enough to have access to a fully stocked and equipped studio at school. Unnortunately, drum micing is still new to me. Can anyone give me some pointers on the proper mics and effects to use in a multitrack project? I am micing the hi-hat, snare, Hi and low toms (one mic), kick drum, and the floor tom along with two over-head mics.
Any suggestions on whether I should be using noisegates and/or compressors and what the proper mics for this situation would be?
Thanks in advance,
Tonyh

DALtune · #2 01-31-2000

If you have access to all kinds of gear and enough tracks, add another mic to the rack toms. Put one on each, about 3.5 inches above the top of the drums at a slight angle at the snare. Mic the floor tom from the right side (assuming drummer is right handed) with the same measurements as above. Stick a mic about 2 inches above the snare coming from the left and angeled slightly at the drummer. Stuff a mic in the kick drum. Hi hat mic from the left side, about 3 inches away head on at the open spot. Put the overheads above the kit (just kidding).

Depending on what mics you have available (this gets a little silly):
overheads: Shure SM-81
Snare: Beyer M-422
Hi-Hat: Same
Toms: 57s
Kick: AKG D-112

OR whatever sounds good.

Tonyh · #3 01-31-2000

Thanks for your reply DALtune.
I don't have access to a Beyer M-422. Any other suggestions? Do you have an opinion on noisegates and/or compressors?
Again, thanks in advance for your help.
Tonyh

HAWLK · #4 02-01-2000

i would do it a little diferently

for overheads use Rode NT2's
kick drum AKG d112
toms Sennheiser 421*2
snare use two mics one ontop one on the bottom meeting at a 90 degree angle (to avoid phase cancelation) a Beta57 on bottom and a 421 on top.
i'd also use a high quality small diafram condensor on each symbol.
on the floor tom use the shure mic that is desighned for it i forget the name or a 421.

in terms on gates and commpression, you should be ok with out gates but use light to meadium compression according to how consistant the drummer is, and only use it after mix down.

hope i could help

HAWLK

HAWLK · #5 02-01-2000

if you want other suggestions on how to mic a drummer feel free to ask...

Recording Engineer · #6 02-01-2000

I feel the opposite to HAWLK in regards that I'd sure use compression during tracking.

CMiller · #7 02-01-2000

Someone a while back posted this article from ProRec Webzine and although it deals with recording on a DAW, it will be applicable in most situations. It's one of the greatest articles on recording I've ever read, and I'm not alone in saying that. Listen to the MP3 examples he gives.
http://www.prorec.com/prorec/article...es/point2point

HAWLK · #8 02-01-2000

I only don't use commpresion on drum tracks because of bad experiances and dogy equiptment, sometimes my commpressor gives distortion on peaks and i've screwed up perfictly good recordings by doing so. so now i only use affects after the recording is on my hard drive. But i'm shure many people will disagree with me and i'm shure you can get great results both ways.

Tonyh · #9 02-01-2000

Hey everyone,
Thanks so much for your help. I am going to take an inventory of all of our mics at school and post what we have. Maybe that will help you (and all of you have been a great help so far) see my situation better. Once again, I appreciate everyones help.
Thanks again,
Tonyh

mayflowerjones · #10 02-22-2000

I dont agree with using no gates...put a gate on that kick drum with a fast attack and then listen for the appropriate release time and threshhold level...the main point is to keep all the raquet from the other drums from seeping into your kick mic...then you have a kick track full of crap...set that gate threshhold to catch the kick and thats all...you will hear a little background on the release but thats normal...just dont set the release to short that will cut the kick off to fast.

DWkit · #11 08-17-2005

I use this setup when I'm tracking acoustic drums. Overheads-Rode NT 1000's x 2, hat- AKG 414, Snare top- Shure SM57, Snare bottom-Audio Technica 4050, Rack Toms-Sennheiser MD421's on each, Floor Toms & Bass Drum-AKG D112, Room Mics-Neumann U87 x 2. I squash the toms, bass, and snare mics with compression and gate them tight to avoid bleed between tracks. I get my basic drum sound from the room and overheads adding only enough of the close mics to get some punch. My studio is in Eastern NC. Give me a call if you have any questions or you're looking to intern soon. Thanks, Dave www.reality-studio.com

Tim Brown · #12 08-17-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Recording Engineer

I feel the opposite to HAWLK in regards that I'd sure use compression during tracking.

I wouldn't suggest compression during tracking for somebody who doesn't know what they are doing.There's nothing worse than having the compressor raise the level of the cymbals being picked up by a kick mic!