Most drummers prefer to keep the top head tuned somewhat loose (to capture more attack and less tone/resonance) and keep the bottom heads tighter to achieve the tone and resonance.
Often, drummers will use some type of treatment on the top head (ie: muffling) to enhance the attack and further reduce any resonance from the top head. I prefer a product called Moon Gel - but folded tissue paper secured to the head with masking tape is a good option.
Much depends on how much you depend on the overheads and/or room mics, vs. close mic'ing the heads. The ideal sound sshould come from the overheads with close mics used to simply dial in a little more of a given drum if needed. If the room has too many reflections - then room treatment may be more important than treating the drums.
Keep in mind, some resonance is not a bad thing - drums are an acoustic instrument, so moving air and room reverberation is an important part of the sound. Often, drums by themselves may sound too "wet" but when heard in a mix, the resonance/reverberation is not as noticed and in fact may add to the "fatness" of the drum sound.
Everything sounds so much different micced up. Even to a live audience. A drum that sounds 'just right' to you may sound dead as a log to a listener.
oh, and you should really learn to tune them. that will be the best way to get a good sound from the get-go.
tune the batter and resonant to the same pitch. that'll be your reference point.
go from there.
I do not know of any experianced drummer who try to tune both heads to the same tone.
I do not know of any experianced drummer who try to tune both heads to the same tone.
Oh for sure. But they're not mine and Im not a drummer...the cymbals are shocking too! Should be able to post clips of the toms next week for reference maybe?
gotcha.
clips would definitely help, especially if you post both drum tracks alone and then mixed with the other elements.
as for the cymbals, well...not much you can do with cymbals. bad drums can be made to sound reasonably good, but bad cymbals sound bad, period.
^^^^^yep, sorry telepaul, i forgot to post this link. i usually post it about once a week.
tuning aside, do you have a small blanket inside the kick? having one in there that just makes contact with both heads is helpful. also, removing the batter head will simplify tuning, make it punchier, and many people even prefer to record that way. i leave mine on, but that's because my drumset looks so badass i can't stand to have it "unfinished" looking. oh the vanity!
I do not know of any experianced drummer who try to tune both heads to the same tone.
Yeah i have a duvet inside the kick, does that stay in for recording? I think for micing I'll take off the batter head and mic close to the...uh...other skin!