how the hell do you tape drums?

[Cyberdude]

We're trying to record a drum on a Tascam 788 with an audio technica KitPack (four mics).
We don't have any mixer... How can we get a good, agressive drum sound à la Led Zeppelin.
Please help us or we're gonna commit suicide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gidge]

You need those big ass drums that Bonham played...and you need Bonham playing them....other than that, check the room you are recording in....are you hearing a good, aggressive drum sound as he is playing live in the room?...if not, you wont get it on tape....now if you are getting that sound in the room, someone who knows more about those mics will help you with placement...it looks like two are specifically designed for kick/toms and two for snare/toms...youll probably want one on kick and one on snare....maybe 2 overhead....someone help me here..im sinking...

 

[jrlemonz]

Bring them drums into the biggest room you can find. High ceilings = good. Set them up and play, if it sounds huge, then pop one of the big (kick/floor tom) mics on the kick, another one on the snare, and then the 2 made for smaller toms over the kit as overheads. Pan the two overheads hard left/right. Then make your drummer beat the hell out of his drums and play with passion. A 26" bass drum would help too. If that works out, tell me, I'd have saved a few lives. If you can't get the big room, play in a small room with blankets on the walls/over mic booms (around the kit) and close mic everything (kick, snare, 2 toms, take the other tom off or don't use it). Then pop a very wet digital reverb (hopefully a ncie sounding one) onto the tracks. Zeppelin had a very ambient drum sound, and big rooms were a big part of it.

Jake