Drum tracks -How many?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brusco
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Brusco

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It would be interesting to hear how everyone configures their drum recordings from how many mics to how many tracks are assigned on the final recording.
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I will be micing an acoustic drum set using 5 or 6 mics (2 small condenser mics overhead/1-kick/1-snare/2-toms/1-hihat) These would all go into a dedicated mixer for drums only. I would then come out of the mixer Left and Right on to 2 tracks of my recorder.
The drums will most likely be recorded by me or another drummer while listening to a guide track containing bass, guitar, and vocals with a possible click track. Sometimes I record drums first then other times I record them last.

Does anyone work this way or is it better to assign a track for each individual mic? I'm not looking to record Aja here but more in the vein of Beatles , Led Zepplin, 70's Stones, etc.

I have 8 tracks to work with now, I've been using an Alesis ADAT XT but I'm working on getting computerized so I'll have plenty more tracks.
 
brusco. the best drum sound i ever heard was in a big studio with a
great room (the room can make a lot of difference) with two crown pzm's xy over the drums, and the snare and kik being triggered via a sampler.
from what ive learnt from people more experienced than i in drum recording is also the tuning and actual sound of the drums, and how the player
"feels" the sound can make a big difference as well as the room being used to record in.
peace.
 
In general, I use 4 tracks.
Kick, Snare,
2 "overheads" which are not really overhead at all.
I place these in a pseudo XY formation above the kick drum,
About half way up the rack toms.
One aimed toward the snare the other toward the floor tom.
 
Having a great room sound is most likely not an option in my home studio.
My drumset is tightly surrounded by three walls. I will try getting the space as dead as possible since it's not the ideal space for recording drums.
 
A great idea in a small room is to make sure that you center your kit in the room.
I have a 12x14' drum room and it's completely sound proof.Well at least around 50 yards.at 20dB:D
 
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