Persian Drums?

[LP2006]

Hmm, i was wondering what anyone else thought about a method to recording Persian Drums. I will be recording a musician who plays them as part of a complication CD of local young musicians. I heard her audition and i must say, she is quite amazing. However, the audition was in an auditorium and the slapback echoes were quite apparent. I was thinking about recording in a smaller, more dead sort of room. Here's what I have at my disposal:

For pre's:
-Fender MX-5200 mixing console
-Stock pres on my VF160 (not much gain).

For mics:
-2 mxl603s
-mxl V63m
-At3035
-Studio Projects B3 (when it gets here)
-2 sm57 (doubt I'll use these)
-1 sm58 (same as 57's)

tracking to my VF160 or CPU (Sonar 3).

Any ideas? My first thought is X/Y with the 603's in a decent small sized room. But maybe the Auditorium would be better? I know I said the slapback bothered me earlier, but maybe it would be cool with a relatively close mic placement? I was thinking it might be good to keep away from any sort of processing to preserve the natural sound of the drum and the room. What do you guys think?

Oh this is probably crucial: The drum she was playing was metal, and kind of Djembe shaped. It was really cool.

 

[LP2006]

hehe...no bites. can't say im suprised. lol.

 

[AGCurry]

My first thought is X/Y with the 603's in a decent small sized room. But maybe the Auditorium would be better? I know I said the slapback bothered me earlier, but maybe it would be cool with a relatively close mic placement?

I think your "first thought" is a pretty good one. The room you record in would depend on what you want to do with the recording. Is it to go with other tracks, or is it going to be solo? My preference most times would be to record in a large dry room, one without a lot of echoes.

 

[Halion]

Personally, for big percussive stuff, I would find the most reverberant room you can find, close mic the drum with an XY or ORTF like you said, or perhaps even double track mono. BUT, I'd also put up a spaced pair as far away as possible, I just love the sound of percussive transients really working the reverb in a room. I'd love it.

 

[LP2006]

Personally, for big percussive stuff, I would find the most reverberant room you can find, close mic the drum with an XY or ORTF like you said, or perhaps even double track mono. BUT, I'd also put up a spaced pair as far away as possible, I just love the sound of percussive transients really working the reverb in a room. I'd love it.

I'll have to do that just for you then!

 

[Halion]

Hahaha, I hope that wasn't sarcasm

 

[dgatwood]

Personally, for big percussive stuff, I would find the most reverberant room you can find, close mic the drum with an XY or ORTF like you said, or perhaps even double track mono. BUT, I'd also put up a spaced pair as far away as possible, I just love the sound of percussive transients really working the reverb in a room. I'd love it.

I'd go one step further: record in a valley. When you find the right spot, you'll know it. The smack of the percussion will be followed a half second later by a backwash. Coolest effect ever. I heard it on a shooting range somewhere in the Phoenix/Apache Junction/Mesa/Tempe area once. (My uncle was a bit of a gun nut.) Admittedly, handguns are a heck of a lot louder than percussion instruments, but I always thought it would be a cool effect for recording drums.