Recording Drum 2 Mics ??? (Tips ?)

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ronnelamir

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Hi

I have an m audio fast track ultra 8r and two mic
1.Shure BG 2.1 Dynamic Mic
2.Avlex CI33 Condensor mic

I use logic and use the Avlex mic as an overhead and the dynamic Shure mic for the bassdrum , I record both together (mono).I have an orange county custom drum kit which sounds amazing but when recording everything, it sounds noisy , ive tried everything , changing the mic and using the dynamic as an overhead which didn't sound good ,changing the stand location ,the main problem is the overhead which sound's noisy ,the bass drum sound's fine when I put some effects on it .For example the hi hat is open so it's sounds noisy but when i close it so you don't hear it enough and the overhead just sound's terrible !
What can I do ?

Thanks
 
You might try placing the dynamic between the HH and snare pointed at 45*° down. Try placing the condensor about 18" off the floor 3' from the kit at a 45° angle off the kick towards the snare HH pointed at the kick, first tom, and between the HH and snare. You could also try moving the condesor around to the front of the kick with the same angles and distance.

With only two mics, I would try it at least. It can't be any worse than what you've heard to date.
 
Hi

Thanks , I watched the video but the problem is that you can't hear the bass drum if you don't put a mic next to it ,at this case ...

Thanks
 
Recorderman microphone placement is a good way to start if you only have 2 microphones but if your playing/recording heavier music you may want to use close micing of the drums especially on the kick.
 
Put the condensor in front of the drumkit. About a foot away from the kit, around 4 to 6 feet high, tilted slightly downward to get some of the bass. Experiment with that to get an even sound. Use the dynamic to mic either the bass drum or the snare. Try both. I think if you close mic the snare and put the condensor where i said you should get a pretty decent sound.
 
ronnelamir said:
I have an orange county custom drum kit which sounds amazing but when recording everything, it sounds noisy , ive tried everything , changing the mic and using the dynamic as an overhead which didn't sound good ,changing the stand location ,the main problem is the overhead which sound's noisy ,the bass drum sound's fine when I put some effects on it .For example the hi hat is open so it's sounds noisy but when i close it so you don't hear it enough and the overhead just sound's terrible !
What can I do ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Could you describe what you mean by "noisy"? Maybe post an audio clip?

Try making some recordings with just one mic, only for the purpose of finding the problem.
And try a recording with one mic at head level about 10 feet away from the kit out in front. If a mic way out in the room works, maybe there are just nasty standing waves hovering over the kit.

Or heck, if the kit sounds good to your ear while you play it, try one mic really close to your ear.

For now don't concentrate on a final recording sound. Just find out if there is any place in the room where one mic is not "noisy". Then it will be easier to find the problem.
 
Chibi Nappa said:
Could you describe what you mean by "noisy"? Maybe post an audio clip?

Try making some recordings with just one mic, only for the purpose of finding the problem.
And try a recording with one mic at head level about 10 feet away from the kit out in front. If a mic way out in the room works, maybe there are just nasty standing waves hovering over the kit.

Or heck, if the kit sounds good to your ear while you play it, try one mic really close to your ear.

For now don't concentrate on a final recording sound. Just find out if there is any place in the room where one mic is not "noisy". Then it will be easier to find the problem.
Click to expand...

I second this. In the past I tried something quite similar with only 2 mics and got decent results.

I put a LDC about 10-15 feet out in front of the kit, then pointed the dynamic at the shell of the snare. During mixing I manually nudged the room mic waveform a few milliseconds to line up with the snare mic waveform. It wasn't the best drum sound I've ever heard (obviously) but I must say I was very surprised at how good it sounded for what it was. The song was a basic "medium intensity" rock n' roll tune (i.e., not Master of Puppets but not James Taylor either... think "Brown Sugar" by the Stones)... and we kept the instrumentation very basic (double tracked rhythm guitar, bass, and lead/bg vocals). I think the potential of this technique is going to drop precipitously with how heavy the song is and how much more instrumentation you plan on layering on top of the drums, but it can be made to work with some experimentation and patience.
 
How's the space ( acoustically) you are recording the drums in..?..I 've found when using minimal mic set-ups, the room plays a BIG part in what the outcome will be.. The noise you are experiencing may be ambient ( room) noise.. I recorded a friend drums some time ago in a good room with just one mic..( that's what he wanted..:)..)..Sounded good, if you like that kinda thing..Good luck..
 
I'd try pulling your dynamic out about a foot, and to the side so it can pick up the snare. Surprisingly, it picks up everything evenly (well, that's what i thought anyway). Add overhead to taste. You may only need a little overhead.
 
Hi

Hi , thanks everyone .

I found a solution , I just put the condensor mic a lot higher ,and everything sounds a lot better !


Thanks
 
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