I just bought a mixer to submix drums! Any tips?

[endserenading81]

I have four inputs, my M-Audio Omni I/O, and my Art TPS II Tube Preamp unit. I just bought the Yamaha MG10/2 mixer to submix drums. I was thinking of submixing overheads. The mixer has 4 inputs. Ya know, 2 mics for overheads, and 2 for the ROOM. Tell me people, does this sound like a good technique.
Thanks,
Rob

P.S. Would it be better to submix the snare with 2 mics? One bottom, one top mic.

 

[pjh6467]

drum mix

It really depends on what sound you are looking for and how your room is set up. But using four mics for the whole kit may require experimenting with the mic placement. Try a couple different things, record 30 seconds worth, then compare until you find what you like. The set up you mentioned in your post would be a good place to start. I've always found drums to be the most time consuming to get right to record. But in the end ,it's all about what sounds good to you. Good luck Pj

 

[fretmeister]

I would try 2 overheads, snare, kick. You could submix the whole kit, but will have to experiment with getting the mix just right.
There is some great info on recording drums with four mics on the BBS. You should do a search. If you can't find it, I'll post the links.

 

[artCROSS]

i submix the whole kit into one stereo track. The OH panned hard left/right, one mic on the snare and one on the kick. Just be careful about phase issues w/ the OH

 

[Reggaesoldier]

i submix the whole kit into one stereo track. The OH panned hard left/right, one mic on the snare and one on the kick. Just be careful about phase issues w/ the OH

What phase issues might you encounter?

 

[TexRoadkill]

I would either do:

2 OH's
1 Snare
1 Kick

1 OH
1 Room
1 Kick
1 Snare

All recorded to seperate tracks. You will not get good results with submixing the drums unless you have a kickass drummer, kit, room and engineering skills. You might submix some Tom mics with the OH's or mix a couple snare mics but if you submix everything you will be screwed.

 

[Bulls Hit]

I agree with Tex : 2 OHs, 1 snare, 1 kick.

Although that's only a 2 bus mixer, you should be able to get 4 outputs using the inserts, if it has any, or the aux, and get each mic onto its own track.

I just have the one OH on my kit, & I've had best results by inverting phase on the OH, as this was almost exactly 180 degs out with the kick mic.

I've never seen the value in bottom micing the snare. Most of the snare comes from the overhead(s), with the close mic just adding a bit of beef

 

[chessrock]

The whole idea of submixing drums just scares the bejeezus out of me.

I have no idea how I'd deal with all the phase if I didn't have the ability to nudge my tracks over just a hair forward and/or back to line them up.

 

[artCROSS]

with using my overheads, i always have a tape measurer handy i always keep both OH about 32-36in. from my snare to make sure the sound reaches the mics at the same time...though it's a crude method, it works for me.