Placing plywood under drumset

[FattMusiek]

Has anyone done this? I've heard it can brighten your drum mixes considerably. Is there anything I need to know when choosing the wood? Thanks for your time.

 

[seismetr0n]

i havent done it, but ive heard of it for acoustic guitar recording... i would imagine it would be brighter and louder (more reflections)... i wouldn't think the wood would matter too much... youre just after the reflections, youre not trying to get it to resonate

?
gl

 

[tarnationsauce2]

I have tried this before and wans't too happy with the results.
Neither was the drummer with his bass drum sliding around. Well that's easily fixed.
I found that it did bring out some of the drum's highs. But it also introduced a really bad mid-range thumpy sound. Probably partially to blame is I had to have the mic stands on the plywood as well and the energy from the drums vibrated the plywood. In turn vibrated the mic stands/mics any time anything was hit there was a "doomp" sound with it, even cymbals.
The plywood ended up resonating more than reflecting the drum sound.

 

[mixsit]

I was asking the same thing over at gearslutz -looking for a bit more brightness. Had better luck with a search on RAP though, basically since it has 'use all words' in the search function for 'wood 'floor' 'drums (or whatever.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.audio.pro?hl=en
Wayne

 

[TragikRemix]

i dont think it would be good.... maybe a nice thick sheet of plywood, with some heavy carpet on top. this would (possibly) separate the drum set from the floor and reduce some vibrations...

 

[travelin travis]

wtf is the point of using a piece of plywood if you're gonna cover it with carpet? i don't get it. please explain.

how does a piece of plywood isolate the drums from the floor? i don't get it. please explain.

why don't you try putting some books on the floor around the drum kit..........no need to put any mics, drums, carpet, monkeys, etc. on top of the books.

 

[TragikRemix]

wtf is the point of using a piece of plywood if you're gonna cover it with carpet? i don't get it. please explain.

how does a piece of plywood isolate the drums from the floor? i don't get it. please explain.

why don't you try putting some books on the floor around the drum kit..........no need to put any mics, drums, carpet, monkeys, etc. on top of the books.

i really dont know

but maybe the wood would absorb some of the vibrations (?)

its a theory

 

[tarnationsauce2]

i really dont know

but maybe the wood would absorb some of the vibrations (?)

its a theory

No, the wood transmits the vibrations rather than absorb it.

 

[TexRoadkill]

Actually a layer of thick carpet then the plywood would be the way to go.

 

[Booda]

My main room is built on top of Concrete w/ a layer of Carpet... I had very dark recordings... My 8' ceiling is dead as well. I added 2 sheets of plywood in the middle of the room and it made a big difference that being +

I thought I'd get Thump through the Mic stands But I don't. It's been working great and the overall sound in the room is so much better. My room was very dead and dark though. So it worked for me but might not for someone else. It's only $30 to experiment

The last drummer I recorded had to put his Oriental carpet under his set. His snare also was dead... and didn't want to use one of mine. The drum sound sucked... really just the snare. They were still very happy w/ the recording, knowing it was their mistake and said next time they'll do things different.

B.