Boxy Snare

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mentil69

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I am completely satisfied with every aspect of my recorded live drums except for my snare. I have a feeling it is my snare, it is a yamaha yd snare that came with the set. I cant seem to get a fulls sound. Also it is very inconsistent. I use a ksm 27 to record it and sometimes it will be louder and softer and its not the drummer.
 
mentil69 said:
Also it is very inconsistent. I use a ksm 27 to record it and sometimes it will be louder and softer and its not the drummer.
Click to expand...

Assuming that your equipment is fully functional, this is impossible. Of course it's the drummer's problem. He's the one beating it, right? I guarantee you it's the drummer that is inconsistent. That is the only way a drum sounds inconsistent. You hit it inconsistent, it will sound inconsistent.
 
I Agree

Being a drummer myself, I am very critical of my drum sounds. The only way there will be that type of variance will most likely be drummer technique or equipment failure.
(unless your drum is so incredibly nasty it hurts)
But I feel your pain I have one of my smaller snares that sounds boxy, so I bought a 13" mapex maple snare that sounds great.

If you are working with a DAW you have a couple of options.
1) spending $250-$500 on a snare that sounds great
2) buy Drumagog drum replacement software for about $100
and use it after your tracks are recorded to replace the boxy snare with a better sample. (it will also let you replace varied hits with solid one volume hits)
 
I have to concur, it sounds like a combination of the drum and the drummer.
 
have you tried new heads?

how about mic placement?

both of these factors can have a huge impact on the recorded sound...maybe try some lighter heads? single ply heads can really 'open' up the sound of a snare

getting proper mic placement can also really affect the snare sound...(particularly if you're close mic'ing)
 
mentil69 said:
ya im saving up for an orange county snare
Click to expand...

I would say, don't waste your money. A friend has 2 of them, and he's one of the most in demand locally studio players...and he said he has been asked to NOT bring those snares for recording on serveral recording dates!

I would suggest a 5"x14" (or 5.5" depth) for recording purposes, and really learn how to tune the snare.

Personally I like the resonant/snare side head to be a bit tighter than the batter head.....and also, play around with your snare adjustement, because many times, people just have it cranked WAY too tight.
I used to crank my snares down fairly tight, but after having a home studio for awhile, I found tht I needed to let the snares be fairly slack for my taste. JMHO




Tim
 
thanx, any suggestion on brands. im looking for something that sounds like chad sextons from 311 snare, because he is in my opinion the best snare drummer around. But any suggestion are welcome.
 
mentil69 said:
ya im saving up for an orange county snare
Click to expand...

Depends on what kind of music you like. If you play fast music, this might be the snare for you. If you like A LOT of attack on the snare this is the snare for you. I bought an OCDP 20 ply 6 x 14 vented snare and I sold my other snares because it just did not compare to them. The ocdp is by far the loudest snare you will hear. It made my other snares sound like toys. I also have a 40 strand (I think) wires on the resonant side which helps project volume as well.

download "scratch" to get a feel for the ocdp snare here:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1876&alid=-1
 
ya this a real good cover good job, you did this right? Just curious what mics and preamps did u use, if its not too much to ask?
 
yeah, it's an allister cover. I used only one mic on the snare. It's an audix D1. It's kinda like a 57 only has a more modern tone to it in my opinion. I used the waves Rverb on the snare too. I also used the waves c1 on it and some eq to bring out the attack. All preamps on that tune are mackie.

Other mics on the tune:
overheads: at4033 and akgc1000s
hats: akg c1000s
toms: shure 57 (the toms sound like poo)
guitars: one mic...Audix D3
kick: audix d4
vox: at4033
bass: countryman DI to digi001 preamp

all waves plugins were used on this. Protools LE.
 
cool what about guitar gear. and what type of drum set do you have?
 
Drums:
-you already know the snare
-18x22 kick 10ply maple
-8x12 tom 8 ply maple
-14x16 tom 8 ply maple

the toms are floating via tama starcast hoops.

-A custom projection hats
-A sweet ride 21"
-18" Z custom med crash
-19" Z custom med crash
-18" A custom china

I made the kick, and 2 toms. Ordered an ocdp drumhead w/ the 3 holes and crap. Sounds decent. I have a tung oil finish on them for now...i have yet to wrap them.

guitar gear:
My philosophy is to use the shittiest shit to get the best sound.

It's a fender strat with a humbucker going through a Zoom 1010 processor to an 80's 2 x 12 Peavey combo amp.
 
way to go on the guitar man, good philosophy, love to hear more ofyour stuff
 
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