Let's discuss snare issues: "Top & bottom mic;gate;compress"[seriously need feedback]

[Saz]

Let's discuss snare issues: "Top & bottom mic;gate;compress"[seriously need feedback]

Hi people,

I'm currently mixing a recording of my band, which we recorded about two weeks ago.
We recorded everything in Adobe Audition [fka Cool Edit Pro].
It's not the first time I'm doing this, but it IS the first time that I actually thought hard about optimalizing the snare sound; even prior to recording.

So.. I was hoping to engage some of you in a discussion.

I'll list my "issues" :

• I have recorded the snare with two microphones; one top, and one bottom. The bottom track is "inverted" to match the "stereo image".
  I have no idea [yet] how to mix/blend these, because basically it's trial and error. Maybe some of you at least can tell me what NOT to do...
  
• Compressing is not really a problem, but ideas are always welcome.
  However GATING is a problem. In "Audition" we get a gate/compressor as one effect.
  I cannot seem to get the "gate-function" to react well on my snare tracks. Either it cuts away a bit of the attack, or it does not cut away the noise in between the snares. I have figured out some "attack and release times" for compressing, but I just cannot seem to pinpoint them for "gating". I have found out that they are not the same as the values for "compressing".
  Apart from this, I should also be able to make the gate "react" to a certain "frequency". Any ideas on this?
  
• I'm always "unsure" in which ORDER to use the fx. For instance: First compress, THEN EQ? Or first EQ, then compress?
  
• Audition "lacks" a "gated reverb". You can use reverb and gate as a separate effect one after another. Can this also do the job?
  
• Any ideas on some cool DX based plugins for: EQ, Compression, Gating, and some "more or less standard" multi-fx like "gated reverb"

I'm enclosing a sample of the recorded [DRY&yetUNMIXED] snare sound:

Snare Sample

First you'll hear the top mic only, after that you'l hear the same sample, but bottom mic only, and the third sample is both tracks layered.

I really hope that some of you guys have some ideas for me!!

Thanx in advance,

Saz

 

[Track Rat]

Here's a quick idea. Don't crosspost this all over the forum.

 

[bennychico11]

Cross posting...shame shame...but since this is the first one I've seen of it, I'll reply here.
The sample actually sounds pretty good. I think the background sounds are quiet enough that you should be able to easily gate them. Just start the threshold really low and then slowly increase it. Do the same for the hold time, attack, and release. Are you EQing your snare and hearing the excess sounds not fitting into the mix? I think some people tend to freak out too much when they hear other sounds in each drum track. Keep in mind, those excess sounds you're hearing are in the mix somewhere else already...so it's not a HUGE deal that you can't get rid of it.
Another way that you "gate" it is just by zooming in on the wave form and editing out the parts you don't want. A little time consuming, but it can get it done. Also, usually you'd want to do compress and then EQ. Therefore all your EQ work won't be ruined when you smash all the frequencies down with the compressor. Good luck.