4-mic drum setup

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bitsandvolts

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Hey folks,

I'm currently mulling over a soundcard purchase....and the one thing preventing me from getting a 4-input card (which is the one I really want to get) is tracking drums.

I've read alot about the 4-mic method...2 overheads, kick mic and snare mic...but I've never tried nor heard an example of it.

Can good results be had from micing this way....and does anyone have any sound clips or songs recorded using this method?

It would go a long way to helping me plan things out.

Thanks,
Frank
 
It can very well work, it depends on the mics and how much knowledge you have about miking. Just run a search on the forums. This is a very common question!
 
jaykeMURD said:
It can very well work, it depends on the mics and how much knowledge you have about miking. Just run a search on the forums. This is a very common question!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm running the search again...I tried before, but didn't seem to turn up what I was looking for.


As far as knowledge about miking....this could be a problem! :eek:
 
Nice find Scrubs...I've used that one and it works just fine.

I've also used the one I've heard called "The Recordermans Technique" (enter dramatic music) :D

Snare mic...
An inch above and angled towards the center of the snare. This is just 1 position. I've heard some great snare from several different positions. Maybe 1 on top and 1 on bottom. Maybe side. Putz around with placement, you'll find the sweet spot.

Kick mic...
also variable on where but I'll put mine inside, anywhere from an inch or two from beater, angled toward beater to just outside the reso head. Also depends on your beater (plastic?), the heads, and TUNING...

Left OH...
the length of two drumsticks (end to end) pointing straight down at the center of my snare.

Right OH...
the length of two drumsticks (also end to end) from center of snare to just over the drummers right shoulder, also pointing to center of snare.

You'll have to spend some time on the OH's to find the blend of the two. I'll take a guitar cord, hold one end to a point (where the beater strikes the skin) and measure up to the left OH, and then dial in the right OH to about the same distance from the same place on the skin.

It sounds a little weird but I've had good luck with it. Another major factor in how your drums will turn out is the room. There are volumes on this subject and they're all done by people with alot more savvy than me. :)

Have patience, Frank. You'll get em.

Hope it helps man..............
 
Scrubs, that's a *great* site...thanks for the link. I would have never known that it's apropriate to have the OH's so close together to eliminate the possibility of phase issues....and if I came across such issues without knowing that, I would have never thought to use such a mic placement.

Great clips Wil...it's good to hear this method in action...

-Frank
 
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