Newbie help with recording drums

[peptalkriot]

I haven’t recorded an entire drum set before, so I’m looking for some tips.
We’re recording onto a BOSS BR-1200, which only allows two tracks to be recorded simultaneously. We have enough mics to get the job done:
1 Rode NT-1A
2 Shure Beta 58s
2 Shure SM58s
1 Shure SM57
1 Shure PG58
We plan on running the mics through our PA head because it’s the only mixer we have a Behringer Europower PMP1280S.
The problem is, to my knowledge, the only way to send the mix to the studio unit is with the RCA record out. Will we use sound quality doing it that way?
My big questions are:
1. Which mics should we use on which drums? It’s a basic kit with three toms and a couple crashes.
2. Should we use any effects like reverb?
3. How should we pan them both on the PA head, and when the stereo track is recorded on the unit?
4. If the RCA record out is not idea, any other suggestions? I do have a 4-channel USB mixer. I was thinking I could run that through Cakewalk, utilizing all 4 channels, use the two XLR inputs on the unit to record, then export the Cakewalk tracks back on the BOSS.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[aaronmcoleman]

Well, with what you have, probably use the NT1 as an overhead, 57 on the snare, 58 on the kick, and that's it.

I'm a pretty minimalist when it comes to drums, but you at least need a pair of overheads (or maybe just NT1 but that's not a great overhead), a 57 on the snare, and decent kick mic...four total.

What you have is not really very well suited for drums.

If you can only use two inputs at at time I'd put the NT1 overhead into one on it's own, and make sure you have a good mix of kick and snare for the other.

Now, go to the drum forum and read what greg has written about recording drums. That'll answer a lot of general questions.

 

[Re-tox_stl]

This is what I would do. Use the 4 channel usb mixer, NT1 as an over head (really play with mic placement. Take your time and you should get a decent sound), Sm57 on snare, and then I would use the 2 sm58s on the kick. Place on facing toward the impact point of the beater on the drum (inside the drum) in order to pick up the attack, and place the other either facing the shell (also inside the drum) or something like that to try and pick up more of the low end. Just mess around and experiment. Thats the most fun part of recording. There are no rules, just go for it.

Drew

 

[Beat Poet]

Make sure the kit sounds good before you start, tune it up the best you can. Try and eliminate any squeaks or rattles.

 

[ecktronic]

As for effects you will want to add compression and EQ and reverb etc to the tracks that sound like they need it on the Mixer before the signals go to the Boss recorder. Because once you have recorded to the 2 tracks then you can't add effects to the separate tracks.

So what to do is Mix while the drums are being played. Once you are happy with the sound then you can go on to recording the drums with the FX settings you have made.

Be carefull with the pre amps on those Boss recorders, I used to have a BR1180CD but the pre amps were weak and crackly.

G