overhead drums mics in stereo

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woody777

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Should you use the same model for best results? We have two different condenser mics (not sure of the model as they belong to our other guitarist - I can update the post later). What is your experience?
 
you should use the same mics or preferably a matched pair for an accurate stereo image. If thats all you have try placing one about two to three feet above the the high hat side about where the snare would be in relationship from frnt to back. and one over the ride side following the symetry of the for mention mic position. both mics face straight down.
 
the recording I just did had two different condensers, pencil pointed at the hats/hi tom side of the kit, and a medium diaphragm pointed at the floor tom side of the kit. I thought it came out pretty good, but it was also augmented by a snare mic and kick mic, so YMMV
 
Cool... thanks guys. I will also be close micing the kick and snare.

So, if I'm using different mics, should I record two seperate mono tracks?
 
So, if I'm using different mics, should I record two seperate mono tracks?[/url]

As opposed to one stereo?

I'd alway use separate mono tracks in this situation regardless of my mic setup...
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Lots of people use different mics on on OH setup to good effect. I don't know if it's preferable, but it will probably be ok. For rock and pop drum OH i'm not even sure if matched pairs are that important.
 
Synkrotron said:
So, if I'm using different mics, should I record two seperate mono tracks?[/url]

As opposed to one stereo?

I'd alway use separate mono tracks in this situation regardless of my mic setup...
Click to expand...

Right, as opposed to one stereo track. I read that a lot of guys like to record overheads in stereo. Is there an advantage versus recording two tracks of mono? Kind of a stupid question maybe, but what's the difference?
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Supercreep said:
Lots of people use different mics on on OH setup to good effect.
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I'm glad someone's said that... I recently tracked our drummer in his garage using an SM58 on one side and an SM58a Beta on the other... boy did I have to mess with the EQ though;) (although that was probably more down to me not know zip about tracking).
 
woody777 said:
Right, as opposed to one stereo track. I read that a lot of guys like to record overheads in stereo. Is there an advantage versus recording two tracks of mono? Kind of a stupid question maybe, but what's the difference?
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There's no real difference other than with two separate mono tracks it gives you the ability to treat each diffently with EQ or compression, so it's just a question of flexibility really. And you just need to set the pan of one hard left and the other hard right.
 
Synkrotron said:
There's no real difference other than with two separate mono tracks it gives you the ability to treat each diffently with EQ or compression, so it's just a question of flexibility really. And you just need to set the pan of one hard left and the other hard right.
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So by recording in stereo, does it just automatically pan one track hard right and the other hard left? Surely there has to be something more than that to it? But maybe not...

So, it sounds like I get more flexibility with recording to two mono tracks and I can use two different condenser mics to my advantage. So I guess the real question is when would you want to use a matched pair and record in stereo? I'm sure each method has it's merits.
 
So by recording in stereo, does it just automatically pan one track hard right and the other hard left? Surely there has to be something more than that to it?
Click to expand...

Yeah. All a stereo track is is two mono tracks together in the same track, each panned hard left and right.

One other advantage of separate mono tracks is that you have more control over both the levels and pan position which enables you to adjust for the fact that you may have had your two overhead mics set up differently...
 
I usually record them as mono, and pan them about 65%. Stereo will pan them 100% and you can't change it (as stated above).
 
In My setup I have every tom and Drum Miced with OK Quality Dynamic Mics (Amikliv 1 Mics, I know you have never heard of them) and I have 2 Condensers for Overheads (One on the Left One on the Right , One of the Condencers is a Peavey EC-10 and the other One is one That I made myself) and I also have another Condenser that I made just on the Outside of my Bass drum so I use 8 Mics in Total...

Since adding the Condensers as Overheads and one on the Bass drum my Drum recording sound has vastly Improved and I am very happy with the sound, especially with my Bass drum useing a Dynamic close to the head and the condenser just outside the Hole...

All of my Mics all together Cost me well under $200 and the Home made condensers only cost me about $10 each and 2 Hours of assembly, I"m sure once I get some Proper Monitors i will be able to actually hear the sound much better.....

Cheers
 
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