recording Djembe's/Ashiko

[guitarfreak12]

I use a lot of djembe and ashiko percussion in my music. Does anyone have experience with recording them. I use cool edit and have good equip. Thanks

 

[Wireneck]

do a search

im sure you will find some informed information. Ive never seriously tried recording a djembe but my buddy used to have one that we miced up a few times. I think for the most part people use 2 mics. One for the low end at the bottom sound hole and one for the slap up top. Make sure whatever you stick in that bottom hole can handle high SPLs.

 

[Rimshot]

I am a djembe player and have recorded them quite often. I use a good kick mic on the throat and a snare mic on the skin. In my case it is usually an ATM25, an AT Pro 25 or the CAD KBM412 for the throat and a Senn. e604 or an SM57 for the skin side. My preference is often
the CAD for the throat because it is a very warm mic with very little punh and a lot of resonance (one of the things that makes it not so good as a kick mic, but excellent for djembe, ashiko and doumbek). I also prefer the sound that I get from the e604 over the SM57.
You don't want to pick up the punch of the bass on the throat mic, just the warmer resonanance. The attack is picked up by the skin mic.

I've also had good results with using just a room mic (LDC like a SP B1 or a stereo pair of SDC's like the SP C4 or Oktava MK 012). To get the full effect, I prefer to record the djembe's and dunnuns in a room that isn't "dead". The natural reverb adds something to this instrument.

 

[Sonixx]

I just finished a Band and on A Myth Retold we used a Djembe. It was fun to record. The low end on it was excellent.

I used a D112 for the bottom and two mics on the top... I'm not sure which mics for the top.

 

[mpolzin]

compression for each mic

I am just starting with home recording. I have a Yamaha AW16G and am have tried using two microphones (the only two that I have) a behringer b-1 and an sm57. I can't seem to get the sound I want. I can't get that nice warm deep sound. Also I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions on how I sould set up compression for each mic. Thanks!

 

[fldrummer]

You need some type of bass mic like a D112 for the deep stuff maybe....I dont know of any good ways for placing the mics you have tho.

 

[maskedman72]

dont forget about checking the phaze.