Recording drums and plugins...

[Rickson Gracie]

Ok, I am aware that I need get the best sound possible recorded before I use any plugins BUT what are the most common plugins and settings a PRO would use on each of these elements afterwards?

Stereo Overheads?

Snare?

Kick?

Toms?

Fot example I read that most people would put a comptressor on the kick to keep the dynamics under control. Anything else?

I am using Pro Tools LE 6.4 and i have the Wav Renaissance plugins.

 

[chessrock]

Didn't you know (?) ... pros only use expensive outboard.

A pro would never use plugins on anything. (wink nudge)

 

[tmix]

I might use some (very little) compression on individually close miced drums (kick / snare / toms) but only to tame the peaks. I will often put some EQ on snare to liven it up a little, and possibly a small room reverb if tracked in a very dry room. (mine)
If I use a bunch of mics to where the overheads are mainly for cymbals only, I will use EQ to roll off every thing below 200 -400 hz on the overheads just to keep it clean.

Sometimes for slow ballads I'll put some bigger room 'verb on the overall drum mix.

Most of the time I run some, if not all of the drums to a second buss and compress it pretty hard and bring that submix under the original mix to fill it out if it needs it. Most the time it doess not though.

Tom

 

[BrettB]

Remember there are no rules, you need to use what the track needs, and especially don't use anytrhing the track doesn't need. Anyway,here are some basic guidelines of what I use:

Stereo Overheads?

I only use EQ on Overheaeds. Don't compress them, it will suck the dynamics out of your cymbals, and it is just useless...

Snare?

Kick?

To get the dynamcis of kick and snare under control, they are very often, almost always, compressed. The settings depend on the style of music, the drummer, the recorded signal... A trick I often use is to route the cnare and kick to the same buss and comp them together. They often get more punch, feeling good together, it is easier to work with if yuou miced your snare top/bottom, and it saves some CPU if you haven't got the outboard gear.


Of course you EQ the kick and snare. About EQ settings, check the board. I have posted before about mysettings, hjust as everybody else. And off course, you have to use your ears: every track is different.

It isn't very often I use other stuff on kick or snare, but I did allready use an enhancer on a dull snare track to get it lively.

Toms?

I often gate the toms to get more punch and reduce cymmbal spill, especially in rock and metal. For the rest, EQ and compression.


Hope this helped...

 

[ecktronic]

To get good punch and attack from kik and snare you make sure the source is punchy and attacky rather that trying to compress it to bring it out. A well tuned decent snare and a good loud well tuned kik drum will be hard to get a bad result. THe most important thing in getting a great sound is capturing a great sound. THen use eq and compression so they stand out and can always be heard.
Everypart of your mix should be easily heard alone, but also the mix should sound as one with all the parts together. EQ is the best way of gelling tracks together.
Yeah gating the toms can give a cliky sound if the attack is very fast (ie 0ms) It can either sound good or just sound fake and wrong.
Just watch out for hat spill in the snare mic and ride spill in the floor tom mic. Position your drums well to avoid spill, or try recording parts of the drum kit seperately.