Poor tom sound. need help.

  • Thread starter Thread starter elementary
  • Start date Start date
E

elementary

New member
Hey we recently recorded a demo and everything sounded well apart from the toms. We used xy overheads (groove tubes gt33) akgd112 on kick and sm57 on snare. I know the problem is that the toms have old heads and arent that resonant anymore. The recording is just a demo so superb quality is not essential but i was wondering, if i close mic'd the toms would i be able to get a better, fatter sound? We have two sennheiser dynamics, i cant remember the model but they are the sm58 rivals e635maybe? and a behringer B2 pro. what would be the most productive way to use these to close mic 3 toms?
 
put one sennheiser between the 2 rack toms and the other on the floor tom. Just spend the money and get the heads. If they sound bad to begin with, mic technique won't do you much good.
 
Change the heads and tune them properly. Close micing will only highlight the crap sound!
 
You need to observed everything from the heads to the tuning,to the equalization,to the placing of the mics,.. unless you want to spend the money getting a good software,( which in that case you could do recording even with a corrugated-board-drum),lol. :D Gerry Zaragemca.
 
The heads are soooooo important. You won't get a good sound from old heads. They're dead and will sound dead when you record them. If you need to stretch a little more life out of them, you could hit 'em with a hair dryer and get them to shrink a little, but nothing is going to sound like new heads. I'll use old ones while writing and working out parts, but when it's time for a seious recording session, it's new heads all around.

Tuning is also a must. Learn to tune them properly. And use double headed toms. Single heads sound like crap!!
 
Don't ever say that since it's just a demo it doesn't have to be great quality. This is your reputation you're talking about. Demos are to be used to make an impression on other people. You don't want them saying "That band was great!! If only the toms didn't sound like crap." Would you have the same feeling about recording the guitar, or bass, or keys, or any other instrument? 5 poor recordings of 5 poor instruments makes a poor sounding demo.

It's a demo, 'cause de-mo you hear it, de-mo you're suppose to like it!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top