limited drum miking ideas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mountainmirrors
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Mountainmirrors

kaleidoscopic renegade
Greetings-
I'm going to record some live drums onto my digital 4track, then move the stereo track into my PC for tracking everything else.
My dilemma is this- I only have 2 mics. An SM57 and an Audio Technics condenser mic.
Will the condenser mic suck for drum pops- or will it be ok at a distance? I figure if it sounds really good, I'll leave it alone. If it sounds too lo-fi I'll just embrace that and distort it into outer space.
Any ideas for optimal placement for a 2-mic setup for drums?
Also any ideas for EQ treatment/ compression, etc.??

Gratefully,
Jeff
 
Jeff,
Have you tried your ideas already? what have you tried?

RF
 
Try this. Put the 57 on the snare back about 6" from the rim aimed at the rim/top. Put the condensor about 3' out in front of the kick about 18" or so off the floor. If that doesn't sound good to, drop back and punt.:cool:
 
id have to go with the 57 on the kick and the condenser either overhead or out front of the kit, wherever you find a good balance....just walk around the kit where you find the spot....use Harvey's advice and plug one ear with your finger while you are listening....
 
I agree with putting the 57 not to close (couple feet I think) to the kick and about 1 or 2 feet off the ground. Then place the condenser overhead, maybe even centered overhead, where you can find the best overall balance as Gidge suggested. This will not allow you to do much with separation, but you should be able to find a place that has sound similar to what you are hearing as you play, and from the track from the 57 you will be able to add the kick and low end of toms and snare if necessary. Good luck! :D
 
Thanks, guys. I wasn't sure if the condenser would be useless for drums. Good news!
Should I leave the eq alone?
 
I'm prone to record drums with as straight a signal from the mics as possible. And I like to record everything with peaks between -6 and -3db. I try to get this version sounding as close as I want it to sound right off the bat. That way I know I am getting the best raw sound in the computer (or whatever you record to) and can add EQ, FX, etc after. I know alot of guys will say that compression can be added before it goes to the medium, but I have no hardware compressor so I don't know about this. My $.02 :cool:
 
Thanks for the peak info...
I'm glad I asked as I woulds done everything hacked.
So used to using a drum machine...back in the day I'd just hang a Radioshack mic from the ceiling and it was good enough.
Now that a buzz is happening for my stuff I need to do it the best I can possibly do. That's why this forum is the ultimate resource to me.

Gratefully,
Jeff
 
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