Faking overheads/ambiance with Cubase

  • Thread starter Thread starter Quagmire02
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Quagmire02

Quagmire02

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For drums, I use nskit in fruitylooops and then I export each drum separately to a track in Cubase SE. I don't want them to sound too isolated, so I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get a room overhead/ambiance sound with this.

I was thinking of exporting from FL4 a wav that includes a faked overhead mic. Basically, I would export the entire drum song but keep the cymbals higer than everything else, and make the drums themselves super quiet, so it's almost like you are getting bleeding from the other mics/drums.

The second possibility is to do this with EACH drum. Have that one theoretical mic at normal level and just turn down the rest of the kit almost all the way...possibly giving it the bleed texture.

What would be smarter? Bleeding each track or making a general overhead track with the levels cut on the "farther" away drums.

Anyone ever try this? Theories on how it might work?
 
Very interesting. I was doing each cymbal separately, but I guess most people only have one track for overheads? Does this include hi-hat and ride? I didn't think it did...
 
Quagmire02 said:
Very interesting. I was doing each cymbal separately, but I guess most people only have one track for overheads? Does this include hi-hat and ride? I didn't think it did...
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I think what he is suggesting is that you do a stereo sub-mix that contains what the overheads would pick up. That would include all the drums, with emphasis on the cymbals (have them louder) and place them appropriately in the stereo field. Overheads don't just pick up cymbals and, for many folks, they are the primary mics for hat and ride (and sometimes for toms). You'll have to experiment to see what works for you. Hiring a drummer seems easier.
 
scrubs said:
I think what he is suggesting is that you do a stereo sub-mix that contains what the overheads would pick up. That would include all the drums, with emphasis on the cymbals (have them louder) and place them appropriately in the stereo field. Overheads don't just pick up cymbals and, for many folks, they are the primary mics for hat and ride (and sometimes for toms). You'll have to experiment to see what works for you. Hiring a drummer seems easier.
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Of course it's easier. However, I record in my room with no drum set and no mics. Thanks for helping me out. Do you suggest also letting some hi-hat bleed into the snare mic? I know that those are close mics, so wouldn't that make it more natural?

Maybe I'll just experiment for myself...
 
Quagmire02 said:
Of course it's easier. However, I record in my room with no drum set and no mics. Thanks for helping me out. Do you suggest also letting some hi-hat bleed into the snare mic? I know that those are close mics, so wouldn't that make it more natural?

Maybe I'll just experiment for myself...
Click to expand...

Like I said, I haven't tried it out. However, mic bleed is part of what makes a drum kit sound like a drum kit on a recording. All the triggering and replacing sounds makes it worse, imo. Good luck!
 
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