Best Preamp for drums

  • Thread starter Thread starter Horenulas
  • Start date Start date
H

Horenulas

New member
What do you guys use as preamps for drums. Most preamps that I've seen are only one channel. Wouldn't you need 7+ channels for recording drums? Let me know, thanks.
 
I use Mackie Onyx preamps when I need a bunch, particularly for drums.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2079&alid=1313 is a jam / rough mix that me and a buddy did recently. I used the Mackie Onyx on everything. It's just AT4041 stereo overhead, E/V ND468 snare and SM57 on kick.

The Presonus Firepod ain't bad either: http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2079&alid=1315 is just a test clip. Same as above with E/V ND468's on toms also and KSM32 on hi hat, but no processing at all...just threw up the faders.

War

EDIT: Oops, there is no hi hat mic!
 
Last edited:
Horenulas said:
What do you guys use as preamps for drums. Most preamps that I've seen are only one channel. Wouldn't you need 7+ channels for recording drums? Let me know, thanks.
Click to expand...


Take it for what it's worth, but it seems a lot of people like the api or api type preamps on drums....

Of course YMMV:)
 
API or Old School Audio if you want something really good.

Sytek if you want something high value and relatively inexpensive per channel.

A good budget mixer, as Warhead suggested, if you want bargain basement.
 
How about something that I can affored :-D. lol
But really.. is there anything cheaper out there?
 
Well I was told that when I record to my computer that the program i'd be using would act as a mixer. And running it through a physical mixer would lower the sound quality.
 
you can use the computer to mix the volumes of tracks, yes. people are suggesting mixers because they are the cheapest way to get a bunch of usable preamps.
 
Horenulas said:
Well I was told that when I record to my computer that the program i'd be using would act as a mixer. And running it through a physical mixer would lower the sound quality.
Click to expand...


Whomever told you that either didn't understand your question ... or he/she is an idiot.

I suppose if you run it through a totally crappy mixer, it might lower the sound quality ... but all you want to use it for is the mic pres. Mixers are basically a collection of mic pres with a bunch of other useful stuff. What you can do is use what's called the "inserts" of the mixer, and bypass all that extra hooplah and just use it for the mic preamps.

And it tends to be a very economical way of getting several channels of functional / usable preamps in to one package.
 
Chessrock beat me to it, so listen to him. He knows what he's talking about.
 
MadAudio said:
He knows what he's talking about.
Click to expand...


And I'm really diplomatic, sensitive and politically correct at the same time. :D

Once in a while.
 
Horenulas said:
How about something that I can affored :-D. lol
But really.. is there anything cheaper out there?
Click to expand...

Sorry man, you didn't specify a price range in your original post. That being said, many of the above suggestions by many people here are very good cheap alternatives. Besides the room acoustics,drummer,quality of drums,how well they are tuned,mic selection, and mic placement will all make a far, far, far greater impact on the quality of the recording than the mic pres.
 
krimson said:
Sorry man, you didn't specify a price range in your original post. That being said, many of the above suggestions by many people here are very good cheap alternatives. Besides the room acoustics,drummer,quality of drums,how well they are tuned,mic selection, and mic placement will all make a far, far, far greater impact on the quality of the recording than the mic pres.
Click to expand...
Good point, well said.
 
I use whatever pres are around at the time. At various times that has been API, Neve, Manley, Millennia, Great River, Trident, Sony/MCI, Phoenix Audio, Focusrite, Sebatron, SSL, D&R, DDA, Mackie, Behringer, Calrec, Harrison, Neotek, Sytek, Raindirk, Amek, Soundcraft, Telefunken, Yamaha, TL Audio, Soundcraft, Peavey, Avalon, Studio Projects, Tascam, Buzz, Ward Beck, Sound Workshop, DACS, Drawmer, Elberg, Grace, RCA, Quad Eight, Allen & Heath, Electrodyne, Speck, Groove Tubes, Joemeek, Euphonix, RNP, Rane, Hardy, Martech, Summit, Fearn, Presonus, True, Universal Audio, Tube Tech, DPA, TC Electronic, Vintech, A Designs, Crane Song and whatever else was lying around that we could use.
 
Dot said:
I use whatever pres are around at the time. At various times that has been API, Neve, Manley, Millennia, Great River, Trident, Sony/MCI, Phoenix Audio, Focusrite, Sebatron, SSL, D&R, DDA, Mackie, Behringer, Calrec, Harrison, Neotek, Sytek, Raindirk, Amek, Soundcraft, Telefunken, Yamaha, TL Audio, Soundcraft, Peavey, Avalon, Studio Projects, Tascam, Buzz, Ward Beck, Sound Workshop, DACS, Drawmer, Elberg, Grace, RCA, Quad Eight, Allen & Heath, Electrodyne, Speck, Groove Tubes, Joemeek, Euphonix, RNP, Rane, Hardy, Martech, Summit, Fearn, Presonus, True, Universal Audio, Tube Tech, DPA, TC Electronic, Vintech, A Designs, Crane Song and whatever else was lying around that we could use.
Click to expand...

You mean that's all the pre's you used, boy that doesn't seem like much. I think you need to use some more. :D
 
Drums don't matter. You can use anything. :eek:

I vote for a rack of APIs if we're talking high end.
 
Blue Bear Sound said:
API on snare and kick - for overheads I vary between API, the RNP, and the Sony console pres. Toms are either RNP or the console pres.
Click to expand...


I"m just curious, BB, do you just not prefer API on toms, or is it more of an issue with the pres being taken by other mics?

On a side note, anyone have thoughts on using a 1272 on toms or overheds?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top