new rock sound

[jli]

Yesterday I was listening to some tracks that I have recorded and then I listened to a newer rock song. I noticed that the drums sounds on the pro recording had a big thick "twack" or "crack" to them. I listened to a bunch of other new rock tracks they all seem to have that same sound. I record my drums with the following:

shure kick mic
dynamic mic (57s) on the snare and toms
2 condensers over head.
I use compression, and eq on every mic as I need

Someone suggested that I had the mics too close so I'm gonna change that next time, but I was wondering if anyone has more advice on getting that new rock sound?

 

[ecktronic]

Close micing and good mic placement. And compression! and eq, maybe some gates.

 

[Farview]

A lot of what you hear are samples. The other thing is that the 57s aren't going to cut it if you are looking for the sound I think you are. Some people are using 4033s on the toms and 3 or 4 mics in the kick. You also would not believe the difference that a high quality preamp (neve, langevin, trident, api) will make.
It also has to do with the drums. People tend to be using small drums tuned low instead of huge drums tuned high (or low, for that matter) That makes a difference.
And still after all that, the sounds are beefed up with samples anyway.

 

[Ronan]

Yesterday I was listening to some tracks that I have recorded and then I listened to a newer rock song. I noticed that the drums sounds on the pro recording had a big thick "twack" or "crack" to them. I listened to a bunch of other new rock tracks they all seem to have that same sound.

Its hard to say with out hearing what you are listening to, but there are a lot of factors that go into modern rock drum sounds. Its a combo of micing and pres, EQ, compression, gating and in many cases mixing in samples with the acoustic drums.

 

[HangDawg]

Is there something wrong with having drums sound like drums? Screw all that over the top shit. I try to record the kit the way it sounds in the room it's in. I'm certainly not great at it but the people I've been working with seem to like it.

 

[Farview]

Is there something wrong with having drums sound like drums? Screw all that over the top shit. I try to record the kit the way it sounds in the room it's in. I'm certainly not great at it but the people I've been working with seem to like it.

There is nothing wrong with it, it would make things easier. But certain genres of music need over the top drums. Could you imagine rap music with nothing but real drums?

 

[Bulls Hit]

You also would not believe the difference that a high quality preamp (neve, langevin, trident, api) will make.

When I'm recording drums, the pres on the kick and snare mics are barely used, maybe a 1/2 notch above 0. Any more than this and the signal will start to clip.

Is this normal, or should I be using more gain and recording with a limiter or something?

 

[glimmer_doll]

Is there something wrong with having drums sound like drums? Screw all that over the top shit. I try to record the kit the way it sounds in the room it's in. I'm certainly not great at it but the people I've been working with seem to like it.

one day all these trigger happy people will see the error of their ways.

help keep music real people!

 

[B.C.Johnson]

There is nothing wrong with it, it would make things easier. But certain genres of music need over the top drums. Could you imagine rap music with nothing but real drums?

Man, rap bands with real drummers or real musicians are AWESOME. But that won't stop me from thinking the genre is terrible.

 

[lanterns]

Man, rap bands with real drummers or real musicians are AWESOME. But that won't stop me from thinking the genre is terrible.

all i can think of is Public Enemy while reading your opinion.

 

[Farview]

When I'm recording drums, the pres on the kick and snare mics are barely used, maybe a 1/2 notch above 0. Any more than this and the signal will start to clip.

Is this normal, or should I be using more gain and recording with a limiter or something?

That is normal. The louder the source, the less gain you need to get good levels.