Drum Recording - tracks vs. quality

[darins]

Hi,

I haven't purchased a mixer yet and I'm curious about opinions on recording a fairly standard drum kit. I am a solo act so I'm just recording myself - so I had pretty low requirements from a mixer as far as tracks supported were concerned.

For various reasons I've decided to go with recoridng live drums instead of using a sampler - these also will be recorded separately from everything else. I'm just curious as to how various mic configurations will translate to recording quality.

Obviously, close mic'ing everything in the kit is ideal, but this isn't really an option. A fairly standard configuration (as far as I can tell) is to close mic the snare and kick, and use 2 overheads to capture everything else. Can anyone provide any examples or opinions on the kind of quality this setup provides?

Thanks!

-Darin

 

[Fusion2]

Hi,

I haven't purchased a mixer yet and I'm curious about opinions on recording a fairly standard drum kit. I am a solo act so I'm just recording myself - so I had pretty low requirements from a mixer as far as tracks supported were concerned.

For various reasons I've decided to go with recoridng live drums instead of using a sampler - these also will be recorded separately from everything else. I'm just curious as to how various mic configurations will translate to recording quality.

Obviously, close mic'ing everything in the kit is ideal, but this isn't really an option. A fairly standard configuration (as far as I can tell) is to close mic the snare and kick, and use 2 overheads to capture everything else. Can anyone provide any examples or opinions on the kind of quality this setup provides?

Thanks!

-Darin

off to the drum section of this forum with you your not "that" new from your post wording, or your just fooling us, you'll get more anwsers there anyway, or do a search, top right of page for "drum micing" drum, etc etc...

besides, you pretty much answered your own question, imho..

 

[FattMusiek]

This is my method of micing drums. Not because I want to, but because I can only record 4 tracks simulaneously. Some tips I've learned:

1. When micing the bass drum, do not mic it dead on. Place it to the right somewhat.

2. When micing the snare, an inch can make a lot of difference. To eliminate most hi hat leakage, put the mic under the hi hat facing the middle of the snare.

3. On overheads, make sure you have no phase related problems.

http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/titles/Recording_Drums.htm

Try to get snare and kick in center and everything else where you would normally hear it in the audio spectrum.


Hope I could help!

 

[Fusion2]

This is my method of micing drums. Not because I want to, but because I can only record 4 tracks simulaneously. Some tips I've learned:

1. When micing the bass drum, do not mic it dead on. Place it to the right somewhat.

2. When micing the snare, an inch can make a lot of difference. To eliminate most hi hat leakage, put the mic under the hi hat facing the middle of the snare.

3. On overheads, make sure you have no phase related problems.

http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/titles/Recording_Drums.htm

Try to get snare and kick in center and everything else where you would normally hear it in the audio spectrum.

Hope I could help!

there's tons of info on micing drums i've seen while there, try a search...

 

[MemoGtr]

For various reasons I've decided to go with recoridng live drums instead of using a sampler

nothing like the real thing

 

[darins]

Re: Re: Drum Recording - tracks vs. quality

off to the drum section of this forum with you your not "that" new from your post wording, or your just fooling us, you'll get more anwsers there anyway, or do a search, top right of page for "drum micing" drum, etc etc...

besides, you pretty much answered your own question, imho..

Heh...well, I am pretty new to this stuff, but I've been reading a lot of material and learning at a pretty good clip. I did do a quick search for a few different phrases and there was some relevant stuff in this forum so I just figured what the heck.

 

[Fusion2]

Re: Re: Re: Drum Recording - tracks vs. quality

Heh...well, I am pretty new to this stuff, but I've been reading a lot of material and learning at a pretty good clip. I did do a quick search for a few different phrases and there was some relevant stuff in this forum so I just figured what the heck.

yeah, it's a mixed bag at times around here...

learn on...

 

[regebro]

Obviously, close mic'ing everything in the kit is ideal, but this isn't really an option. A fairly standard configuration (as far as I can tell) is to close mic the snare and kick, and use 2 overheads to capture everything else. Can anyone provide any examples or opinions on the kind of quality this setup provides?

That depends mainly on two variables. The acoustic sound, and the micing. The acoustic sound is a combination of the drums sound and the acoustics of the room. Typically for drums you don't want a completely dead room, but a dead room is better than a room with a lot of bad echoing. The micing is a combination of what mics and what positions you use, and here the positioning often can compensate somewhat for the sound of the mics.

I myself have succeded in getting a fairly decent drumsound with one $3 mic and one $30 mic, putting the mics a couple of feet from the set, behind the drummer, one mic pointing roughly at the kick and the other at the snare. If you have a good acoustic sound that might be all you need for decent stereo drums.

If the room sucks, any overheads will pick that up and make it sound like shit. If the drums suck, close mic everything and then use a trigger unit to replace the sounds with samples.