Micing Cymbals?

[lttoler]

Hi, I am currently recording drums with my band. We have a 6 piece set of Audix Fusion drum mics that are run into a 16 track mixer and then into a Boss Br-1180. So far we have got a really great sound from everything except the overheads. The cymbals drown out everything. I'm sort of a beginner at recording. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Dogbreath]

I would guess it's the mic placement. Where and how do you have them set up?

 

[seismetr0n]

maybe raise your cymbal mics higher... i keep mine about 3 feet up from the cymbals (in stereo x/y configuration, over the centerline of the kit)

gl

 

[Dogbreath]

I did a quick search and got this among many others...

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=184779&highlight=drum+micing

I usually spend extra time on my OH placement. They're kinda the "sum" of the kit so getting them dialed in right will get you a nice cymbal mix as well as the rest of the kit.

I use the 4 mic technique with 1 OH above the snare and the other over the drummers right shoulder. Works pretty well.

How's your room? Treated? Large? Small?

Food for thought, mang.........

 

[PlnsMstkn4Jacob]

I use the 4 mic technique with 1 OH above the snare and the other over the drummers right shoulder. Works pretty well.

This sounds like a good technique right up my alley, I might try this one myself cause that will get a good amount of the snare in an overhead rather then having to close mic it cause I hate how that sounds most of the time. Any tips on keeping those 2 mics out of the drummers way(over the shoulder, above the snare)?

 

[lttoler]

I just read on a site that one of the most common problems is mixing everything else (kick, snare, toms, etc.) before you mix the overheads. I have been doing just the oppositive of this. Also, my overheads are about a foot above and away from the drumset which is probably way too close. My drummer and I will work with this new information and see how it turns out. Thanks for the help!

 

[treymonfauntre]

so your overheads are, in essence, under any reasonable sized person's head?

 

[Tim Brown]

so your overheads are, in essence, under any reasonable sized person's head?

I think they mean a foot above the cymbals.

Even though I have used what I call "underheads".



I set my kit up, then I just put up a pair of "overheads" somewhere between the top of the toms, and the bottom of the cymbals, and aimed down.
It gives the toms a little room to breathe, and keeps the cymbal volume lower in the mics.



Tim

 

[emergencyexit]

I think they mean a foot above the cymbals.

Even though I have used what I call "underheads".



I set my kit up, then I just put up a pair of "overheads" somewhere between the top of the toms, and the bottom of the cymbals, and aimed down.
It gives the toms a little room to breathe, and keeps the cymbal volume lower in the mics.



Tim

Never thought of that one. When you say aimed down do you mean down towards the ground or kind of at the snare a bit