Just an SM57 and a dream

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publicradio

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Hey all,

I am an amateur producer. It's a hobby, not a career. Still, I have devoted a lot of time to finding the perfect DAW for me and mastering it (in my case I chose Reaper), getting all the VSTs and VSTis I need (all freeware) and I bought a little Presonus Audiobox USB to plug in mic, MIDI and guitar. All my gear fits into a little briefcase, minus the instruments. I use old school drum machines for the drums. I am generally pleased with my setup, and the results I get.

I started out producing entirely 'in the box' for years, but now I have an SM57 for acoustic recording. At the moment, the only thing I want to use the mic for is hand percussion (tambourine, egg shaker, maracas, guiro, claves, triangle) plus snaps and claps. I don't sing or play any acoustic instruments. I might record a little djembe or other hand drums.

The only place I can get a good sound is in the closet. I try to get a dry recording, then add digital verb and delay, rather than trying to capture natural reverb. I chose the SM57 because it's supposed to be a solid all-purpose mic. I want to record some multi-tracked disco claps and snaps, and I want to get some nice textured, gritty shakers and tams. Can I do this kind of stuff well with my SM57? What are best practices for recording and producing these kinds of sounds? Thanks.
 
Seriously, not recording anything in a closet would be a good start. There's nothing wrong with getting "room" in any sound, including percussion, it's controlling it that's the challenge. You can always add more reverb later, as you know.
 
Well, in my room it sounds pretty boxy. I guess I just thought that to do this and add more verb later would make it sound like a hand clap that's inside a room that's planted in the middle of a concert hall, rather than a hand clap in a concert hall.

However, claps sound especially poor in a muffled closet.
 
There is much to learn about this topic here. The general consensus, is that a small room will have much worse results than a large one. Especially, a tiny room. A little room is much harder to get to sound good, than a large one. Reflections from walls are the enemy.
 
Bummer. I tried putting up all this foam at my old place and it was a huge pain and it still didn't sound right. I was hoping the closet would solve my problems.

What about outside? You still get the sound moving through space, but there are no walls. I would even take the ambient noise over those wall reflections.
 
What type of room do you mix in? What are the dimensions? What issue, led you to try recording in a closet?

Give us more info to understand your situation. :D
 
Off topic, I'm sure, but I'd like to give the OP kudos: your writing skills are most excellent. Most amateur producah's would have tossed in a few "ur"s and used the word "like" three times, at a minimum.
 
You can go a LONG way with just an SM57 and some hard work :)
 
i agree, don't record in a closet. But a good tip to learn how to mix. A-B your stuff with music you want it to sound like. You can learn your space, and soon enough, your mixes will match.
 
Thanks for the responses (and the kudos). I'm glad to hear there are others who use one mic only, or who claim it can be done effectively.

If I had to guess, i'd say my room is 12" x 12" x 12", with a bed, four hanging curtains and a lot of plants. I have a couple gobos.

I use the closet because the clothes dampen the sound. I thought it made sense to get as dry and flat a recording as possible, and then I could dress it up later with VSTs. Sure, I could go into a hallway and do some hand claps, but if I wanted any more reverb later, it would get muddy, and the reverb I had from the mic would be mono. The decision to record in the closet is based on my assumptions, which could be incorrect. I should mention, however, that it's a walk-in closet with 12 foot high ceilings, so it's not like i'm in a little booth.
 
i would personally say deaden the vocal area AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! get creative, and practice.
 
publicradio said:
...I use the closet because the clothes dampen the sound. I thought it made sense to get as dry and flat a recording as possible, and then I could dress it up later with VSTs. .
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Your approach of avoiding the effects of a poor sounding room can be at least a viable option.
Another thing to consider too though might be the distance from the mic. If you happen to be too close that could help getting a more fitting sound image. --Whether that forces you back into room problems..?
However, claps sound especially poor in a muffled closet.
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No doubt. Along with a bit of distance, comes the diffusion and ambience we'd normally expect.
 
publicradio said:
I thought it made sense to get as dry and flat a recording as possible, and then I could dress it up later with VSTs.
Click to expand...

This is a pretty common thought, but in reality, it is much easier and better sounding to mix a good recording, than trying to "fix it in the mix" Taking the time to try mic placement and technique will go much farther. Your room sounds pretty typical of a lot of home recording people, so work on getting the best recording, then mix to taste.
 
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