Help with snare sound please

[enferno]

Hey guys.

Need your help once again.

I have the rest of my drumset sounding good, kick, tom-toms, cymbols, but the snare just doesn't sound quite right to me.

I don't think it's the microphone, because it works well for other people, but i'm thinking it's the placement or the EQ.

here is a sample.

Please help me out!

 

[drummerdude666]

tuning - overtones can be heard - other than that - im not anywhere near an expert but having askd ur same question a few days bk ive found that u cant get away with slightly off tuning. and mic placement - ive found both 2" in and 1" up. 2" In and 2" up both work well o and mick pointing to center of snare. erm other than that you can add attack to a snare by adding somewhere around 2-4khz. erm Depth is around 200hz. Also scooping 300-400 can help. BUT these are guidelines - it will vary hugely on every drum - mic mic placement - room - hell even the temprature of the room - and the colour of your carpet!

 

[screws]

What is it you don't like about the sound? It sounds fine to me, but it depends on what kind of music/style/song/arrangement you're looking for.

Does the mic sound like the snare sounds? Or is the mic brighter/deeper/more ringy/deader than the snare in the room.

Usually, if I don't like the snare sound, I change the snare, head or tuning. It seems to fix what I don't like 80% of the time. The other 20% is choice of mic and mic placement.

 

[Ronan]

You are actually in really good shape! Tons of new recordists would love to have that little of a problem with snare.

Here are a couple things you could try:

Dip some EQ at about 500Hz. That will open up the sound a little bit.

Also you will find that most snares on big pop or rock records have a little less overtone on the snare. I am a huge fan of Remo "O" rings to fix this. you can use the thinest one they make. drummers often complain about them when you put them on, but it really helps a snare sound tight and sit in the mix. When the snare sound tightens up, the whole kit starts sounding better.