Micing drumkit - 2 SM57s, 3 AKGD1000Es...

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C_flat

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I'm new to the recording game - I've got 2 SM57's, a SM56 & 3 old AKG D1000E's available to mic a live drumkit (with electric bass & guitar nearby)

I'm using a Tascam 424 MkIII to record a 3 piece instrumental group "live' - I'm close micing the 2 guitar amps (a stereo rig) to Tracks 1 & 2 (right & left), taking a direct line out of the bass amp to Track 3, leaving track 4 to get the drumkit.


I'm using a Peavey mixer/amp (an XR-684) as a mixer for the drum mics, then running it's monitor line out to the Tascam's track 4.

How should I use the 2 SM57's, the SM56 & the 3 AKG D1000E's to mic the drumkit? I was using an SM57 on the kick, and the other one from the ceiling, but I'm picking a lot of bass & guitar in the drum track that way. I thought I might use the SM56 and/or the D1000E's to get in a bit closer on the kit.

Any recommendations?

TIA,

Cb
 
57 on the kick, off to the side, barely in the sound hole, and angled toward the beater.
57 on the snare, 1" from head.
C1000 over head right, experiment with the position.
C1000 over head left, experiment with the position.
 
HearClear - thanks for the input. The AKG's are not the apparently more desireable C1000's, but D1000E's, from what I gather are a discontinued SM57-knockoff from the olden days.

Do you know if I can use the the D1000E's to imrove my drum micing, or should I try to round up addt'l SM57s or spring for condenser mics?

Thanks,

Cb
 
condenser mics!
Those d1000's will work fine.
I've got a pair of shure 849's and they sound great! I use em for acoustic guitars and overheads on drums.
You could also use the 56 and both d1000's on the toms and skip the over heads cuz the cymbals will bleed all over everything anyway. Just experiment with position and panning. Don't try and get your favorite bands sound realize what you have and work with that. Read Ed Rei's article on mixing here at homerecording.com. I found it extreamly helpful. His tips really helped me a lot (thanks Ed!).
Adam
 
just curious, why not record the guitar rig mono and the drums stereo?
 
It'd be great to get them both in stereo, but I'm using a Tascam 424 4 track machine, and I'm only recording "live" during practices.

The guitarist is an excellent player, and gets a massive sound through his rig.

As I mentioned his guitar signal is split via a stereo chorus pedal & goes out to a pair of vintage Fender Pro Reverbs spaced about 20 feet apart on either side of the drums.

His Roland synth pickup (same guitar) goes to the synth, then to a stereo PA, with PA wedges alongside each Pro Reverb. He typically blends pure guitar tone with various synth patches (most of them are stereo also) such flute, trumpet, vibes, or B-3.

We're doing a lot of instrumental covers of things like All Blues, Song for My Father, Stolen Moments, Josie, Sleepwalk, Watermelon Man, etc. Beatnik jazz, snooze blooze. For three guys we manage to get a pretty full sound.

The PA speaker's & guitar amp's sides almost touching and are "folded" in on one another at about a 30 degree angle, and I've got an SM-58 pointing at their intersection, about 5" off of each pair. Both the guitar & the synth sound great on tape with minimal bleedover from the bass & drums.

The bass is direct to tape, so what I'd like to do now is get the drumkit (all of it!) onto one track with less bass & guit bleedover.

Cb
 
My suggestion is don't track it live. If you do see if your guitar player can get a headphone amp by rolls,(4 channels, $75). Next hook that into his amp, disconnect his speakers and send his amp right into the 4-tracks line in. Now you and him listen to his guitar through the headphone amp hoked up to his rig, let the bassist listen to the whole mix through the 4-track since he's going straight to tape. You and the guitarist won't hear the bassist, but you can manage. Why not hook the headphone amp up to the 4- track? If it's live you'll be hearing those drums easy do you want em through your headphones as well. This way there's no bleed except what your drum mics pick up from your headphones.
Adam
 
I hear how you want the guitar in strereo, but the drums are really more important to have in stereo then the guitar. All the drums on one track are going to be really stale. The guitar mono wouldn't be as bad. If you put the D1000's on the toms (panned at 9, 12, and 3 oclock), a 57 on the kick, and a 57 on the snare. Either that or put the 1000's as a pair of stero overheads (need 2 tracks, one panned right, one panned left).

Jake
 
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