Bass Drum Tunnel....more info inside

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Seafroggys

Seafroggys

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Alright, so I want to build a bass drum tunnel. But not for the normal reasons. I'm not trying to extend the bass.

What I want to use is a condenser mic on the bass drum (an AT4047, for those wondering). I've recorded it before, it sounds really killer. But there is one problem. It captures way too much cymbal. I'm not talking about regular bleed. I'm talking the cymbals are half the signal, and the mic is freaking 3" in front of the drum front head. If I boost any highs on the bass mic, the cymbals instantly jump out on the full mix, and not in a good way.

I've used thick blankets before, but they honestly don't work that well, and aren't steady. And don't look sexy. Would building, say, a circular bass trap be the way to go? Or at least a 5 sided bass trap that sits on the ground like this:
.__
/...\
I....I (ignore the periods)

Would that provide sufficient mass to block out the cymbals? Or is it overkill? Remember, I'm not trying to treat the bass drum itself, I'm just trying to isolate as much of the cymbals as I can, given that this is probably the most optimal mic placement I can achieve. I'm not isolating the otherway, and the overheads tend to pick up the batter head anyway rather than the resonant head.
 
I build a tunnel using polyester sound deadener sheets and a couple of small boom mic stands, works well. If you don't have any deadener to use just use a polyester blanket from a bed. I also cover the top of the kick drum whit the blanket as well as this reduces the kick shell sound in the overheads.

Alan.
 
So really a proper 'bass trap' isn't necessary? Just blankets? And its fine that I get the bass drum in the overheads, in fact the least amount of change in that department the better. I just don't want tons of cymbal bleed in the LDC on the bass drum.

I'll experiment with blankets some more, but in the past they haven't worked that well.
 
Seafroggys said:
So really a proper 'bass trap' isn't necessary? Just blankets? And its fine that I get the bass drum in the overheads, in fact the least amount of change in that department the better. I just don't want tons of cymbal bleed in the LDC on the bass drum.

I'll experiment with blankets some more, but in the past they haven't worked that well.
Click to expand...

The tunnel does not need to be a bass trap, unless I am misunderstanding what you are trying to do. However the sound of the original room comes into it as well. Blankets are not the best it need to be thicker.

Alan.
 
I have used another 'headless' kick drum shell in front of the kick, as well as blankets to help control bleed. Worked quite well.
 
I say 'bass trap' but I mean something thick, since I know that more mass = less sound transfer. I have heard the headless bass drum trick, the local drum shop in town has orphaned gear that I could probably snatch for dirt cheap. Although I do own 3 drumsets, they're all in use so I don't want to strip one down just for recording purposes. Should try that.
 
Thats it, the blankets I use are thick sound absorbing polyester blankets. A kick shell should work well, I would use one if I had one.

Alan.
 
Seafroggys,

If you don't have another drum shell... I used to use a plywood box that I built from 1/4" ply & placed it in front of the kick. (U-87 inside - or other nice large diaphragm condenser) cover the whole assembly with quilts. I use 3 mics on the kick and blend.
you don't have to worry about padding on the inside. ;)

Cheers,
John
 
Plywood box covered with quilts? That actually sounds like the best option thus far.
 
Indeed. - Cheap, Easy, re-useable, and IT WORKS. :)

Cheers,
John
 
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