Need some help with recording drums...

  • Thread starter Thread starter lttoler
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lttoler

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I'm trying to put together a demo for my cover band. We have a very minimalist setup and are using 2 Audix F15 condensers as overheads. We have tried several different arrangements, but it seems like the kit has a far away sound to it.

Do you have any suggestions as to how to fix this problem? Perhaps EQ? I am open to ideas.

Thanks in advance!
 
Are you setting the gain correctly?
Move the mics a little closer to the kit.



Edit
Just listened, it honestly doesn't sound all that bad for just two over heads. The snare has a nice crack to it, the high hat has a nice sizzle to it. Only thing that is slightly lacking is the bass drum. Maybe try moving the mics a little out in front of the kit. Is the front head on the bass drum?

You can try some slight eq boost in the lows and low mids to try to thicken the bass up a little more. Maybe try a little compression as well.
 
Yup...move ther mics closer (how high are they and how are they pointed?)...then adjust for stereo image.

Your snare is doing some weird thing off to the left side of the image...you might want to center the mics a bit more relative to the snare/kick.
 
I actually have the mics on both sides of the kit pretty close, about a foot above kit and angled toward the middle. I have the gain the highest it will go without peaking out the snare... is there any way I can put some kind of Comp before the signal to tame the snare so that I can raise the overall gain?

Also, is there any EQ ideas for the cymbals and high end? It seems to have a nasally sound to me...
 
Ah...so you have the mics on each side pointing at the kit.
That's why the Snare is coming off from the Left.
Try having the mics over the kit pointing down...in an XY stereo configuration.


 
even though that was completely serious ^^^ and great info, I laughed. :p
 
lttoler said:
I have the gain the highest it will go without peaking out the snare... is there any way I can put some kind of Comp before the signal to tame the snare so that I can raise the overall gain?
Click to expand...

Why do you want to do this? You don't need to be anywhere near peaking. I'm assuming your recording digitally, not into a tape deck. If so, then you shouldn't be aiming for "as close to clipping without clipping". Try turning everything down so that your peaks are well below 0db. Like -6 or even -12.

I know this has little to do with the actual drum sound, but it will help you get a better mix with lots of headroom.
 
RAMI said:
Why do you want to do this? You don't need to be anywhere near peaking. I'm assuming your recording digitally, not into a tape deck. If so, then you shouldn't be aiming for "as close to clipping without clipping". Try turning everything down so that your peaks are well below 0db. Like -6 or even -12.

I know this has little to do with the actual drum sound, but it will help you get a better mix with lots of headroom.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this! I have been trying to get as close as possible to peaking because of advice from another forum! I'll re-try that tomorrow plus a little different placement
 
If you're just using two mics, I wouldn't bother recording in stereo. Just put one overhead in the middle and one in front of the kit.
 
. . . or alternatively, one overhead and the other inside the kick.
 
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