stepXinXtheXmix
New member
Hey guys and gals, I'm wondering what other people are doing to miking and mixing drums, I personally use protools 8, so if there are any tricks let me know...
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R
RAMI
Guest
No, there are no tricks.
Tune your drums, get them to sound as close to how you want them to sound in the final mix as you can before you even think about plugging in a mic. Next thing you do is read this: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=273077
Horkin My Lunch
New member
Experiment relentlessly and tune the drums. That is pretty crucial. I suggest getting a DrumDial to take out most of the guess work. This isn't exactly new hat, but don't assume you can fix it in the mix. Get the sounds you want so you don't have to fix anything, just tweek it to bring out the character. I like to press bypass on and off between fiddling with knobs. I like to hear the characteristic of the raw file and then bring out the best of it. At the other end of the spectrum, you can do some extreme EQ or compression to achieve something "altered."
As far as mixing goes, I like to have everything playing, absolutely no mutes or solos, then set up busses for the drums, bass, guitar, etc. I like mixing in mono to make sure there aren't any phase discrepancies and that everything is even. I usually start out on drums, so I turn the rest down slightly, but enough so you can hear how it fits and what could be changed. After that, I level out the drums so everything is relatively balanced so I can start doing the critical stuff. I try to get most of the tone out of the overheads. I like to limit them a bit so the the snare in the overheads don't overpower the mic'd snare. To me, it sounds a lot more even and tight. From there, I tweak the rest of the drums to compliment the OH track and give it it's own space
But don't take my word for it, this is just what I do. I also don't limit OHs on ever session, I mix to fit the character and tone of the song/band. Get your hands on mixes and just practice. It's pretty fun to just experiment. Hands on is key! Then again, I'm a pretty big nerd.
As far as mixing goes, I like to have everything playing, absolutely no mutes or solos, then set up busses for the drums, bass, guitar, etc. I like mixing in mono to make sure there aren't any phase discrepancies and that everything is even. I usually start out on drums, so I turn the rest down slightly, but enough so you can hear how it fits and what could be changed. After that, I level out the drums so everything is relatively balanced so I can start doing the critical stuff. I try to get most of the tone out of the overheads. I like to limit them a bit so the the snare in the overheads don't overpower the mic'd snare. To me, it sounds a lot more even and tight. From there, I tweak the rest of the drums to compliment the OH track and give it it's own space
But don't take my word for it, this is just what I do. I also don't limit OHs on ever session, I mix to fit the character and tone of the song/band. Get your hands on mixes and just practice. It's pretty fun to just experiment. Hands on is key! Then again, I'm a pretty big nerd.
stepXinXtheXmix
New member
well apparently everyone on this site is a douche. I'm not a noob on recording, i'm asking if anyone has any techniques or TRICKS for miking or recording drums.....if you're telling me the recording is made to be in a box then go to your quick links and delete your acount....and tape can suck it....
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
I only see one douche in this thread and that's the one who claims not to be a newb, yet refuses to read a thread that is *full* of quality technique, and who still believes that this racket is based upon "tricks". There are no "tricks".
FYI, Greg_L, who created that thread, and Rami, who respoded to you here, are two of the better drummer/recorders on this board. If what they have to say isn't good enough for you, then you're on the wrong Internet.
G.
FYI, Greg_L, who created that thread, and Rami, who respoded to you here, are two of the better drummer/recorders on this board. If what they have to say isn't good enough for you, then you're on the wrong Internet.
G.
D
dintymoore
Guest
I'm at the point where I actually find that stuff funny in an Archie Bunker sort of way, you might as well laugh.
This http://www.mercenary.com/3micdrumstuf.html helped me. For me #1 is that the drums sound good in the room to begin with. If they don't it's going to be hard to fix after! Also, and this is mega - the drummer has to play with a useable ratio between his kick, snare and hihat. Amateur drummers tend to play the hihat loud and sloopy and the kick wimpy. A lot of times people are using lots of mics and eq to try and fix that.
For a test, put I good mic in front of the kick and if the set doesn't sound usable with just that, there's an acoustic problem you need to fix before recording.
I record with 4 mics - kick, snare and overheads. The end sound should be mostly the overheads with the kick and snare mics adding on to the sound.
My overheads - one over my left shoulder sitting at the kit, about a foot higher than my shoulder, and the other one is about a foot above my floor tom. Both mics are pointed directly at the spot where I hit my snare. It's important to measure (I use drumsticks) the distance from where I hit my snare to each overhead mic and they need to be the same distance - that's important.
I don't use any eq on my overheads... I try not to on the snare and kick but if have to it will be subtractive, I rarely boost 'cause I don't like the sound of it. I don't compress my overheads but do my snare and often the kick.
Almost all the time, I use my left stick (the backbeat stick) turned around so that the butt end hits the head for a fat sound. I prefer that to the "tick" sound you get in comparison when you use the tip of the stick.
R
RAMI
Guest
Lol! You've got to be the biggest asshole who's posted here in a long time. And that's saying a lot!
Once again, I'll answer your question, shitball. THERE ARE NO TRICKS. Tune your drums well, play them properly, and experiment with mic placement. The fact that you think there are some "TRICKS" shows that you ARE a newb, contrary to what you claim.
And what the fuck does this even mean????
Fucking loser.
D
dintymoore
Guest
... You've got to be the biggest asshole...shitball.
class act...
R
RAMI
Guest
...here we go....another fucking loser......
A little selective in what and who you quote, don't you think, Sally????
Once again, idiot, I'll remind you that your opinion means nothing to me. You're a wind bag and a blow hard, while your "advice" is 99% of the time laughable at best. So, you should be minding your own business.
I'll respond to someone calling me names and being an asshole however I see fit, and the fact that I don't have your approval means you couldn't wipe this grin off my face with a sledgehammer.
G
Greg_L
Banned
Lol @ this thread.
philbagg
Just Killing Time
C
Chibi Nappa
New member
Wow, what a train wreck.
The only thing I can think of that might be a "trick": If you want a dead snare, tape a wallet to the head. But here's the thing: The wallet has to contain a $100 bill. Here's the other thing: The drummer has to know there is a $100 bill in there. For whatever reason, sometimes it draws the right type of attention to the snare drum and makes the drummer really pay attention to where he is hitting.
I've never tried it, but I've heard.
Being that it is a "trick", don't hang too many hopes on this one.
The only thing I can think of that might be a "trick": If you want a dead snare, tape a wallet to the head. But here's the thing: The wallet has to contain a $100 bill. Here's the other thing: The drummer has to know there is a $100 bill in there. For whatever reason, sometimes it draws the right type of attention to the snare drum and makes the drummer really pay attention to where he is hitting.
I've never tried it, but I've heard.
Being that it is a "trick", don't hang too many hopes on this one.
D
dintymoore
Guest
Wow, what a train wreck.
Absolutely the funniest thread I've seen on this site so far.
T
Take22
New member
Try this!
I completely agree as far as the tuning goes...and do it often. I've been screwing around with my kit for awhile getting the sound right before I miced it. OK, heres something I did that allows some variation for the kick..double mic it. I put a Shure 57 inside and a Shure Beta 52 just outside the batter head. Plug them into the separate channels to fade independently. You want alot of slap and attack, up the 52, decrease the 57 and vice versa for a solid thud. Playback via your monitors with a little eq from the mains. Worked for me in a small room. Oh yeah, a little gating helps too.
I completely agree as far as the tuning goes...and do it often. I've been screwing around with my kit for awhile getting the sound right before I miced it. OK, heres something I did that allows some variation for the kick..double mic it. I put a Shure 57 inside and a Shure Beta 52 just outside the batter head. Plug them into the separate channels to fade independently. You want alot of slap and attack, up the 52, decrease the 57 and vice versa for a solid thud. Playback via your monitors with a little eq from the mains. Worked for me in a small room. Oh yeah, a little gating helps too.
stepXinXtheXmix
New member
Thanks to all the ones that actually posted something worth something. I'm sorry if I offended the elders of the realm of home recording forums. Actually not really. And there are tricks to get the sound you want. I've heard of a band taking a SM57 and sticking it in a large water bottle and sticking it in the kick to get a sound that of being under water or placing a mic in a wooden box and burying it to imitate someone being buried. So yes all you douches can suck it and thanks to the ones who actually like to share tips and tricks for getting sounds.
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