Equalizer Settings For Drums?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ru1ner
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ru1ner

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I'm recording drums through a small PA, but I'm having a time getting them to sound good... I'm pretty sure I have everything set up about right. I'm running three mics to the set, one independently through one channel, and two wireless mics that run off of another channel... I need to know what the settings are supposed to be on a five-band graphic equalizer when recording through a PA.
 
There is no magic setting. Whatever sounds good out in the audience. That is why the mixing board is usually out in the back of the room, and someone plays on the drums, and the dude tweaks it til it sits right in the room.
 
Flat is ideal. EQ should only be used to compensate for a funny room or to control feedback. If the drums sound good going in, they'll sound good coming out. My guess is you're having problems with tuning, mic quality/placement, gain structure and or an underpowered system. It takes a lot of power to effectively amplify drums.
 
PYRRHO said:
Flat is ideal. EQ should only be used to compensate for a funny room or to control feedback. If the drums sound good going in, they'll sound good coming out. My guess is you're having problems with tuning, mic quality/placement, gain structure and or an underpowered system. It takes a lot of power to effectively amplify drums.
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It depends on the style too...a lot of drummers like a "clicky" drum sound for metal and such, if you are not using triggers you have to know how to EQ to get that sound. A lot of bands have signature type sounds they like too.
 
taeyoung said:
It depends on the style too...a lot of drummers like a "clicky" drum sound for metal and such, if you are not using triggers you have to know how to EQ to get that sound. A lot of bands have signature type sounds they like too.
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That's true, but 99% of any specific sound is the drums, tuning, and mic position. A lot of that clicky sound is just NOT EQing out the high end (I'm assuming what you mean is that really clicky sound of metal bass drums, specifically).
 
taeyoung said:
It depends on the style too...a lot of drummers like a "clicky" drum sound for metal and such, if you are not using triggers you have to know how to EQ to get that sound. A lot of bands have signature type sounds they like too.
Click to expand...

It's not EQ that gets that sound at all! It's the use of hard beaters (like wood) and fiber disk impact pads that gets THAT sound.
 
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