Mixing Drums

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MarvinG

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I run separate compressors on the kick and snare, pan the overheads hard left/right, rack tom 15% left, floor tom 25% right, then run everything to a bus, which gets a bit more compression and EQ.

Also, I pull down 80hz (+/-10hz) about 1-2db on the bass guitar track to make a little more room for the kick drum.

I wanted to put this in the "Recording Drums" thread, but it's more a mixing post, as that thread technically should deal with treatment/mics/mic'ing/performance stuff.

How about you all?
 
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MarvinG said:
I run separate compressors on the kick and snare, pan the overheads hard left/right, rack tom 15% left, floor tom 25% right, then run everything to a bus, which gets a bit more compression and EQ.

Also, I pull down 80hz (+/-10hz) about 1-2db on the bass guitar track to make a little more room for the kick drum.

I wanted to put this in the "Recording Drums" thread, but it's more a mixing post, as that thread technically should deal with treatment/mics/mic'ing/performance stuff.

How about you all?
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Welcome to the forum MarvinG!

First off, you have just only made a statement of how you do things. Whether it is good for you personally, or a suggestion to others is kind of vague.

'Mixing Techniques' is likely not the forum for this to be posted; as your post did not include your setup or gear.

Moving to Newbie forum.
 
Very odd. My thread starts with how I mix drums and ends by asking how others go about mixing drums, which is why I posted it in the mixing forum. Not really sure how that is vague or not relevant to mixing. I also see plenty of threads on mixing that don't include "set up or gear" and I've already included that information in my introduction newbie thread. But if it's relevant I'll go ahead and start including it in every post. Do you suggest I put it up front or perhaps in my signature block?
 
Yeah, I just double checked and the Newbie Forum, where you moved this thread, literally says: "But if it's on a topic in another forum, best to post it there."

Hmmm, since this thread is about my technique for mixing drums I'm still a little confused why it was inappropriate for it to have been posted under "Mixing Techniques".
 
It's not about being "inappropriate", Marvin....it's more about it not being anything groundbreaking/new.

What you posted.....probably a million other people do in kinda the same way with minor differences, and it is somewhat of the more common "newbie" approach....doing something generic AFA technique, which is cool.
Saying you "put individual comps on the Kick and Snare and pan the OH L/R" is pretty common stuff, and there's not much there to discuss.

It would be like someone starting a thread saying, "I use .09 gauge strings, and that's my technique for getting a good guitar tone".
Very generic stuff....millions use .09 strings.

Don't take it bad.....just hang around and wait until a good discussion thread pops up and see if there's something for you to take part in.
If you're going to start a thread, it should have some meat to it....or at least be funny. :)
 
I'm not "taking it bad" in the least. It's just that I see threads under "Mixing Techniques" with folks straight up introducing themselves ("Hi, I'm So-and-so...) that have nothing to do with mixing whatsoever not being moved. Yet my thread about my drum mixing technique (whether or not it is groundbreaking really doesn't matter) asking others to weigh in on their mixing techniques gets moved out of a forum dedicated to mixing techniques. Very odd.

Look, I understand it has more to do with me being new and nothing to do with the thread itself. I'm not an idiot. But if your gonna move my threads because I'm a "stupid newb" then just move them. Don't make up fake contradictory reasons.
 
Fake???

It does not have anything to do with you being 'new' man.

Just the vague post did not seem to have a relevant forum. No offense meant in any way.

Like I stated, typically members already have stated what gear is used by the time they post in the 'Mixing Techniques' forum.

Sorry if you were offended. Your post sounded like it was a newbie question. My bad I guess...
 
Not offended at all. Just keeping it real. You moved my thread about drum mixing techniques from the mixing techniques forum and your reasons don't add up. I posted my gear weeks ago, so that one doesn't fly either.

Still not buying it that a thread about drum mixing techniques belongs in newbie and not mixing techniques though, especially when there are threads in that mixing forum that have nothing to do with mixing sitting right there on the first page.

It's cool. I'm not the first new guy to show up to an Internet forum and have to prove himself before not having to deal with BS anymore. It's been happening since forums started (and in high schools around the world long before that). I get it. Doesn't mean I'm not gonna through the BS flag on the field when I see a bad play though.
 
Whoa dood. Don't take things so personally. How about you step off a bit and realize people are here to help out, not trying to judge you.

Only trying to keep some organization around here. Stay a while and you might see why.
 
I find compression and EQ settings to be entirely dependant on the source. Performance issues play a large role as well as the overall sound of the kit. This includes the heads and tuning. Also the room the kit was recorded in as well as the placement of the mics. And to a slightly lesser extent which mics were used. What cymbals you have will matter. How hard the player hits things will matter. The weight and type of sticks will matter.

All of those factors will have a bigger overall effect on the sound of the kit than any corrective eq that might be required downstream. Mic placement for example can change the sound in ways that downstream processing isn't capable of. Beyond that there has to be other elements in the mix that the drums have to live with. What those are and how well they were recorded and performed plus the overall vibe of the track are key factors for listening in context.

So where to apply eq? Big question there is what do you have to start with? I don't mean to come off in a harsh way here but arbitrary eq presets are useless. You can only arrive at these decisions by listening. Nixing the tom mics for example might be able to provide "eq" in such a way that opens the kit up and adds size. Post processing is a different option and it will yield a different result.

Compression is another can of worms. It can be applied at any point in the process in a number of ways. I usually don't print compression but it's a valid option and preferred by some people. So are we talking seamless 2 dB gain reduction? Crushed? Pumping? If I'm going to compress individual drums will it be serial or parallell? I generally do apply compression on the drum buss and again later on the 2 buss. At what point will the drums collapse into a small mess of cardboard? Does it add to the track or or not?

Again, having a type of sound you're going for and listening in context are key to the mixing process. Preset mentality doesn't serve very well.
 
miroslav said:
How's the weather out by you?
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"..reporting dust storms today followed by rain."
"Bob that's an odd combo for this area.."
"Yes it is. But hold on we have chances of scattered mud flurries expected tonight!.. Back to you Bill..."

:) not really :>) Clear and cool. There was a bit tectonic' a few days ago down south in La La land though..
 
That little guy taking in the show............Hysterical!!!LMAO!
 
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