Micing up drums

[NiasinDrummer]

I have a 5 piece set with an Audix Fusion 6 piece. I have an F10 for my snare, an F10 for my rack and an F10 in between both my floor toms and an F-10 in my bassdrum with a blanket and ported head. I also have 2 F15 overheads all being run through a Yamaha MG 12/4 mixer. Im getting some new pinstripes to hopefully get them sounding good, but I dont know where to put my mics and how far away and all.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[notbradsohner]

what the hell are you doin with all those f 10s. get some real mics!

[NiasinDrummer]

its my audix fusion pack. I know its possible to get at least decent quality out of those. I didnt have much money and I needed to get a mixer as well. I didnt ask for critism on my mics, I wanted to know where to place the mics and all..note, i have an f 12 in my kick, not an f 10

[fazil]

You should use a headphone and a drummer (a monkey might do aswell). Solo your snare on your mixing board, make your drummer slap the snare (tak, tak, tak, ...) and place the mike where it sounds best. Mostly that's above the rim, 1 inch higher, pointed at the middle of your snare. Do exactly the same for your Rtom and your floor toms.
Put your f12 inside the kick ( i hope it has a hole in it ?) and bring it up near your beater, slightly off axis, untill it sounds like you want it to sound. (make shure that your drummer is slapping the bassdrum right now) That's the most commen method. Eventually it all depends on your personal flavour and the style of music. But first of all, make shure your drums sound good, tuning might be a horrible thing, but eq'ing your crappy drums afterwards is a hell, if even possible. And you might wanna get some overheads aswell you know, as they form a basic for your drum tracks.

greetz, lots of information and wisdom on this site, check out other threats about drum recording.

[NiasinDrummer]

thanks fazil!

Actually I am a drummer and Im getting some new heads (pinstripes!) and will tune them so they sound GREAT in the room. Then I will play with my Mg 12/4 for the best sound possible. Yes my kick has a hole.

Do I want them to sound good in the room to me or to someone accross the room? Also do I want to tune them so they sound god live (resonant and open, somewhat ringy) or make them very dead sounding with practically no ring? Thanks again for the advice

[Drummer4Life05]

Pinstripes, eh?
Let me suggest, if you've never tried them before, try some Evans drum heads.
Many people (including myself) have realized how much better Evans G1's or G2's sound compared to the Pinstripes. Yes, it is all subjective, but give them a try. They tune up a lot quicker due to the way they are made, and you don't have to worry about breaking in the glue around the edges, because there is none!

Just a suggestion.

[Jblount]

I second that motion, Drummer4Life is right about the heads. Try some g2's. You will be impressed. Evans has wonderful QC.

[Sonixx]

this setup generally tunes up quickly and very nicely and gives both a lot of stick (top micing) and bottom resonance (Bottom Mics)

Top Head (Coated):
Evans G2 or Aquarian Double Thin

Bottom Head (Coated):
Evans G1 or REMO Single Ply (Don't remember the name)

Opinion:
I prefer the Aquarian Double Thin on top. The Aquarian Double Thin Coating last longer and my totally subjective opinion... I just like them better with my experience of using both. But G2's are great heads. I seldom use REMO's.

[NiasinDrummer]

thanks guys.. G2's it is!

[Sonixx]

Originally posted by NiasinDrummer
thanks guys.. G2's it is!

don't forget the bottom head... it's just as important, if not more so.

if you have not already mastered tuning to some degree, then at least get a G2 and a G1 for one tom. experiment on tuning (no muffling), you should agree.

Start here with tuning techniques: Prof. Sound's Drum Tuning Bible

[tubesrawsom]

why not remo ambassaders there great

[NiasinDrummer]

so G1 for the bottom heads?

I only have around 70 bucks.. can I get all 4 drums headed for that amount. Im happy with my kick head, i feel it just has to do with tuning now

[Sonixx]

Originally posted by NiasinDrummer
so G1 for the bottom heads?

I only have around 70 bucks.. can I get all 4 drums headed for that amount. Im happy with my kick head, i feel it just has to do with tuning now

please note that which heads to use is mainly based on music type, tone, playing live or recording, etc...

then take virtually everything everyone says with a grain of salt. I've stated what I've had success with. I probably didn't mention that I have my kit setup for recording, not live playing. Therefore if we were talking about cymbals I'd be recommending Cymbals more in the line of Sabian AAX Studio Thin crash. That is basically crash and get out of the way quickly. The point is know what you want and why.

[NiasinDrummer]

I want to be able to record and get a good sound. I am a hard hitter so I was glad when you reccomened g2's rather than something thin. I do not take my kit out of my house, with the exceotion of my snare. G2's can be used for live applications I have been told. I am fairly sure though, that if so many people use G2's they must record well. I use Zildjian A custom projection crashes, Vintage K ride, A custom maseround hats and a 10" A custom projection splash with a wuhan china.

Those seem like quality cymbals and I should be able to get a good sound from them

Thanks again

[Sonixx]

if you're recording, then the bottom head is where the tone comes from, not the top head... regardless of how hard of a hitter you are.

I've had very good success with the overhead modified spaced micing technique (2 mics, one over the snare, the other over the drummers right shoulder), a kick mic, bottom snare mic, and the toms micing the bottoms. Adding more mics on top give you a lot more options, the basic previously mentioned really works well.

Cheers...

[NiasinDrummer]

I found that can actually get a very nice sound out of my pinstripes by tightening the bottom head fairly tight and the batter head tighter than one would think

Its quite nice. Thanks again and when I feel I need more heads Ill try G2's but for now my pins are great!

PS..how would I tune my kick head.. i have blanket in it with a felt beater

[Sonixx]

Originally posted by NiasinDrummer
I found that can actually get a very nice sound out of my pinstripes by tightening the bottom head fairly tight and the batter head tighter than one would think

Its quite nice. Thanks again and when I feel I need more heads Ill try G2's but for now my pins are great!

PS..how would I tune my kick head.. i have blanket in it with a felt beater

I've never found the blanket technique to be as versatile as adding a 14" Clear G1 taped to the Batter side of the kick head.

You can see it on my kit in this thread. Check out the Here's the Coincident Mics. post.