Solved Drum Mic Question

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dhoch

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My band went to record a "live" demo at practice last week. (4 piece band - Guitar, Bass, Keys, drums with 2 vocals). I use a Midiman Delta 1010 as my A/D unit.

Drum mics were as follows: 2 SM57s (snare/hihat & toms), 2 MC012 (overheads) ->Submix -> 1010.
AKG D112 (kick) -> Submix -> 1010.

After recording a song the kick track sounded like the drummer was hitting rice paper. It was totally flat, no low end. Basically it sound like crap. After some adjusting & playing with positioning finally scrapped the AKG, and put an SM58 down there. Now at least it sounded like a kick drum (rather than the rice paper). It was way to much mid range, but I can work on that a little later.

The AKG was a used purchase, from a reliable source. He said to try speaking into and see how it sounds, to my amazement it sounded fine.

Ok so here's my question: What might have caused this problem? Were going to try again this week, and I am looking for some suggestions about what may have happened so I can look out for it again.

Thanks in advance,

dhoch
 
Dunno, but might help

Try taking the front head off of the kick, and stickin the AKG right up inside the kick drum. Make sure the head of the mic is facing directly towards the beater. give it a try and tell me what happens :).
 
Actually that was one of the about 1/2 dozen places I tried it. (inside (both with and without pillow), outside about 6ins away from hole, around front by the beater, from a boom hanging down at top rim, just at the hole.

I was flabergasted....I was SURE it was the mic. I contacted the guy I got it from. A nice guy who said he would replace if there was a problem....he said try speaking into, as I said it sounded fine when I recorded that way.

I was scratching my head....I'm anxious to have another go at it. I'll post more one thrusday (practice is wed) on this one.

Still looking for other suggestions.

dhoch
 
All I can say is experiment with EQ settings I've recorded practices with a cheap $170 Audio Technica vocal mic purchased almost 10yrs. ago and got ok sound it did sound like a kick but I played with the EQ.
 
Try micing the Bass amp and see whether the mic reproduces it fairly accurately or not, then try it at a fairly loud volume, if it picks up the low end well then the mic is probably ok.

It could be the tuning of the kick.

What kind of mixer are you using?
 
Just for those that are curious, and following this, everything went fine last night. Mic sounded great (there was some umph in the kick).

Only thing I can think of is the cable (I tried a different one last night).

Thanks for all the suggestions

dhoch
 
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