Harsh OH's

[steppingonmars]

I've been trying to get rid of my harsh sound OH's so I did some homework and did some drum tests click on the link for the sound files. My apoligies for anyone who has to listen to my horrid druming, but maybe we can learn something, here's the list

1) 2- At 2020's front of kick in xy config
2) 2- At 2020's xy config on top of kit
3) 1 - At 2020 FOK
4) 1 - Superlux mic 3 ft away from kit
5) 1 - superlux mic FOK close below the cymbals and above the toms
6) 2 - at 2021's spaced pair

I didn't do the "recorderman" set up as it would be a problem recording everyone live and the back mic would be facing the guitars.

I like the sound of #5 myself and it's practical as it's one less mic and there's less bleed/phase issues from the rest of the instruments, but by all means tell me which ones you think are better and why. I'm not too concerned about a stereo image if it means I can get a good drum sound. I'm also thinking I should get my "space" horizontally instead of vertically. Let me know of any other configs/areas to try

Thanks

http://www.box.net/shared/7ebbs45o8g

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

5) 1 - superlux mic FOK close below the cymbals and above the toms

I know you said you don't care about stereo imaging, but what you describe here is what I often turn to, especially in live situations where I want maximum rejection of the rest of the band and stage monitors. The difference is I mount a T adapter on the stand and set up an X/Y configuration at this location to get the stereo image.

G.

 

[steppingonmars]

I'm gonna give idea a try, just curious which way you point the mics, do you angle them down or just point them horizontally?

 

[dualflip]

I'm gonna give idea a try, just curious which way you point the mics, do you angle them down or just point them horizontally?

i actually angle them a little to the toms, but not always, experiment, if you want maximum rejection, you could try placing the OH's closer to the front of the kit, but angled more towards the drummer...

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I'm gonna give idea a try, just curious which way you point the mics, do you angle them down or just point them horizontally?

Entirely depends upon the situation (the room, the kit and - especially - the drummer). If the cymbals are too bright or just plain too much, I'll angle down more.

G.

 

[steppingonmars]

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Re: Harsh OH's
« Reply #24 on: Today at 08:03:16 PM »

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Ok here's what I did. I put the mics behind the drummer in ORTF config as in the pictures on the links below


http://www.box.net/shared/oteb3d72ej

http://www.box.net/shared/gufm1oz6gj

Here's a sample

The first clip is the original one I posted as XY, the one with them hung 1.5 ft from the ceiling, the second clip is them recorded in the config below. I'm noticing a lot less of the bad echos, I'm assuming that's flutter echoes and I think the harshness is reduced somewhat. I'm also using AT2021's instead of 2020's and the gain is set down a lot less so I used automation to keep them at about the same level. Am I getting somewhere with this? Are there any issues with the second clip? The only thing I noticed is that the 1st tom is a little quiet, possibly due to it being partially hidden by the drummer, but I've also noticed the skin is a little dead. I also noticed my kick is in dire need of tuning as well as the snare, but first things first. I also put the kick and snare mic in for comparison as well.

If this is still gonna be harsh, where do I go from here, do I start putting absorption materials on the walls? Different mics?

http://www.box.net/shared/9b388hlomi