Purchasing of mics

[Re-tox_stl]

Ok, so heres the dealio yo. I have just started the long and crazy journey into the wonderful world of recording. And i was talking to one of my friends the other day and he said that he wants me to record his band (mainly for my own practice). Here is the kicker though, the only mic I have in my possession is my singers Shure super 55 dynamic supercardioid. So in order to record drums and everything, i need to get some more mics. I was just wondering, what do you guys think would be in my best interest; purchasing a large diaphragm condenser (probly a cheap one like the MXL 990 or something) for vocals and some acoustic guitar, or a pair of small diaphragm overheads (CAD CM217 Condenser Mics [at $50 for two, its a steal]) to record drums and possibly use them for vocals and acoustic guitar. Now I am aware that both of these mics are kind of crappy, but, Im on a super budget, and I dont really NEED top of the line stuff as of now. But anyways, any and all input would be greatly appretiated.

Much love, Drew

 

[The Cancers]

Do you want stereo drums or mono drums?
Not gonna be able to get a stereo drum sound with only one overhead.

That's not necessarily a problem.
It'll probably be easier to get a good sound with just one overhead mic, as you won't have to worry about any phase issues popping up.

I'd recommend using that dynamic you have as a spot mic on your kick or snare, depending on which one you need more of from your overhead.

Also, make sure to take your time when positioning that overhead mic, as the big drawback of only one mic on the drum kit is that you really need to get the balance right.

What I often end up having to do when I'm only recording one mic on the drums is get the mic about where I think everything is sounding good, but then have the drummer play over all the sections in the song to make sure he doesn't go to this or that drum or cymbal at one point and start overpowering everything else with it.

Also, remember that an "overhead" mic doesn't necessarily need to be overhead, and that you can often end up getting a more full sound positioning that one mic below the plane of the cymbals (which, depending on your drummer's playing style, can end up overpowering everything else).

 

[Re-tox_stl]

Alright thanks. I might just do that. But what i was thinking for drums was getting the CAD CM217 Condenser Mic off musicians friend, being that its buy one get one, And then using the recorder man drum miking method (from the videos i have watched, it sounds pretty good). Also, i do want to mic the kick, the only problem though, is that my interface (presonus audio box) only has 2 mic inputs, so i am incredibly limited.

 

[grimtraveller]

If it's not on to get an interface with more inputs, you could perhaps think about a small cheap mixer, used, nothing elaborate, something like;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Microphone-mi...dZViewItemQQptZAU_Karaoke?hash=item3ef3f0dbfa

It may not be your thing but it's a further option.

 

[Re-tox_stl]

That would work, but i would have to buy external preamps, which is money i dont have.

 

[ez_willis]

Do you want stereo drums or mono drums?

 

[Re-tox_stl]

Will it really be that big of a difference if i use mono?

 

[dintymoore]

Mono drums with one big condenser isn't as bad as you might think.

A properly placed big condenser in front of the kick and one overhead could work and it would be stereo... not your usual method, but it could work.

 

[The Cancers]

Is it really that funny?
I mean, it wasn't exactly specific, but it got the point across - two recorded tracks that you end up panning to some degree left and right or one recorded track that you pretty much put right down the center.

Or am I missing something?

 

[The Cancers]

A properly placed big condenser in front of the kick and one overhead could work and it would be stereo... not your usual method, but it could work.

Am I being misunderstood here, or just misunderstanding?

I mean, everything's gonna be in stereo in the sense that the guy's obviously not gonna be mixing in mono.

But you're not gonna pan your kick drum to one side and your overhead to the other.

You're probably gonna end up with, if you're going for a sound-of-the-drumkit-in-the-room-with-all-the-other-instruments-sound, one kick track panned center and one overhead track panned center. The high hat ain't gonna sound like it's coming from the side, same with the toms.

The responses after mine have me feeling like I'm missing something big.

 

[ez_willis]

Is it really that funny?

hilarious. does anyone want mono drums?

 

[grimtraveller]

hilarious. does anyone want mono drums?

Well, in your thread the other day about the recorderman miking method, Supercreep made the point that mono drums are sometimes awesome. And obviously some people like them. But I take your comment with a pinch of salt !

There are simply so many ways of recording drums and they're all valid to the one who digs whichever method.