Getting the bleed out of drums...Help!

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Deadlove

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When you guys usually record a full band for initial tracking, how do you get around the guitar + bass amp sound bleeding into drum mics? (esp the OH since they are condensers)

Thanks in advance!
 
I DI the bass and guitars.......and don't record the drums. Then I play the DI guitars for the drummer to lay his tracks. Then the guits and bass do overdubs......
 
This would def work, but to be all old school (even tho I'm not), I'd really like at least the bass and drums to play/groove together for the rhythm section on the song. Is this not a smart decision?

I just for some reason think it would give the foundation of the song an overall more feeling/soul and less "hit this drum at this time" kinda feel. Then overdub guitars or what not else, but try to get the bass/drums at same performance together...is this standard or no? I'm going off of my own ideas so all help is appreciated!

Thanks tho! That def is an idea to try.
 
If you set it all up right, you can let it bleed and still have some sweet workable tracks. Just experiment. It's not gonna be top40 fergie/nickelback computerpolished sound, but who wants that anyway?
 
Just stick your amp in another room, and have everyone monitor through headphones.

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I generally have the bass and drums in the same room. There is some bleed -it will never be completely tight, but it's very low. The drums are between fairly large gobos, back to the wall and a pair of panels above.
Last, the drummer plays forcefully -hot in the room, and the bass is kept relatively low.
I agree (ha :p Make that 'eye contact) helps players stay tighter.
It works. :D

I forgot to mention; my kit mics are omni earthworks but are down, about the drummer's elbow height. Not going from above can be a compromise to some styles, but it is beefy down there. ;)
 
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I was about to say, lower the overheads to get more drums and less of anything else in the room. I've only done live recording at college, where we have the luxury of a large room in one of the studios, and two sound-proof rooms in the other, so bleed from instrument to instrument is less of a problem.

The only other thing I would add is, bleed is not always a bad thing. Complete isolation would sound extremely unnatural, and if you're going for a 'feel' thing rather than an 'isolated' thing, embrace the bleed a little bit.

Hope that helps :)
 
Deadlove said:
This would def work, but to be all old school (even tho I'm not), I'd really like at least the bass and drums to play/groove together for the rhythm section on the song. Is this not a smart decision?

I just for some reason think it would give the foundation of the song an overall more feeling/soul and less "hit this drum at this time" kinda feel. Then overdub guitars or what not else, but try to get the bass/drums at same performance together...is this standard or no? I'm going off of my own ideas so all help is appreciated!

Thanks tho! That def is an idea to try.
Click to expand...


I often will DI the bass and record that and the drums at the same time. If needed I DI the guitars, but always overdub them. There are lots of ways to attack the problem. Chessrock had a good suggestion as well.
 
Thanks guys! A ton of help. You got me started for a new question now...I posted a diff topic. :D
 
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