Dialing In On Toms

[Nick The Man]

my recent concerns have been the toms on my drums they are tuned pretty well but i can't seem to get a nice overall sound on recording. I get alot of attack and some ring but im not getting that full body sound.

the way ive been setting them up:

first off im using 57's and i will put the mic in four different places/positions and then inbetween each position i will play a little fill on the tom. then i will listen to them all and pick which one i like best and leave the mic at that.

so far with this technique ive come up with where i like the mic best (at least for now) is about 1-2in's above and pointed at the edge of the top head.

Any ideas on how to capture it better?

as for right now my heads are pretty new, they are remo ambassators single ply, coated... ive kinda been thinking about some aquarian double ply clears... ?

 

[Farview]

It depends on the sound you are trying to get. If you are going for the metal sound, that micing will work but you have to EQ and compress it to death.

I tend to aim about half way between the center and the rim.

 

[Nick The Man]

would you consider metal that FULL sound.. i guess thats probably not the best way to describe it .. but ill be recording rock. i know it would be hard but if i could make my toms sound any way it would probably be like carter beauferd .. or however you spell it from the deave matthews band .. just a beautiful sound drum kit all around.

if i have some time ill try to post some samples of what i have so far.

 

[MadAudio]

I tend to aim about half way between the center and the rim.

Wow, that far in? My mics are usually only an inch or two inside the rims, and maybe two or three above, and I've gotten some very nice tones (that have been complimented here more than once). 57s on the racks and an ATM 25 on the floor.

Nick, as far es eqing goes I often boost while listening until I find a freq that sounds particularly bad, and then cut that freq. More often than not this will result in something pleasing.

 

[Nick The Man]

thanks mad for the tips .. i got a sample here.. i hit toms in here somwhere

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644522

 

[Farview]

Wow, that far in? My mics are usually only an inch or two inside the rims, and maybe two or three above, and I've gotten some very nice tones (that have been complimented here more than once). 57s on the racks and an ATM 25 on the floor.

I have the mic above the rim (give or take depending on the angle of the tom) but I have it aimed in towards the center.

 

[MadAudio]

I have the mic above the rim (give or take depending on the angle of the tom) but I have it aimed in towards the center.

Ahhh, I see. Your earlier post had me thinking your mics were easy targets for sloppy drummers!

 

[Nick The Man]

I have the mic above the rim (give or take depending on the angle of the tom) but I have it aimed in towards the center.

farview, take a listen to the sample tell me what you think .. i know you were posting this response while i was posting the sample so i just wanted to make sure you dont miss it

 

[MadAudio]

thanks mad for the tips .. i got a sample here.. i hit toms in here somwhere

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=644522

That's not as bad as you describe it, though keep in mind I'm on a dialup and had to listen the lofi version. What's the rest of your micing like? I assume you've got some overheads happening. And what's your room like?

 

[Farview]

Add a little low end and compress them.

You might be longing for the sound of a really expensive kit. Most of the time when I get toms that sound like that, it's a Pearl Export or a Tama Rockstar, etc...

 

[Nick The Man]

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=233171

i mention the gear the second post down i believe

 

[Nick The Man]

mine is a pacific made by DW FS birch kit... i think they could be tuned better and im not sure if i like the coated remo heads... although i dont really have the money to change this now.

 

[Farview]

What i'm saying is: You aren't getting the right sound out of the drums to make the sound you want to hear.

It might be a tuning thing, but it is probably the drums.

 

[Farview]

Tune the bottom heads down a bit to make the toms sound deeper.

 

[Nick The Man]

i think they have potential to sound nice.. i really like the kick and snare. also i still have the heads that came with the drums ont he bottom .. that could probably be changed

 

[Nick The Man]

Tune the bottom heads down a bit to make the toms sound deeper.

ok ill have to try that, as for now i have the top and bottom tuned to the same pitch just so they would have some more ring to them

 

[MadAudio]

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=233171

i mention the gear the second post down i believe

OK, but I still have no idea what the room you're recording in is like.

Besides Farview's suggestions, you may just try bringing the toms up volume-wise. And it can be difficult to judge just how far up to bring them without other instruments in there. Maybe a test with guitar(s) and bass is in order.

 

[Farview]

i think they have potential to sound nice.. i really like the kick and snare. also i still have the heads that came with the drums ont he bottom .. that could probably be changed

That doesn't help, but it shouldn't be catastrophic. Tune the bottom heads lower. The tom needs to go GUH! when you hit it. Now it kind of goes Ping!

 

[Nick The Man]

my room is shit. i have bricks lol but its about 25X30 or something like that ... ceilings about 8-10ft

 

[Farview]

EQ and compression can be your friend. You might want to turn down the overheads, it sounds awful room-y. That doesn't help the depth of the toms because the overheads really only pick up the attack.