Kick mics: D112 vs SM57 in a low-end setup?

[C_flat]

'Nuther question:

I'm recording a drumkit in a "live" setting (basement heroes recording bass, guitar & drums simultaneously - no overdubs or retakes for us!)

At present I've got a SM57 in the kickdrum, SM57 on the snare, and a pair of -603's as overheads. I run these 4 into a Mackie 1402 mixer, then run a mono drum submix over to my Tascam 424 cassette machine's track 1. (the drums get one track, the bass one track, and the guitarist's stereo rig gets the other two)

In a simple cassette-based recording system like that, will I see any benefit by going to a "real" kick mic such as a D112 in place of the SM57?

thanks again,

Cb

 

[Gidge]

the sm57 is a real mic...ive heard instances where pro studios have used a sm57 on the kick...if you want that deep boomy sound, you may wannt the d112.....for what you are doing Id stay with the sm57.....

also, have you ever thought of giving the drums 2 tracks instead of the guitar?.....maybe you could submix the 4 drum mics and the bass onto 2 tracks and the guitar can still have its 2 tracks.....

 

[Track Rat]

A 57 can do a decent job in a kick but a mic like a D-112 will definately have more low end than a 57. Everytime I feel like experimenting with different mics for kicks I always end up back with a D-112 as the main kick mic. As always, YMMV.

 

[ruebarb]

put the D112 in deeper for more thump

I used to put an SM57 and D112 on a drum mic...cause I wanted the thump and I needed an SM57 about 5 inches from the beater.

Now I just stick a special boom stand and the mic about 5-7 inches inside the bass drum...also works wonders.

The D112 is a standard like SM57 is for guitar cabs you can't go wrong buying one. (it's not the best for every drum at every moment, but it's a great Swiss Army Knife) -

RB

 

[tubedude]

If you can find a used one cheap, try an EV RE-20 or RE-27, preferably a 20... not cheap, but it will have many more uses than a standard kick mic, and may excel on many vocals and bass cabs too, maybe even better than your condesors. Great kick mic, though, and you could easily use it as an assault weapon.

 

[Track Rat]

This is true.

 

[C_flat]

Thanks gents - I didn't mean to infer that the SM57 wasn't a "real" mic, I meant only that it wasn't necessarily a purpose-built kick mic like the D112.

I guess there's no compelling reason for me to buy a used D112 at the present time, but I've never let that sort of thing stop me before!

Thanks,

Cb

 

[Herm]

Yes the D112 is a better mic for the kick , And like some one else mentioned
I would quit wasting two tracks on a stereo guitar mix.
dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the two channel thing for guitar but with
a 4 track to record with I think your mix would be better served using them elsewhere.

 

[Gidge]

no overdubbing or retakes may be the BIGGEST problem....you can have the killerest mics/equip, but if you are unwilling to get it on tape right, you are selling yourself short......

id do it the classic way....set the drums to record on 4 separate tracks...have the whole band set up and record until you get the drum performance you want......bounce the 4 tracks to a 2 track stereo drum mix....have the bass player and guitar player play along to it submixing to the 2 free tracks....then mix that.....

there are many other ways to do it even better, but just trying to open you up to new ideas......

 

[tubedude]

I cant figure out, now, how I ever got by with 4 tracks... impossible...

 

[Herm]

You know i probably have 50 tracks on the computer I can use and I also have 16 on a
fostex reel to reel but i am starting to get back into using my 4 track reel to reel cause
it seemed like it was just more fun, You kinda have to work for it, When i go back
and listen to some of the stuff i did when all i had was a teac 3340 im amazed at how
good some of that stuff sounded.

 

[Meshuggah]

I wouldn't rule out the Audio Technica ATM25 in this situation..