Creating a "Recording" Drum Kit

[Bigsnake00]

I want to put together a small drum kit for recording. I only need a bass, snare, and two toms (floor, and say a 12"). I have looked at the Yamaha Manu Katche Hip Gig kit, but its pretty expensive. I wouldn't mind mixing and matching different brands if it would be cheaper. Anyway, does anyone have any input on drums that will sound the best for recording purposes.
Thanks

 

[firby]

Smaller drums are easier to record. If you aren't doing metal just use a 20' bass drum. A thin shelled drum is more adaptable to more types of music than a thick shelled drum. Thin shelled drums are gretches, premiers, and DWs. Good old drumsets that record well are old gretches, slingerlands, premieres and Yamahas. Typically made out of maple which sounds "warmer" than birch. Get good enough cymbals for the drumset Zildgian A's or above for starters or medium line sabians or Paistes. Have different sticks on hands for recording. Some drum recordings may favor the sizzle you can get out of nylon tipped sticks.

Pin Striped heads sound great for about two weeks and then they start to bite. I would suggest coated heads or Aquarians which sound good for a much longer time.

Personally I use an old gretch kit for recording.

The biggest thing is just to get them sounding right in the room, ie tuning them.

 

[Bdrum]

I have had problems getting the ring over the shell on my
drums using Aquarians because it's not beveled like the Remo rings.

 

[tmix]

If you can still find them,
The Mapex Voyager kits (18" kick / 12 snare / 8-10-12 floor) is a nice recording kit they go for about $400. I use one all the time for the majority of my drumming. (Jazz / Funk / Country) They are a Maple / Basswood blend that tunes pretty low.
I have recently ditched the 8" for a 12" hang , but I keep the 8" for when I need a really hi pitched tom.

Tom (t-mix)

 

[Bigsnake00]

Thanks for the tip on the voyagers. They look very cool, I will keep my eyes open.

 

[Bigsnake00]

Tmix-
Do you have any samples of the kit recorded?

 

[tmix]

Yes , I have many tracks.
Do you want some by themselves or in the mix?

Let me know. I'll put them up on my NoWhere Radio site.

Tom

 

[jdalziel]

Pearl Masters Studio(BRX). I have these and they are a great drum, and not too expensive for a pro drum. They are also "naturally EQed"! About the same level of quality as DWs for a lot less. May also want to check out the new Pearl Referance drums, I hear they are awesome, although I havent heard them yet. It may not be what youre looking for, but its still worth a look. Later...

 

[Bigsnake00]

tmix-
if you could post them by themselves that would be great! Also, could you include the mics used, and placement if you remeber? Thanks for you help.

Oh, do you reccomend the RNC?

 

[tmix]

Bigsnake00,

I'll post some drum only tracks. They may be a bit boring, I have not recorded much lately that has a lot of tom fills. Most stuff has been pretty straight, but hopefully it will be enough to get the idea.

99 percent of the time I just use 2 mics - 4 mics.
When I use 2, it is a beta 52 on kick (or C1000 ) just inside the front head through a smallish 5 inch mike hole and a SM57 on snare, right at the rim pointed slightly downward toward the middle of the strike zone, butt side up under my hi-hat. When I use the toms a lot, I'll add 2 Kel hm-1s (sound like Oktava MC012s maybe a little darker) one in front of my kit about 12 inches from center of my hi tom and 14 inches from center of my mid tom just high enough to peek over the head toward the strike zone, then I put the second one about 12 inches from center (in front) of my floor tom and 14 inches from center of my mid tom. This set up still picks up PLENTY of cymbals, but also puts my toms in a stereo spread while keeping the kick and snare still in the middle.

Works for me anyway. I've found the less mics needed.... the better the sound.

I'll get back with a link as soon as I post them.

Tom

 

[patlang12]

Pearl Masters Studio(BRX). I have these and they are a great drum, and not too expensive for a pro drum. They are also "naturally EQed"! About the same level of quality as DWs for a lot less. May also want to check out the new Pearl Referance drums, I hear they are awesome, although I havent heard them yet. It may not be what youre looking for, but its still worth a look. Later...

Do they make these where you can just buy single shells. I know someone who only wants to buy a bass drum, one rack tom, and one floor tom? If not any othere suggestions.

 

[tmix]

Ok!
Go here (hear):

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1955&alid=-1

the bottom most tunes Great Expectations and Funk Blues.

Thet are the only ones I had near by. They may not be good enough, if not, I'll download more the next time I am in the studio (I am at work now).

I do like my RNC a lot , I have a few of them. To get a peek at my equipment list, check out my site.

www.tmixstudio.com

Let me know what you think.

Tom

 

[jdalziel]

Do they make these where you can just buy single shells. I know someone who only wants to buy a bass drum, one rack tom, and one floor tom? If not any othere suggestions.

yes you can buy single shells. massmusic.net is a great place to get a good price. if you buy the shells one at a time that would be the most expensive. if you buy a kit of shells u want, you would get a dicount. and if you buy a stock shell pack you get the best price. for example, i wanted a 22x18, 12x9, 16x16 and i was quoted 1300 discounted. the pearl shell pack with those drums was 1300 plus a 13x10 for nothing. so i got that.

the pearl referance drums are unreal. each size of drum is made to perform at its, in theory, optimal level. each drum has its own wood ply combination, bearing edges. "the most accoustically advanced" drum kit ever. i believe they go for about 2200 for a 4pc shell pack(2toms, floor, bass). so if you build a 3 piece, it should be about 2200 after a discount. im looking to get a set of these soon, if not a snare. take a look at these. or masterworks, but thats a lot more.

 

[makes]

drum kit

Youd be surprised at what has been recorded through the years, card board boxes and drums cases have been used for kick drums. A little eq and you have a pretty good sounding kick!

My point: buy a mismatched kit if you need to from ebay or pawn shops, just look for drums that have been somewhat cared for ie: shells are not out of round. who cares what they look like. Size of drums are your preference.
If you can find one get a Ludwig supra phonic chrome snare 5 or 6", the 5" will be easier to find and less expensive, they sound awesome. Also they are the most recorded snare drum in history. everybody used those, Steve Gadd, John Bonham etc. etc..... Put a remo coated ambassador on top and a remo clear snare head on bottom. No need for muffling unless your going for super funk sounds.

Im a drummer of almost 30 years, been in major label rock bands, country acts and recorded hundred of demos over the years. I have 20 plus snare drums, 4 full kits, all unique,some vintage some new. Find yourself some nice old drums and have fun!!

Good Luck!
Makes