andycerrone
Banned
How do you guys suggest mic'ing these in order to get a really clear, deep tone, not that flat crappy sound that you hear all too often with djembes in recordings?
RezN8
Blick-um, blick-um...
For me personally - it's ALL about the room! I think the trick to getting a "good" Djembe recording is to use a "live" room sound to your advantage.
The Djembe needs to be off the floor for the low end to open up too. A foot or so above a wooden floor and you'll really start to hear the Djembe's true fundamentals.
Place the Djembe in or near the corner of an ambient room and listen to how the low end gets bigger depending on where it is in that room.
Then place an omni mic in the room and move it around until you find it's sweet spot.
The Djembe needs to be off the floor for the low end to open up too. A foot or so above a wooden floor and you'll really start to hear the Djembe's true fundamentals.
Place the Djembe in or near the corner of an ambient room and listen to how the low end gets bigger depending on where it is in that room.
Then place an omni mic in the room and move it around until you find it's sweet spot.
andycerrone
Banned
RezN8 said:
Would that work with other hand percussion instruments (I.E. Congas)?
slidey
New member
andycerrone said:
most definately
I also like to use a 57 on top or some sort of SDC & a D112 in the blast hole along with the room mic albeit I don't have an omni (YET!!!!)
Blue Groove
New member
...
what kind of djembe? A remo, an authentic one, toca....
also what size is it? I've played as a Senegalese Djembefola for a long time, each one needs different micing.
What situation are you recording it in? Overdub or live? I'll get you an answer as soon as I can.
what kind of djembe? A remo, an authentic one, toca....
also what size is it? I've played as a Senegalese Djembefola for a long time, each one needs different micing.
What situation are you recording it in? Overdub or live? I'll get you an answer as soon as I can.
M
mrface2112
Well-known member
yes, to slidey you listen. one mic over the rim (like you'd do with a snare)--this gets the "pop" or "slap", a second mic down in the throat of the beast--this gets the "boom", and a 3rd mic backed off a good ways to get what it sounds like from afar.
assuming you've got a busy mix, you don't need to use all three mics and quite possibly only the top mic will be necessary. but if you're recording solo djembe or a drum-centric track, you'll want at least those three.
YMMV.
cheers,
wade
assuming you've got a busy mix, you don't need to use all three mics and quite possibly only the top mic will be necessary. but if you're recording solo djembe or a drum-centric track, you'll want at least those three.
YMMV.
cheers,
wade
slidey
New member
mrface2112 said:
boing I am the frustrated voice of trial & error when it comes to djembes, quirky buggers they are. My 1st djembe recording never made through into the final track, it was terrible. I also employ the same mic technique with congas
M
mrface2112
Well-known member
i do too, although i usually forego the "upskirt mic" on congas and settle for the over the rim mic.slidey said:
truth be told, i hate micing djembes too.....real easy to get a bad (read: boomy or boxy or slappy) sound out of one. and the room is as important with a djembe as it is with a full drumset.
cheers,
wade
L
LP2006
New member
andycerrone said:
What has worked well for me in the past is an md421 (or even a 57) inside the drum, and an mxl603s on the skin. Of course the overall sound is going to depend on half a dozen other thing, but thats the same deal for anything you're recording.
andycerrone
Banned
Blue Groove said:what kind of djembe? A remo, an authentic one, toca....
also what size is it? I've played as a Senegalese Djembefola for a long time, each one needs different micing.
What situation are you recording it in? Overdub or live? I'll get you an answer as soon as I can.
The one I'd be mic'ing is a remo I think 15" head. It'll be overdub, and the room is roughly 12x15 that it'll be recorded in.