Micing my snare

[stimbry]

Ok so using four mics I have decided on two overheads, kick drum and snare drums. But for my snare drum I really want the snare mic to pick up the higher end of the drum (not the punchyness). Sort of like how the snare used to sound on recordings from the 60's-70's. Not very punchy just more emphasis on the high end?

Is there a way I can mic the snare (placement) to emphasis these tones? The microphone I'm using for snare is just a standard sm57.

 

[Golden]

I know the sound yer after... I love that sound, myself... I recently picked up a copy of Soft Machine 7 (1974)... great drum sound...

I don't know what the signal path is for the old snare/drum sound, but it's gotta have something to do with the snare itself. You might want to start experimenting with snare skins.

I use a clear remo skin... and, well, I like the tones coming off it...

 

[mixsit]

Work your way down, from pointing into the head to 'at the rim, then with the mic at 90 degrees (parallel to the ground) down the side of the shell some. The tone shifts from the thick/bop thing to nice bright crack snare.

 

[Daisy]

Yea. Mic the bottom of the snare, flip the polarity, then gate it and mix it in with the top snare mic until you get a balance you like.

.

 

[craigmorris74]

Which recordings from the 60's-70's? I can get you close if you can be more specific. There's a big difference in a '65 Who cut and a '71 Al Green record.

 

[stimbry]

Which recordings from the 60's-70's? I can get you close if you can be more specific. There's a big difference in a '65 Who cut and a '71 Al Green record.

The zombies odessey and oracle / the kinks green preservation.
This is the kind of snare sound im talking about. Does that help?

 

[craigmorris74]

The zombies odessey and oracle / the kinks green preservation.
This is the kind of snare sound im talking about. Does that help?

Most definitely. My favorite period of pop.

What type of snare do you have? A huge factor in the sound of both of these groups was they used similar snares, in most photos of the era, Ludwigs, of the Supra-Phonic (5X14) type. These drums have a very distinct sound, and are featured on many of the great records of the era (Moon, while playing a Premier kit, a Supra-Phonic snare) If you able to get one, you'd be most of the way there. Microphones were most likely an overhead, and possibly an individual mic on the snare, and less likely, one on the bottom. If the sound isn't bright enough, blend in the mic on the bottom (as mentioned above, you might have to flip the phase.)

I think the drum itself is the biggest factor, though.

Craig