Drum Mic 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.

 

[BentRabbit]

The player, the tuning, the room.

If you have those three in synch you're sure to get a great drum mix.

If he refuses to let you mess with the kick, make a recording and then compare it to one of his favorite 'commercial' recordings... He wouldn't be the first drummer to have to set up things differently for the studio

I keep my front head on as well, with no sound hole... Sometimes I'll put a wool muffler strip behind the batter head, and sometimes on both heads... Never a pillow or blankie inside. I get great results with a D112.

If you're getting too much ring from the snare, also try muffling in minute areas of the head (strip of duct tape, duct tape and small roll of cloth... etc.)

What kind of heads is he using (and what shape are they in?

 

[inmyheartx]

The player, the tuning, the room.

If you have those three in synch you're sure to get a great drum mix.

If he refuses to let you mess with the kick, make a recording and then compare it to one of his favorite 'commercial' recordings... He wouldn't be the first drummer to have to set up things differently for the studio

I keep my front head on as well, with no sound hole... Sometimes I'll put a wool muffler strip behind the batter head, and sometimes on both heads... Never a pillow or blankie inside. I get great results with a D112.

If you're getting too much ring from the snare, also try muffling in minute areas of the head (strip of duct tape, duct tape and small roll of cloth... etc.)

What kind of heads is he using (and what shape are they in?

I'll try the muffling thing to the snare, and i'll also try putting another mic on the kick, on the batter head. As for the heads i'll have to check tomorrow, i'm no drummer so I do not know, hah. =) Thanks for the info, i'll get back to you with more.

Take care,
Adam.

 

[RezN8]

Hoo boy. You sure have your work cut out for you. The first thing I'd start with is to have the drummer over real early so you can dial in the mics. Every drummer attacks things different so without him, you're just wasting time.

Tighten up the snares until it just starts rattling. Then take a small piece of tissue paper and place it in between the edge of the snares and the bottom head. That "might" help.

Use a "three finger" rule for the top mic. Aim it toward the center of the head and try setting it about three fingers higher than the snare rim. That's your starting point. Have the drummer hit half notes. Then move the mic around in very small increments to find it's sweet spot.

Make sure the bottom mic isn't causing phase issues with the top mic.

Try miking the bass drum from the batter side, close up and closer to the rim -- listen closely for pedal noises. Or tighten up the resonant head and stick the D112 as close as you can. You might need some clever EQ here too.

Better yet, throw the bottom snare mic 57 on the bass drum and blend two.

Your job is to find what you can work with, so you really have to experiment with mic placement.

Good luck, Rez

 

[inmyheartx]

Hoo boy. You sure have your work cut out for you. The first thing I'd start with is to have the drummer over real early so you can dial in the mics. Every drummer attacks things different so without him, you're just wasting time.

Tighten up the snares until it just starts rattling. Then take a small piece of tissue paper and place it in between the edge of the snares and the bottom head. That "might" help.

Use a "three finger" rule for the top mic. Aim it toward the center of the head and try setting it about three fingers higher than the snare rim. That's your starting point. Have the drummer hit half notes. Then move the mic around in very small increments to find it's sweet spot.

Make sure the bottom mic isn't causing phase issues with the top mic.

Try miking the bass drum from the batter side, close up and closer to the rim -- listen closely for pedal noises. Or tighten up the resonant head and stick the D112 as close as you can. You might need some clever EQ here too.

Better yet, throw the bottom snare mic 57 on the bass drum and blend two.

Your job is to find what you can work with, so you really have to experiment with mic placement.

Good luck, Rez

This is why the drum set was set up today, and not on the weekend. So I can fuck with the placement, and not doing everything the DAY of, and rush it. =) I will try all the things that you said, and report back, maybe with some samples.

Take care,
Adam.

 

[phaqu]

If Im doing rock,most of the time,front bass head off,small muffling blanket inside just touching the batter. Sometimes with a packing blanket over the kick, covering the front of the drum with the mic inside.For jazz,once again,most of the time,front head on,miced from the outside.
For the bottom snare mic, for me, I havent really used it a whole lot. If you are using a bottom mic,try flipping the phase on it. But I would concentrate on getting the sound right with one mic on top before I added another.Tuning the snare different might help.(New heads help a LOT to.)
Just remind this guy that recording is a little different than live. And like Bent said, let him hear it,ask him what he doesnt like about it, and take it from there.