4 piece band live, gobos for drums?

[C_flat]

Hi,

I've started recording our 4-piece band live in the basement, using a Yamaha AW16G to record 8 tracks simultaneously. We're set up like this:

My biggest problem is picking up too much of the guitar amps in the drums overheads. I can move the conga/trumpet player to get him pointed away from the drummer, but think I'll need gobos to reduce all the guitar that the drum overheads pick up.

I'm thinking about putting a 4'x8' gobo on each side of the drumkit, any maybe adding something in addition to the long brown carpet shown on the back wall.

Do you think that will help? Any recommendations on gobo type, materials, etc?

Thanks,

Cb

 

[C_flat]

Hmmm. 48 views and 0 replies.

Let me try to clarify me questions a bit:

1) Do you think a pair of 4 ft x 8 ft gobos, one on each side of the drumkit, angled slightly open, would appreciably reduce the amount of bleed I'm getting in the drum overheads from the guitar amps?

2) If so, how should I build them? I can make 4x8 frames, but what material(s) should I fuill them with? I see the Corning 703 panels mentioned frequently...perhaps 3 inch, with backing?

Cb

 

[AlexW]

I'm sort of in your same boat, but don't have a magic bullet to recommend. I've been doing some live recordings recently in a similar setup to yours (minus the horns/congas). I've had some success in getting pretty decent separation shielding close mics on the guitar cabinets with 2'x4' 3-in OC-703 panels wrapped in burlap. I've also relocated the drum overheads to slightly behind the kit, with the guitar amps projecting more out into the room. But in a small room like mine (modified 20x20) the overheads are going to pick up a good amount of room sound regardless.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hey B If your name has any indication of your recording knowlege, I'd do some reading. However, I assume its probably just humor. In that case, this is what "I" would build.
Have you ever heard of MDF? Personally, if given the choices of instrument placement with NO alternative, I would block off the amps with MASS intensive gobos. In this case, (3)2'x6' (or higher) frames(per amp) fabricated from either 1x4 or 2x4 material, with 3/4" MDF panels fastened to one face of the frames. Then use HEAVY DUTY double direction hinges as used on partition screens, to make up a 3 way folding panel to enclose the amps into a corner or whereever. You can then lay 3" 703 in the frames, and stretch fabric over the open face of them and staple around the frame perimeter. You can mount these on wheels, or glides, or any number of ways to finish, mobilize, and configure them. In this case, these become broadband absorbers on one face, and reflection panels on the other. Actually, you can also add slats to make some into portable slat absorbers also. You can even rest another 3/4" MDF panel across the top to help enclose the amps when the panels are poised as angled panels. You could even hinge one of these to the wall as a stablizer. Many things you can do with gobos. You could also use TWO sets of these around the drums with the 703 facing them. You could also build these with plexiglass or glass frames ABOVE the absorption units in the bottom.
fitZ

 

[AlexW]

I guess a more basic question, are you just trying to record your rehersals or actually trying to create a recording for your band? If you're doing the latter, you may want to try tracking the drums separately with a single guitarist playing a scratch track at reduced volume (mic'd) with monitoring through headphones. You can then go back and overdub the rest of the instruments separately.

Heavy duty gobos like Rick is talking about might tend to affect the live sound in your room if you're trying to rehearse at the same time.