recording a Big kit

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woody1144

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Hi! im called Rick and im new here.

ive been reading these forums for a while and have learnt a lot, however i cannot find any answers to my main question, micing a large kit.

I want to start recording my drum kit. I dont want to spend loads and i dont need a proffesional sound, just something that will sound quite good and be pleasing to the ears :D

My drum kit is:

Pearl export:
8",10",12" rack toms
16" floor tom
snare
2x 22" bass drums
Sabian AAX cymbals ride, hats various crashes and effects.

Ive got an alesis D4 drum module and i trigger my bass drums (id like my recordings bass drums triggered aswell)

I have yet to start buying mixers and mics soundcards and things so ill be starting from scratch and gradually building up. I have however got a shure prologue condenser.
I dont really want to spend that much money (im looking a entry stuff here) id just like to get a nice recording.

i like the idea of mixing the drums on the computer and eqing and things so im guessing a multi input sound card (Maya1010)? But then i think its a lot of money for that so maybe an anaologue mixer (behringer UB1204)?

As i have a lot of toms, can i get away with having 1 mic for say 2 toms or should i mic all toms or just let the toms get picked up in the overheards?

My computer can handle the tracks so thats not a problem.
i know i will sound a cheapskate here but i dont really want to spend more than £300-400 for the whole eventual set-up.

So how would you guys as sound engineers go about solving my problem, i dont know what would be best for me?
thanks a lot!
Rick
 
think simple

If you're just starting out/having fun and having that flawless sound hasn't begun to be your ultimate goal like a lot of ours, then the formula is easy: think simple. You've already answered your questions. The CHEAPEST way to record a kit like yours (about same size as mine) would be to use 2 overhead mics. One placed over your head and down, the other one placed in front to catch the kick....the possibilities are endless with what you can do with overhead placement. I don't know how your room is set up, etc so it's hard for me to tell you where to put your OH's. The best thing to do, as most people suggest, is to experiment.
So starting with 2 OH's is the cheapest. If you want more kick, add a kick mic. It doesn't have to be large diaphragm or catch the lowest frequencies humans can hear if you're just trying to get your drums audible on tape without a scowl on your face. The next step after that would to mic the snare, the same goes for the snare mic as the kick. You can look up cheap mics on the web or go to your local music shop and tell them your deal. Then the next step would be a mic for your three toms up-top and one for your floor tom. After that, a mic on each drum and 2 OH's. After that, a hi-hat mic. After that, room/ambience mics.

So, as you can see, you can mic your kit using endless combinations. The further the steps you take, the more mics you need, the more money, but the better the sound. Start with what I suggested and work your way from there over time. You'll gradually want to get better quality anyways.
 
if you can get a wooden platform to set your kit up on that would help alot, a hollow stage will add alot of depth to your kit and also "amplify" if if you will -

Doing it this way you can get away with 1 over head and maybe another mic to catch the kick.

Alot of the beatles recordings were done this way back in the 4 track days.
 
I would go with one of the minimalist mic'ing suggestions above. One of the advantages is that you will have to learn to mix yourself as you play. If you record yourself and find that the hi hat is really loud and the snare is quiet, you will learn to hit the snare harder and the hat softer. This is a very useful skill to have.

BTW You only have 4 toms, that ain't a big kit. I have scaled back to 4 toms from 8.
 
Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions. I think ill try and get 2 OH's a snare mic and ill use my triggers on the bass drum. Hopefully it will turn out ok.
 
Farview said:
BTW You only have 4 toms, that ain't a big kit. I have scaled back to 4 toms from 8.
Click to expand...

It's big enough to struggle getting it in the car to transport :D
 
All drummers should be required by law to own a van or pickup truck. Same should gop for guitar players who insist on using 4 or more 4x12 cabinets.
 
Farview said:
All drummers should be required by law to own a van or pickup truck. Same should gop for guitar players who insist on using 4 or more 4x12 cabinets.
Click to expand...

I have a Tama kit with 3 toms, 2 floor, a kick and snare, about 7 stands, plus cymbals and pedals that I can fit in my CAR. I drive a '92 Volkswagen Jetta. I can fit more of my kit in my Volks trunk than I used to be able to fit in my dad's Chevy Malibu!
 
Try that with 2 24x18 kicks and a set of 12X12 14X14 16x16 18x16 toms and a 14x9 and a 14x8 snare.
It is much easier now that everyone has gone to smaller drums and single kick. But I have noticed a trend, the bigger the drumset, the smaller the car.
 
Farview said:
All drummers should be required by law to own a van or pickup truck. Same should gop for guitar players who insist on using 4 or more 4x12 cabinets.
Click to expand...

yeh it would be a lot easier but driving vans is like pulling out teeth IMO. Good job im not a touring drummer :)
 
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