Drum Sampling

[BurnBarfield]

I am not trying to piss anyone off by mentioning this, I've seen people get quite angry about this topic, but need advice. I apologize in advance. Okay, I tend to sample kicks with Drumagog a lot when clients bring shitty sets in. I was wondering, I have some decent tom mics, AT Pro 25s which leave much to be desired. I have once tried Sennheiser MD421 on every tom, and that was the sound I wanted. But I don't have 1200 dollars to spend on them at the moment. So, would it be a bad idea to use Drumagog and DFH and sample every drum? I'd keep the OHs as cymbal mics, but sample the rest. Would this lead to a shitty sound? Or would it be more commercial? Thanks a ton guys!

 

[glimmer_doll]

if by commercial you mean stuff that's on the radio..then i'd have to say yes it will probably be more commercial.

I happen to think the commercial rock sound is shitty though...so whether or not it sounds shitty will be a matter of personal opinion...

 

[BurnBarfield]

Well, a client told me that is how he wants the drums to be sounding tonally, so...

 

[Farview]

It will sound as good as your samples. If you have good multi-samples that compliment the sound in the over heads, you will be fine. I do this all the time. Not just when someone comes in with a bad kit, but also when the drums he has are not appropriate. (like when he comes in with a piccolo snare and tries to record a power ballad)

 

[glimmer_doll]

Well, a client told me that is how he wants the drums to be sounding tonally, so...

well, when it comes down to a client situation...then i guess you have to go in the direction they like if that's what they want...

I only really record for myself, so having to please someone else is something i've never had to contend with in recording...

 

[glimmer_doll]

lol, i just realized i'm the only non-dogbert in this thread so far...

 

[MadMax]

How do you guys trigger the samples?

 

[BurnBarfield]

Farview, I was going to attempt to use the overheads as more of just cymbal mics in this situation.. Do you have any reccormendations on how I could do this? It would be a lot easier if there is less drum bleed, snare and kick I've done before without problems.. never done toms.. Any tips to get more of a cymbal mic sound?

 

[BurnBarfield]

MadMax, I use Drumagog, which uses miced sounds of the actual kit, and just replaces them.. Another easy way to avoid gating

 

[Farview]

Farview, I was going to attempt to use the overheads as more of just cymbal mics in this situation.. Do you have any reccormendations on how I could do this? It would be a lot easier if there is less drum bleed, snare and kick I've done before without problems.. never done toms.. Any tips to get more of a cymbal mic sound?

It would depend on how you have your cymbals grouped. You may need more than 2 mics to do it.
If you put the mics directly over the cymbals, not too high up, you will get less of the kit.
The thing to remember is that the sound of a cymbal radiates up and down (assuming the cymbal is horizontal) there is almost no sound coming from the edge.
You could also take a spaced pair and put them above the kit pointing at the cymbals and away from the snare. (Damn, this is hard to explain)