Drum recording (very low budget)

[michigan~]

Hi-

I'm pretty much a newbie to drumming and recording and I need some serious help getting things to sound decent. All I have to record with right now is a tascam casette four track and two (not so good) mics.

mp3: http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?fid=1450

For this I used one mic as an overhead (about 2.5-3.5 feet above rack toms) and one by the bass drum aiming at the res head.

I know that I need better equipment but could you help me out with the basics ?

Thanks

[Tim Brown]

What kind of microphones are they?

Since you only have two, forget "stereo", and worry about getting a quality mono track.

First, make sure the drumkit is tuned REALLY WELL.


Mic #1 Overhead

Take a boom stand and put it so that the microphone is aimed at the top of the drummers head - and aiming down at the drummer's head. (Make sure that the mic won't fall out easily, because otherwise it might fall and knock your drummer's brains out. LOL I've been conked in the head a few times using this technique and it's not fun.

Mic #2 Kick

Take a chair or a box or something (I use a plastic folding sawhorse that costs $12 at Lowes) and put it in front of your kick drum, then drape a few blankets over the top of the chair/box/whatever you use and your kick drum.
Stick your bassdrum microphone under there - so it's kind of "under the tent" so to speak. What this does is it traps some of the sound under there with the microphone, and it helps isolate the kick drum mic from the rest of the drumkit. (You can also wire a stereo speaker up to a 1/4" guitar cable - and use that as a bassdrum mic as well! A speaker is just a dynamic mic in reverse.)


Set the faders at the middle of the optimum range.

Play the set and adjust the volume using the trim/gain knob of Mic #1 so that you are getting the maximum signal on tape without distortion.
Once you have this signal set, adjust the volume of Mic #2 using it's trim/gain knob.

Make some test recordings - you may even want to cut a little bit of the low end on the kick drum mic.

Once you get the levels you like, try moving the mic's around a little before you do any EQ'ing, because in this type of recording - drum tuning and microphone placement can amake all the difference in the world.



Tim

[michigan~]

thanks Tim

i guess i accidentally double posted this thread =\ my internet is really weird lately.

[systmovadown]

yes...tune the drums really well...and that will make the world's difference.

[michigan~]

based on the recording do you think i should tune em differently? =O

[treymonfauntre]

try placing the overhead lower so it gets more drums instead of your insanely loud crash cymbal. if you can reverse the phase of your bass drum you'll want to do that. you'll need the bass drum a lot louder for a rock mix. you also need to learn to play more consistantly and in time, but that has nothing to do with the mics.

[Escher]

Sounds like my first few recordings back when I was first starting out (thats not a bad thing!!)


Point 1)
First of all... Crank that snare! Its way too muddy, its doesn't cut through at all. Then tighten up your snares... its sounds like you have bb's in the drum instead of an actual snare mechanism. Is it a metal or wood? Get the top and bottom head about 1/2 tone apart with the top head tight enough so that you get a good stick response. I personally like to tune the snare higher than my top tom and occasionally use it as a tom with the snares turned off. Similar to the way Terry Bozzio has his drums tuned in "Melodic drumming and the ostinato".

Just to give you an idea of the snare sound... here is a track I worked up in garageband... The recording isn't the best, I'm also limited in the mic area. This uses two overhead and one in the kick. Its a little rough around the edges but gets the point across. ---> http://www.artistcollaboration.com/u...r/sixeight.mp3

Point 2)
You didn't ask directly, but i'll offer this bit of constructive criticism. Your foundation appears to be solid, you understand all the basics of keeping time... But your speed is very jumpy. Start practicing with a metronome for the first 10-15 mintues everyday. Just keep time and play simple fills. Don't worry about the hard and complex stuff, that will develop with time.

I realize you were probably just screwing around, but I thought I'd offer my input.

Lastly, its great that you record yourself. I record every practice session, and then look for areas I can improve and things I want to use later. Its a great way to gauge your progress.

Good work and keep it up!

[Red Dog Studios]

I've hurd about the speaker Mic trick. Sounds cool and i been meaning to try it out but i'm a lil bad on the wireing stuff. Can you tell me some of the basics to reversing the speaker Tim Brown?

[Escher]

Subkick

That is the actual "product" yamaha sells..

I have done the same thing using a 10" subwoofer in a standard (cheap) sub enclosure. The key is getting the speaker right in front of the sound hole in the front head. You will need an additional Mic on the front head to get the beater attack.. When I get a chance I'll post a mp3 of what it sounds like on my setup. You will get tons of real deep bass (30hz or so). Its very important to blend it with the front mic or it will just sound muddy.

[michigan~]

thanks Escher.

I cranked my snare yesterday before reading this thread again. It did make a world of difference.

[bcains]

I take it you are more after placement than purchasing new mics correct?
If you click on this link, than on your left will be "Drums and Percussion" if you follow that,
it'll have Mic placement, Tuning etc. Hope that helps in someway.

[Tim Brown]

Originally Posted by Red Dog Studios

I've hurd about the speaker Mic trick. Sounds cool and i been meaning to try it out but i'm a lil bad on the wireing stuff. Can you tell me some of the basics to reversing the speaker Tim Brown?

Well, the other way - it may be out of phase with your mic's, so you coul either reverse the wires, or turn the speaker around s0 it's facing into the bucket, and catch the sound inside the bucket from the other direction.



Tim

[Red Dog Studios]

O...ok. lol. thanks. Yeah i seen the product that Yamaha sells and it reminded me of that old trick. i think i got a few old 10's in storage, i might break them out and try this.

[SMX_Dizzy]

IMHO that really didn't sound too bad. I found you're drumming pretty basic, but the recording wasn't bad at all. What mics did you use? If it seriously was low budget, i'd sure as hell like to know!!!