Drum Mic Placement Troubles.

[inmyheartx]

So i'm recording MY band this weekend and I had the drummer drop off his kit today so I could fuck around with the mic placement. Now, the tom's ended up sounding pretty good, but the Kick and Snare were a different story. The drummer has his front head on, with no hole in it at all. On top of that the thing is filled with pillows and blankets, like completely. I mic'd it and couldn't get much of a sound out of it, not much attack. He is hell bent on not changing anything. Also, the I mic'd the top and bottom of the snare. Now, the top sounds way Pingy and thin, and the bottom picks up too much snare when other things are being hit. Anything I can do about this? Tune the snare different when he's not here, so I can get a better sound hahah. I'm using a AKG D112 on kick, and 2 SM57's on snare. Any help is appreciated.

Take care,
Adam.

 

[VonRocK]

He is hell bent on not changing anything.

That is a problem. What does the kit sound like with him playing it? I imagine that it sounds crappy. So recording something that sounds crappy is going to sound crappy.

If the kit (and his playing) does sound good in the room, then throw an overhead on the whole thing, and throw the 112 on the bass drum (have him play, and move around with your ears, and find the best sounding spot).

I learned a lot about my drums from a good engineer a long time ago. If I had gone into that professional studio situation with a closed mind, and not willing to change, my drums would still sound crappy.

 

[scorpio01169]

well if he is deadset on not taking the pillows out then record him as he is.....if he is paying you then he gets what he paid for and if he's not paying you....he gets what he paid for...... you have to remember he or she is the client and you can only make a suggestion and if they dont heed it then it's out of your hands. but on that note if you really get a horrible sound dont use him as a reference for your next potiential client

 

[Chris.]

If you're recording your band tell your drummer to stop being a dipshit and let you make his drums sound good.

 

[AGCurry]

I'd not bother with close-miking anything. Just put up a couple of small-diaphragm condensors in X/Y for the whole set. Placement is up to you.

I'm serious. It's a perfectly valid approach.

 

[littledog]

Actually, many drummers, especially jazz drummers really prefer to play with a double headed kick. If you just mic it from the back side, as you have discovered, you will end up with a very non-defined sound.

Try using two mics. On the beater side, aim one mic right near where the beater makes contact with the drum head. You can use an SM57 for this, or something else that can handle high SPL. On the opposite side, put your favorite kick mic (D112, RE20, etc) right up near the center of the head.

On the preamp, try flipping the phase of the beater side mic and see if that makes the sound blossom.

You may also want to have a low height level room mic - aimed at the kick, but some distance away (each room will be different) to get some of the overall sound of the kick in the room.

 

[Ironklad Audio]

record his shitty kick, then replace it with a good one

 

[inmyheartx]

record his shitty kick, then replace it with a good one

Give me $289.00 for Drumagog and I will.

Take care,
Adam.

PS. I was messing with it all day yesterday, called him, told him I was GOING to take off his front head and take out some of the pillows and shit. I explained to him it was going to sound like shit with the head on. He understood, now I have a great kick sound. =)