How many mics?

[TrippleC723]

I'm recording drums in my basement, but it's USB, and I'm going through my PA, to the Tascam, to the computer. I have 6 lines and 6 top of the line recording mics. Since it's USB, when you record the track, you can't mess with each individual mic afterwards, the track is done and you have one whole track of drums as opposed to 6. Should I use all 6 of my mics, or do you think it will be cluttered???

PS- I have two kickballs on both bass drums, one shure 57 for the snare and hihat, one shur 57 for the two mounted toms, another 57 for the two floor toms and an overhead condensor above the kit....

[fritzmusic]

Details?

Never heard of a USB basement.... dude you totally lost me in that sentence...

Tascam (put model here)?

Why is a PA in the recording chain?

What mixers (make and models) do you have to work with?

[RAMI]

Yeah, I think he even realised his question made no sense. He never came back to answer you. USB basements, PA systems...I'm lost too.

[HighUnderground]

He's using his powered mixer that he uses with his band, thats why there is PA in the recording chain, but I am still kinda lost on the USB basment...


anyway, to somewhat answer the question... Yes you can use all your mics when tracking drums in the method you have described, the key is just to get a good mix of the drums before you record. I know that sounds like an obvious answer but how you actually acheive that sound can be tricky. Everybody likes different sounds, but I have recorded the way you are talking about and I always tried different measures to get the drums more seperated. A little panning goes a long way with this. If you are working with a GOOD drummer, there are some other tricks as well. For instance, have the drummer play only the kit on one take of the song, then have him go back on another track and add the cymbals. It can be tricky, but it sounds cool when done properly.

[Melagan]

Maybe he means that the interface between his multitrack to his computer is USB as opposed to firewire therefore can not actually do multitrack recording? I'm pretty new to digital recording so this is only a rough guess

[VSProductions]

Originally Posted by Melagan

Maybe he means that the interface between his multitrack to his computer is USB as opposed to firewire therefore can not actually do multitrack recording? I'm pretty new to digital recording so this is only a rough guess

yeah, i second this, as it is the most logical answer. poor kid, you guys intimidated him... eh, too bad.