Big loose bass drum.

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ClapHands

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Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has any tips for achieving a loose big bass drum sound? Any mic positions I can use to create this? I'm hoping for something to the bass drum sound on Calexico's recordings.
 
I would suggest tuning your kick to the desired sound first. For a big sound you will definitely want a mic placed maybe about a foot away from the reso head of the kick drum. For this I would use a LDC or Ribbon Mic but of course a Large Diaphragm Dynamic mic would always work. In my experience I have achieved that sound very nicely using a Ribbon Mic placed about a foot away from the reso head.
Matt
 
i'm not familiar with those recordings and don't quite have the time to check them out but the first step is to simply tune the bass drum to as close to that sound as you can get. is it being recorded with a whole kit?

edit: just snellular said the same thing...oops
 
I had a big fwompy sound by having a loose resonator head (the tension rods were too long, so I couldn't tune it tight).

If you use a ribbon, be sure to put it in a place where it's not getting ferocious blasts of air from the drum.
 
In my humble opinion I first ask are you using any kind of MUFFLER? (like a pillow or somthing of that nature) if so pull it back about in inch or so i would'nt mess with tuning keys to much you could wreck agood sound & stress out your head as well as reaction time from your pedal. Iagree with the rest of the boys... get the mike out aways from the head NOT to far though or you'll be picking up unwanted s#@% NEXT inform your sound tech of what you are trying to establish OR if doing it your self do what you should already know, BOOST THE BASS & REVERB,Take down the HI's a little & have someone else kick it while you listen at the board making adjustments dont forget every room is differnt it might take afew b4 you get desired results. THE DRUM DOCTOR HAS SPOKEN!...NEXT?
 
Tune the batter head (head that get's hit by the beater) just past the wrinkles, in other words, fairly loose. Then tune the Resonant head (other side) slightly higher than the batter head.

But I think in the old days some drummers just miced the bass drum with no resonant head and right up to the batter head.

But basically the closer the mic is to the batter the more attack and less boom you will get, if that is what you desire.
 
Here is a cool trick to make a 20 or 22" drum sound just like a 24" or larger. It will give you that famous John Bonham kick drum sound.

1) Create a duplicate track of the kick drum.
2) Turn down all of the highs and upper mid-range so it sounds muddy ugly.
3) Apply short reverb to this track. (experiment with different verbs and lengths)
4) Blend to taste with the first track.

The reverb will extend the low frequency rumble/resonance which is exactly what makes a larger drum sound larger. The original track will maintain the attack and life of the drum.
 
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