Critique my drum kit recording...

[JonathanRay]

Please critique my drum kit recording.

Overheads: Two SM57s
Snare: SM57
Kick: AKG D112

Thanks!

 

[systmovadown]

i think theres too much reverb.
the bass is cool


the snare is...very...uhh..pingy.
i dont know if you were intentionally doing that.

toms came out great though.
the cymbals are a little harsh (especially the ride)

pretty good stuff

 

[Track Rat]

I'd have to hear them in the context of a song.

 

[chrisjorge]

My suggestions:

Lower the tuning of the kick. It has a defined note instead of a good thump. It also has way to much resonance.

The toms and cymbals are a little too compressed, lowest tom one could be a little lower pitched.

There you go!

- CJ

www.VideoDrumLessons.com

 

[RAMI]

I'd have to hear them in the context of a song.

There's your answer right there. Then, and only then, will you figure what to eq, what to gate, what to compress, what to turn up or down, etc...

 

[mjm620]

There's your answer right there. Then, and only then, will you figure what to eq, what to gate, what to compress, what to turn up or down, etc...

hey rami Ivory Tower sounds amazing

 

[DuoToneBand]

cymbals sound pretty bad

tune the snare a lil tighter
you may want to loosen the kick a little

loose the verb, its WAY other the top

None of the toms sound in tune

Let me guess, B8 or ZBT cymbals?

 

[Dr ZEE]

cymbals sound pretty bad

meaning?
too loud? too quiet? too bright? too dull? too thin? too phat? not good to your taste?

tune the snare a lil tighter?

what for?

you may want to loosen the kick a little?

what for?

loose the verb, its WAY other the top

How do one loose the verb?
Do you mean reverb effect? How do you know if JR did 'apply reverb'? Could it be 'natural room environment'... where ever he recorded his drum kit.

None of the toms sound in tune

In tune with what?

Let me guess, B8 or ZBT cymbals?

Let me guess, you've guessed from 'price list'. Cos' B8s and ZBTs can only be confused by price-tag , but not by their sound... especially if your ear is SO good for guessing...

********

I'd have to hear them in the context of a song.

Me too

Then, and only then, will you figure what to eq, what to gate, what to compress, what to turn up or down, etc.

Precisely! Tuning included ...

/respects

 

[PhilGood]

I think you're on the right track. I don't mind the reverb, but most drummers today don't like any. That's just a fad too. I think a l'il reverb smooth things out.

The cymbals are definately bright. That could be the type of mics and positioning. You should list the equipment used to record the track and mic placement & mic types.

Are you muffling the snare? That might explain why the levels are lower and it doesn't really cut through. Maybe if you positioned the mics more over the kit and away from the cymbals, the balance would be better.

Its presentable. I think with a few little tweeks it will sound pretty damn good.

 

[Dr ZEE]

The cymbals are definately bright. That could be the type of mics and positioning. You should list the equipment used to record the track and mic placement & mic types..

apparently, he got pair of sm57 hanging over... God knows where and how exactly Too bright cymbals using sm57s - not too bad

Are you muffling the snare? That might explain why the levels are lower and it doesn't really cut through.

Just trying to follow here. When you say: "...does not cut through...", do you mean?:
a. does not cut through kick and too-bright cymbals
b. does not cut through imaginary other instruments in imaginary band recording. (meaning, your experience tells you, that this 'kind of recorded snare drum' unlikely will cut through any instruments/band mix.)
c. does not cut through the air in the smoked room (...)
d. does not cut through , period. (meaning, "does not cut through" is just the term being used to characterize the snare sound you hear.)

The other question would be: "Does the snare drum HAVE TO cut through (must cut or ELSE!!!!)?" (Is cutting through snare drum the only pleasantly sounding snare drum in the mix for every (any) song/composition/situation? Can be cutting through snare drum inappropriate, unpleasant, destructive, anoying? Don't great drummers in great bands take it easy or even shut up from time to time? )

Maybe if you positioned the mics more over the kit and away from the cymbals, the balance would be better...

I'd say placing/changing position of sm57s around the kit is the main (if not the only ) way in his situation to find the 'sweetest spots' to get as close as possible to what ever he's after. The question is, of course, - what IS he after?

/respects

 

[treymonfauntre]

if i reply to this post will dr zee respond with 4,000 questions nitpicking every letter i type?

 

[PhilGood]

if i reply to this post will dr zee respond with 4,000 questions nitpicking every letter i type?

probably....

 

[drummerdude666]

probably....

Probably nitpicking badly too.

-------------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by DuoToneBand.
None of the toms sound in tune

dr zee responds.
In tune with what?
-----------------------------

This did make me laugh. IN TUNE WITH THEMSELVES! You can hear the low floor toms skin flapping meaning that the heads are unevenly tuned. You need to make sure that each tom head is tuned equally. Same tension all over the drum head at every lug. Once that is done.
Tune the reso the same way, and your drum will be perfectly in tune with itself. Might not make a nice sound but then all you do is raise the tension up or down everywhere on the drum until you hit the right pitch.

 

[Dr ZEE]

None of the toms sound in tune

In tune with what?

. This did make me laugh. IN TUNE WITH THEMSELVES!

*****************

You can hear the low floor toms skin flapping meaning that the heads are unevenly tuned.

This could make me laugh. ....well, if it was funny.
I can barely yet evenly tighten all rods and get 'head flaps' all over. And I can unevenly tighten rods and have no flapping at all.
Now I'm trying to really understand what you've said. So what'cha saying is - if you do not tune all or some of your tom's heads evenly - your 'low floor tom's head will be flapping each time you hit any of 'untuned to themselves toms'????. Is it how you may figure out that your toms may be not in tune with 'themselves'....
Or are you talking just about floor tom? Then, does it have anything to do with my reaction to DuoToneBand's remark? Yeah, I'm confused here. But I'm just reading what you've typed. I'm not very bright ...also

You need to make sure that each tom head is tuned equally. Same tension all over the drum head at every lug. Once that is done.
Tune the reso the same way, and your drum will be perfectly in tune with itself...

Thank You for a brief intro into "How To Tune Your Drum Kit". Where's the tip-jar? Do I Finger-tighten the tension rods evenly first...and then use the drum key?

if i reply to this post will dr zee respond with 4,000 questions nitpicking every letter i type?

Fire up! - burn the forest to the ground. I Promiss no questions. I'll simply ignore every letter you type. No problema'

/respects

 

[drummerdude666]

*****************

This could make me laugh. ....well, if it was funny.
I can barely yet evenly tighten all rods and get 'head flaps' all over. And I can unevenly tighten rods and have no flapping at all.
Now I'm trying to really understand what you've said. So what'cha saying is - if you do not tune all or some of your tom's heads evenly - your 'low floor tom's head will be flapping each time you hit any of 'untuned to themselves toms'????. Is it how you may figure out that your toms may be not in tune with 'themselves'....
Or are you talking just about floor tom? Then, does it have anything to do with my reaction to DuoToneBand's remark? Yeah, I'm confused here. But I'm just reading what you've typed. I'm not very bright ...also


Thank You for a brief intro into "How To Tune Your Drum Kit". Where's the tip-jar? Do I Finger-tighten the tension rods evenly first...and then use the drum key?

I'm not going to nitpick your anwser - as we might be here a while.

What im trying to explain is that when DuoToneBand said "None of the toms sound in tune " and you replied with "In tune with what?" he was refering to the fact that the drum isnt in tune with itself.

After that bit.. well i sorta stopped reading your reply as i realised that this isnt helping the thread.

I've decided to give you neg rep for trying to seem clever by asking pointless questions about somebodys post who helped this thread. You havent made any effort to help this guy. And you seem to be acting as the new DJL.

So far all you've done is annoy people. Plesae stop.

 

[Newbie-Doo]

Sounds like a jazz kit? I kind of like the bass drum sound. Punchy with some resonance. You don't have to use the same sound as everyone else.

The cymbals have too much presence, I think you sliced one of my ear drums...hehe. To even out the volume try a little more distance from the mics to the crash and and extra little bit to the ride.

The ride has too much wash. Try placing one or two small 1" to 2" squares of duct tape on the underside of the cymbal, the farther to the outside edge you place them the smaller they should be. You are just trying to cut exceess wash, not kill it. Move them around until you find the sweet spots.


The Hi-Tom needs some tuning, sounds like the bottom head is tuned too high. Try this link for some good tuning basics.

http://www.ehow.com/how_15100_tune-drum-set.html

I love reverb. Reverb is my friend so It didn't bother me.

Keep it up, those minor and very fixable issues.

 

[Dr ZEE]

I'm not going to nitpick your anwser - as we might be here a while...

thanks a bunch. that's very generous.

After that bit.. well i sorta stopped reading your reply as i realised that this isnt helping the thread.

then how do you know what my reply was about?

I've decided to give you neg rep ...

that's ok. makes no difference for me, especially when 'neg' comes from a guy who would not even read the entire posts, meaning he gives no sh*t about what other people really trying to point out.
BTW, Not everyone comes to this board for a score...

...for trying to seem clever by asking pointless questions about somebodys post who helped this thread..

What im trying to explain is that when DuoToneBand said "None of the toms sound in tune " and you replied with "In tune with what?" he was refering to the fact that the drum isnt in tune with itself.

If my guestion was pointless, then what's the point responding to/answering it by trying to explain what DuoToneBand was refering to. And how do you know what he was refering to? After all I asked DuoToneBand a question, not you...

You havent made any effort to help this guy. And you seem to be acting as the new DJL..

That's only your opinion...which is fine.

So far all you've done is annoy people. Plesae stop.

What makes you to be a judge here and give you "authority" to tell other people what to say and what not, Which question to ask and which not, what and how to discuss. Something what's pointless for you may not be so for others.
I've got a question - I'm going to ask the question.
I do read replys. I do pay attention. I have no intentions to stop keep doing it.

/later

 

[drummerdude666]

OK mate. Let's just stop. No need to hi-jack this thread with pointless arguments.

I apologise for posting that i was laughing.

 

[Dr ZEE]

OK mate. Let's just stop. No need to hi-jack this thread with pointless arguments.

I apologise for posting that i was laughing.

no probs. no apologies needed... not in my case anyway... also laughing is always good thing.
I still wish to get answers to my 'pointless questions' thou... 'cos that actually may really help the guy .... as opposite to confusing' him or maybe even misleading

/respects

 

[drummerdude666]

no probs. no apologies needed... not in my case anyway... also laughing is always good thing.
I still wish to get answers to my 'pointless questions' thou... 'cos that actually may really help the guy .... as opposite to confusing' him or maybe even misleading

/respects

*bites tongue*