recording drums through a kareoke machine

[szekt]

my band has no budget we plan on micing the drums with two regular mics, record bass and guitar straight to a computer recording program trough line-in
put it together, add the vocals the same way as the guitars and try to get it so you can hear everything. We need to hae the drums sound good background fuzz is alright but how can we mic a drumset with two regular mics? Is there a better way to record using two mics, a karokee machine, a computer?
our band has 2 vocalist, 1 guiar,1 bass , and of cousrse 1 drummer.

 

[AlexW]

I'd experiment with mic position to see what gives you the best sound. I'd maybe start with a mic at the kick and one a couple of feet in front of the kit about 3-4 feet off the ground. Do you only have 2 mics? Ideally you'll get better results close mic'ing the guitar amp rather than going in direct. You might consider playing the guitar during tracking but only record the drums and bass; then go back and overdub the guitar. You'll want to overdub your vocals as well. Plan on giving yourself some time to experiment and check sounds before printing the final tracks.

 

[szekt]

I just remebered that we can use another mic. Where should we put the 3 mics on the 5 piece drumset? We're gonna try out different spots but I need a strating point.

 

[AlexW]

Try this: http://www.mercenary.com/3micdrumstuf.html

 

[treymonfauntre]

depends on if you want stereo or not. you can throw one in the kick, one on snare, and the other somewhere by the drummers head. i've done it before and of course it has its limitations (hearing the ride and hi hat in the middle of the mix, not to mention the toms got lost in the mix once the guitars and bass joined in

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I just remebered that we can use another mic. Where should we put the 3 mics on the 5 piece drumset? We're gonna try out different spots but I need a strating point.

It's not just where the mics go, but which mics to use where. What kind of mics will you be using?

G.

 

[szekt]

We're using regular mics, I thinks ones akg?? One is metal with a flat top and mesh screen it has no on/off switch. the other one is the cheapest ad looks just the ??akg?? but differnt brand....I'm just glad they work!

 

[Dani Pace]

Record something then play it back and listen to how your mics respond to certain sounds (frequencies). Sometimes even cheap tinny sounding mics work fairly well for cymbals. Try moving the mics around, a few inches at a time untill you find the best spot for them. If the kareoke machine has line outs it will work as a preamp for the mics, just keep the echo effect off or at least set very low, a little echo will be more pronounced on a recording than when you just listen. You might try your tinniest mic as an overhead, just high enough to be out of the drummer's way, pointed down towards the snare, and your bassiest mic in front of the kit a couple of feet and about 12 to 18 inches off the floor pointed at the top edge of the bass drum. I'm not saying this set up will work, it's just a good place to start from. Record something, listen to it then adjust and reposition untill you get the best sound.