recording drums

[MASTON]

Hi guys,

errrr... got a drummer coming round next week with his kit to do some recording. cept I've never recorded a drum kit before.

I've got an AKG C-1000, and an OCTAVA MK-219, - that's it.

wot do I do??

(dual ART MP pre-amp, Cakewalk 9)

cheers
Maston

oh yeah, I think he plays african percussion too so how do I record those.

[MartyMcFly]

You'd better get yerself a shovel...You're in deep $h1t.

[Gidge]

i would do 1 overhead and 1 in front of the kick drum.....balance out the overhead to get a good balance of cymbals and snare and use the one out front to get the kick sounding decent......

[littledog]

Gidge has got about as good a plan as any. But unfortunately McFly kind of hit it on the head. The problem is that not only do you only have two mics, but they are both pretty crappy.

You may have to get creative - anyone owe you any favors? Anyway you could barter some valuable service or item for the use of some additional mics?

As far as percussion goes - the key to mic'ing small hand percussion with lots of hi transients (like triangle, shakers, guiro, etc. ) is NOT to get too close with the mic. I'd say stay a minimum of 2.5 feet away. That way you avoid hearing all the weird artifacts that are only picked up at close range and not what we usually think of as part of the sound.

Tip for congas and other hand drums - record the drums on a hard reflective surface, not a carpeted floor. A lot of the character of the drum comes out the bottom, and you don't want that absorbed away. If you have only a carpeted space, try putting a large piece of plywood on the floor. With bongos, you may even want to try mic'ing the top and the bottom.

[Downside Studio]

Does the drummer know, or did you convince him to come with a lot of made up crap. That way you would be in real trouble.

Gidge pointed out indeed the only way this could be done hoping to get a decent result.

Why are you recording the drums, is it going to be added later with other instruments, or does the drummer just want a recording of himself.

[Downside Studio]

Mayby you should get a pair of siccors and cut out all the mics from a music store catalogue. Put them on boomstands and dim the lights real low. If you have a picture of a SM57 you could photocopy it 6 times and put one in front of each tom, and top/bottom snare. Now just hope the drummers doesn't sneeze.

Don't attach any cables to the paper mics. The cable is too heavy and will tear the paper. Just put in toothpics on the back and say they are all wireless.

[Downside Studio]

Hey, Since you are being artistic now, try to get a poster of a real big recording console, cut it out and glu it onto a table. Voila, instand SSL.

This is commonly known that a lot of guys have paper girlfriends. I guess this is sort of the same.

[Vurt]

Do exactly what Gidge said, using the AKG as the overhead and the Octava out in front of the kit. You'll be able to get a decent sound and should be fine as long as this guy isn't expected the world on a platter.

If he's expecting more and you've got a few bucks, go out and pick up at least one SM57 mic, and maybe even a pair of ECM8000 mics. Total less than $200 and you'll have enough to capture a respectable sound using the 8000's as overheads, the 57 on the snare, and AKG on toms. Kick might be weak, but you should be able to get it with the Octava out in front of the kit.

Let us know what happens...I'm interested!

[Blue Bear Sound]

You may get some ideas from an old, old post of mine..........

9 drum tracks in 2 days

[Gidge]

and what all of us have failed to mentioned (though we all know) is that the key to getting a good drum sound is starting out with a good kit, tuned correctly, with a good drummer with good technique......

[MASTON]

Man,

u guys are too cruel sometimes,

All I've got is those 2 mics, that's it, and the guy who's coming round knows it and he knows I haven't recorded drums before and doesn't give a shit...we just wanna get on with it and see what we can get...

yeah maybe later down the line when i get some cash i can go out and buy a proper mic, but this is homerecording right, not prorecording..you use what you've got..

right?
or wrong?

I don't mind it when people give good suggestions first and then say 'if you can go out and get a xxx whatever', but just to say basically 'you're screwed' just isn't helping. No sorry, doesn't work for me

if I'd ve wanted to use some other mics my question would've been' What's the best mic for recording drums?'

thanks to those whose advice I can use, basically AKG overhead, and the Octava out front, just what I wanted to know.

I've also got a crappy cheap ($30) dynamic-can that be put to any use???

cheers
Maston

[Gidge]

if you only have 2 channels of preamp, stay with the 2...if you have more channels, try the dynamic on the snare and then you wont have to rely as much on the overhead to get your snare sound, though you should get most of it there....or if you use toms alot you can put it on them....check your overhead sound and see where you are lacking and put it there.....