I'm ready to record somewhat seriously now...

[BBlack]

I've been recording my band for a little while now, but have mostly put together really rough recordings with crappy mics and really ghetto techniques. First, I used a mixer going into a laptop with Logic, usually recording all instruments at the same time. Then, I got a Yamaha MD4 (minidisc recorder) and used that for a while.

So far, we haven't really put any recordings together that are worth the ears of other people.

Here are the problems I've run into in the past:

1.) Tracks bleeding onto one another - particularly drums. What is the best way to keep all the track separate but still be able to record everything in one take?

2.) Not enough volume. This was mainly a problem when we used the mixer-into-laptop method of recording. The final recording was never loud enough compared to most mastered and completed high-quality CDs I'd listened to. With the 4 track, this wasn't really a problem...

I'm planning on getting some new mics. I only use a 3 piece drum kit, so I'd snare, kick and floor tom mics. I've been looking into those cheap drum mic kits - how are they? My second option was to get a couple 57s or 58s for the snare and floor tom, and then get a decent kick drum mic maybe. I already have two pretty cheap condenser mics that I'd use as overheads. I've been planning on running a cable from the line out of the guitar and bass effects right into the mixer/4-track (whichever I end up using...I'm leaning more toward the MD4 right now). But is this a good idea? Will the sound be really bad using that method? Or is it best to mic the amps? I'm really just worried about bleeding again if we were to mic the amps AND drums.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[modernmusician]

For the first problem, there are a few things you can try.

First, experiment with the orientation of your amps and drums -- this can actually make a big difference. If the bass cab (and consequently that cab's mic) is pointed toward the drums at all, you're going to have some track bleeding.

Second, try dampening the kick if you can without compromising the sound too much. Throw an extra pillow in there and see if it works.

Third, you could try adding a gate, though that's usually more of a last resort. Try to fix things in the room before you fix things on the mixer / computer.

For the second problem, it sounds like compressors could go a long way to fix that. Try experimenting with them. Also, what kinds of mics are you planning on using, and have you considering getting some preamps for them?

57's and 58's are perfect for snares and floor toms. For the kick drum, try a Beta 52 or an AKG D12.

And try to avoid connecting instruments directly to the mixer if at all possible. You will never get as good a sound that way as you would with mics on the amps. You might get a little track bleeding, but it's well worth it to have more natural-sounding recording.

Hope this helps! Let us know how it goes.

 

[BBlack]

I am planning on using 57s close miking the floor tom and snare, and two cheapo Samson condensers as overheads. 57s on the bass and guitar amps as well, as long as I can afford them. AND a 57 for vocals. As for the kick, I don't know if I'll be able to afford a Beta 52 or the like. My affording 4 extra 57s (I already have one).

I'll have to get some really cheap.


Anyway, thank you very much for the help. I'll check out some compressors. I've never really understood what those were. I'll have to do some research.

 

[G-Jay]

I am planning on using 57s close miking the floor tom and snare, and two cheapo Samson condensers as overheads. 57s on the bass and guitar amps as well, as long as I can afford them. AND a 57 for vocals. As for the kick, I don't know if I'll be able to afford a Beta 52 or the like. My affording 4 extra 57s (I already have one).

I'll have to get some really cheap.


Anyway, thank you very much for the help. I'll check out some compressors. I've never really understood what those were. I'll have to do some research.

If I were you, I would do the following:

Drums.

look up The 'recorderman' and 'Glynn Johns' drum miking techniques. These are 3 or 4 mic techniques which are tried and trusted and truly work.

Invest in:
1 x 57 for the snare,
1 x beta 52/akg D112 for the kick (arguably the kick mic is the most important close mic depending on your style of music)

That way you have good, versatile mics which will last you for a long time. You can add more mics to your collection later and then start micing the tom(s).

I would strongly urge you not to go in the cheap drum mic set direction.

Bass

I would record it direct.

Bass bleeds in EVERYTHING no matter where the cab is. Without serious isolation it could ruin your drum tracks. Going direct solves this problem (assuming you have headphones for monitoring....)

After the tracking session I would use an amp sim plugin such as IK Ampeg SVX or reamp it with the existing bass amp - miking it with the beta 52 or AKG D112.

Guitar

57 works great almost all the time and a guitar cab pointed away from the drums doesn't bleed much.

Vocals

Use a dynamic for a scratch track but usually the instrument bleed will SEVERELY limit your processing options when it comes to mixing. I would overdub the vocals using one of the LDCs that was used as a drum overhead.

Recording and Processing


What are you recording onto? I'm assuming that this will be a digital multitrack recording which you will mix later. If that is the case...

Since you are quite new to this I wouldn't spend any money on outboard compressors. Record clean and process later with plugins. In my opinion most plugins are way better than most budget hardware AND if you screw up any of the settings during the recording you can't undo it. There is no technical advantage to compressing on the way in on modern systems.

Of course if you are mixing it live and only recording a stereo file then it's a whole different ballgame.

Volume

Don't worry about volume. As long as you are getting a signal into your recording device at about -18 to -12 db (full scale) then you will have no problems.

You can increase the volume of your final mix by applying compression and limiting.


I hope this helps. Good luck.