i can't get my snare recording to sound good, help!

[ralf]

i am recording my premier cabria snare with a shure sm57. i just can't seem to get it to sound good. i'm looking for just a good rock sound. the best way i can describe what i am getting is kind of a hollow ringing type sound. would underside micing be the best way to solve this to get more crack? does anybody have any other suggestions? i am sort of limited on tracks and would like to avoid using another one. let me know what you think. thanks!
-Ralf

 

[imacgreg]

What pre are you using? With crums it makes a really big difference. Also, make sure the mic is a couple of inches away from the snare. Having the mic too close can really give you problems.

ian

 

[ralf]

well, i don't really have a preamp. i just plug the cord into my yamaha md8. funny, i was just thinking "i bet a preamp would make my recordings sound better" i'll try taking it back a little though, cause i have it pretty close. thanks

 

[Whoopysnorp]

I find that when I record my drumset, a good portion of my snare sound comes from the overheads. When I solo the snare track (BTW it's an SM57 mic'ing the top head of an old early 60s Sonor snare) I don't hear much high-end, just the ringing of the drum. This is what to expect from the 57; it's high end response is far from realistic. The key is to blend the sound from the snare mic with the snappy sound in the overheads. I've never experimented with top and bottom mic'ing; I bet that makes a big difference.

 

[mixmkr]

two items...
>yes...top and bottom mic'ing make a big difference, a lot of the times. sm57 top, m160 on the bottom....common combo.
>does this ringing sound remotely resemble the actual sound of the drum? Personally, I think a big part of the *secret* to a great drum sound, is the drum itself...regardless of brand name/model, etc.. Remember...you can do more with drum keys than just changing heads

 

[Bodhisan]

Try moving the mike a couple feet above. I had the same problem with a similar mike/mic.

Bodhisan.

 

[mixmkr]

Try moving the mike a couple feet above. I had the same problem with a similar mike/mic.

Bodhisan.

say what???

 

[crawdad]

An underside mic gives you more snare buzz. A single mic close to the snare capures the close up sound, but not the ambient "explosion" of the drum. I concur with others that say to use overheads to get the real texture of the drum. The close mic provides the fundamental of the drum, but what we hear as a cracking snare is something that is heard at some distance. overheads and/or an ambient room mic might capture what you are looking for. Remember to pad down the signal so you aren't overloading the mixer. Snares have some heavy transients!

 

[Prism]

Maybe try different rings on the snare head. You get more of the "bang" sound without the ring, whereas with the ring, you get more of a "oomph," although it varies from snare to snare....this sounds weird, but if you have a ring on it, take it off and apply a couple strips of duct tape to the outer edges of the head instead. Just an idea.

Isaiah

 

[safarisound]

I have to agree. For me most drum sounds are a composite from the overhead and tom, and snare mics. I mainly use the overhead mics and mix in the snare mic for beef, crack, and ring!
If soloed, the snare will sound pretty horrible, but when mixed in adds just what I need. Try eqing and listening to both the snare and overhead mics...might help

Safarisound

 

[ralf]

thanks for all your help. i backed the mic off a few inches and with a little eq it's sounding pretty good now. and getting a good overhead and just fading the snare in to add a little makes the mix sound pretty good. thanks!
-Ralf (not a newbie anymore )

 

[Tom Hicks]

Don't use sticky duct tape to damp the head.You won't like the residue!Use a maxipad or small folded cotton cloth and tape THAT,so that the cotton touches the head and the tape is streached across a corner of the rim.The tone will be better.
Here's a link to a drum site with good info.
Tom

 

[fenix]

Don't use sticky duct tape to damp the head.You won't like the residue!Use a maxipad or small folded cotton cloth and tape THAT,so that the cotton touches the head and the tape is streached across a corner of the rim.The tone will be better.
Here's a link to a drum site with good info.
Tom

or you could tune your drums correctly and use a correct head.

jeez people!

 

[dr.colossus]

or you could tune your drums correctly and use a correct head.

jeez people!

sometimes a little duct tape can save the hour and a half you'd spend on getting the tuning just right, imho its sounds better than those rings isaiah mentioned.... i'm am absolutly certain there are a ton of pro's out there that use tape on there heads, its nothing to be ashamed of.....

first time i went into a studio, i spent the whole day before tuning my snare perfectly, sounded awesome...live... but put a mic infront of it and the same sound was impossible to capture, so we stuck a small square of tape on it and the problem was solved, but then again, each to their own...

 

[heylow]

or you could tune your drums correctly and use a correct head.

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Dude's all disgusted.....It's ON now


heylow