Recording double-kick for thrash?

  • Thread starter Thread starter nuemes
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nuemes

nuemes

Be Here Now
I posted this in the drum forum too; my issue in this mix is the kick drum.

I recorded a thrash band with a single kick & two beaters. I used an ATM25 on the kick. When it came time to mix the band wanted a lot of click on the kick so a fair amount of high end was added with EQ, which sounded good to help it cut through the mix. The problem I had though is that the kick sounds muddy, even after a fair amount of tweeking. I don't like to add/subtract a lot of EQ; maybe that's the issue. Do thrash kicks require a lot EQ or did I miss something else?

Here's the audio:
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/?aid=4556/singles

Mics on drums for reference:
Kick: Audio Technica ATM25
Snare: SM57
Overhead left/right: MXL603s
 
I am on a dial-up with limited internet access, so I can't download the track, but I read on this forum and a few other places that if you want that sound, you have to get it during tracking. EQ won't help much.

Most people say they loosen the kick head a little bit to let the beaters slap a little when they play. The other thing you can do is to experiment some with your mic placement to pick up the slap a bit more.

Good luck with it.
 
Rokket said:
I am on a dial-up with limited internet access, so I can't download the track, but I read on this forum and a few other places that if you want that sound, you have to get it during tracking. EQ won't help much.

Most people say they loosen the kick head a little bit to let the beaters slap a little when they play. The other thing you can do is to experiment some with your mic placement to pick up the slap a bit more.

Good luck with it.
Click to expand...


Yep. :D

The three things I have found that make the most difference are mic placement(inside drum about 3 inched from the head), drum tuning (usually pretty loose as stated above), and beater (hard plastic/wood seem to work best for a lot of "click"). Compress to taste, boost between 5-8k cut at about 400 and you should be good to go.
 
I found that the ATM25 was too hot near the head of the kick so I positioned it too far from the beater to get that sound. I think that's the problem then. Thanks!
 
nuemes said:
I found that the ATM25 was too hot near the head of the kick so I positioned it too far from the beater to get that sound. I think that's the problem then. Thanks!
Click to expand...


It distorted the mic? It should be able to handle pretty much anything. I find that I usually use very little gain on the preamp though.
 
I think I know where the problem lies now regarding the mic being hot, no thanks to a ProTools manual... Ugh!
 
pretty cool.. not sure if I like the roomy sound of the drums. bass drum sounds woofy.. the guitars could be more in my grill and the vocals more compressed..
 
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