erratic kick drum

[phosos]

Ok, so I recently recorded a drummer that plays with a lot of dymanics. During recording, i had set the kick channel around -4 db with the fader. The problem is that the kick drum is all over the place in the mix. Between 2 hits, there can be a range of 6 or 7 db AFTER compression. It is just not consistent at all.
I am wondering if it is a good idea to manually level each kick drum hit to peak at the level, or if I should be compressing more. I haven't used a limiter at all.

also, are there ways to get the drum more consistent in volume druing tracking (nagging the drummer to hit evenly/compression/limiting)? and is compression or limiting or EQ during tacking even a good idea?

In the mix, i have the compressor set at 3.5:1 or 4:1 ratio and keeping the db reduction around 4-6 db. I didn't think adding a lot of reduction sounded very natural, but I am trying to get the kick drum even.

if anyone has insight, i would appreciate it.

[treymonfauntre]

i had a huge problem with this on something i recorded. i also had a ridiculous amount of snare bleed in the drum track somehow. it was absolute hell trying to make that sound good. eventually i had to just let it go and hope to retrack some day.

[phosos]

I also have snare bleed, but it actually works well for me since i didn't mic the bottom of the snare. The bleed into the kick mic adds the snare fuzz while the snare mic has all the snap.

[something cool]

No problem with replacing some of the weaker kick hits with copies of some of the better hits.

You may also look into triggering depending on the song or the style of music.

[geet73]

You're not hitting it with all that heavy of compression. Maybe put on a bit more?

It'll be a pain, but replacing the weaker hits with louder hits should get the job done.

[Cloneboy Studio]

Sound Replacer with negative dynamics works wonders in those situations....

[Farview]

Drumagog. I run into this all the time.
Any drummer in a metal band that is proud to play 'with dynamics' ends up on my doorstep at some time or another. I had a guy in here 2 weeks ago that was like that. I ended up running the kick track into an L1 (set at -18!!!!) and feeding that into drumagog to replace the kick. That is the easiest way I have found to reel in the dynamics and still get a good sound.

[mikemorgan]

Originally Posted by Farview

Drumagog. I run into this all the time.
Any drummer in a metal band that is proud to play 'with dynamics' ends up on my doorstep at some time or another. I had a guy in here 2 weeks ago that was like that. I ended up running the kick track into an L1 (set at -18!!!!) and feeding that into drumagog to replace the kick. That is the easiest way I have found to reel in the dynamics and still get a good sound.

I had the Demo version of Drumagog for a little while and decided I couldn't afford it then. Can you really use it's features in REALTIME like that?? Maybe I should look at that program again.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by mikemorgan

I had the Demo version of Drumagog for a little while and decided I couldn't afford it then. Can you really use it's features in REALTIME like that?? Maybe I should look at that program again.

Yes you can.

[dastig]

You could also try, at the beginning of the session, getting the drummer to just hit each drum solidly 3-4 times, so you can record single shots.

That way you can go through and replace his shitty shots with good ones.

Now that you can't do it anymore, I would suggest, in my limited experience just supplementing the whole kick track with samples lol.

[trizzent]

drumagog all the way

[phosos]

Originally Posted by Cloneboy Studio

Sound Replacer with negative dynamics works wonders in those situations....

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I'll try pasting in some solid drum hits for the weak hits and compressing more.
also, is having more than 6 db of reduction normal for compression? I've always kept it around there or lower.

[Farview]

Originally Posted by phosos

I'm not sure what you mean by this, but I'll try pasting in some solid drum hits for the weak hits and compressing more.
also, is having more than 6 db of reduction normal for compression? I've always kept it around there or lower.

If you need more than 6 db, go ahead. You might be better off with a limiter (I would have to hear it to tell)

[reshp1]

Have you tried running it through 2 compressors: a 4:1 ratio on the first one like you are already doing and then a more aggressive 10:1 + ratio just to knock off the tops of the really bad peaks. Also, what's your attack set at? too slow and you miss the peak transients