general setup Q - complete novice with a fostex d108...

[pikey]

You lot sound like an informed bunch.
I have a fostex d108 and a behringer mixer, now i need some advice on micing up the drum kit. Basically a bit of knowledge regarding cable routes to and from the units would be most helpful.

Then when i get the DI box at the weekend, what sort of routing is required to get started wth guitar parts.

[Tifstorey]

So you want advice on micing up a drum kit? Well basically there are different methods, but the one i use involves 5 microphones. i use 2 above each of the cymbals, about 0.35metres above the crash and the ride cymbal. I have one inside the bass drum, one hovering very close to the snare and one above the toms.

Depending on what sound you want from the kit depends on where you place the mics. If youve recorded the drum, obviously you can mix each channel on your behringer, but each mic will pick up other parts of the drum aswell as the one it was independently recording. For Eg. If you wanted a nice steady beat with alot of top end cymbals, you would place the 2 mics that are above the cymbals slightly closer (easy eh? ) Try experimenting with different set ups and find out which you like the best.

Regarding the cables, you obviously want the highest health and safety there, so if you didnt know already, wrap the cables around the mic stands a couple of times to avoid the cables just sagging on the floor to stop people falling over them onto the drum kit!

If your going to be recording a drum alot, you might want to invest in a drum mic kit, these have different microphones for the different piece of kit. If you r budget is tight, you can use standard microphones, except on the bass drum where you will need a low end microphone to pick up the nice thick sound.

With your mixer, you want to get a bit of tape or a label and write down under each channel which part of the kit that perticular channel is recording. That way whilst recording if one mic is over powering all of the others, you can quickly adjust it without questioning yourself which is which!

Hope this helps, and good luck with your recording!

Peace