Djembe recording

[Robert Bearfoot]

Wondering if anyone has had any experiece recording the djembe. It would seem logical that the same mikes used for toms would get a good djembe sound, but if anyone has any actual recording experience with the djembe I'd be interested in knowing any tricks or details they have used recording and processing the rich sound of the drum. I have recorded it myself using a pair of shure beta 58a mics, which are the ones I currently use for recording everything, one mic on top one on bottom. The sound was plenty bassy but I couldn't get the complicating ringing overtones that give the drum its character. For now I'm just going to keep experimenting with the mic distances....

 

[Tonewoods]

The problem with the djembe is that it's got tons of low end, lots of highs at the skin, and a monsterous amount of mids...no easy task to get onto tape...

If you have the tracks, I'd mike it like a drum kit, making sure to check for phase (!).

Lemeesee, I used a D12 on the bottom, a KM84 on the top skin (an SM57 or RE15/16 will work just fine), and an Altec coke bottle as an overhead, and blended later...

It would be a tough instrument to get with a single mic, but a well-placed KSM32 (I like the tightness of the low end in that mic) might do the trick...
LOL!

Bruce
www.bruceharvie.com