Recording Percussion

[Jburn34]

I need some advice on recording percussion. The percussionist has a Remo djembe, also cymbals, noise makers, shakers, tambourine, etc. etc. He also might bring some congas, but I'm not sure about that.

Right now I have a Studio projects C1, sm57, 58, beta 58, and he has some CAD mics he clips on for liver work. I've also got a few mic pre's for recording.

Is there any way with this gear I can get some good tracks? What techniques would you recommend?

Thanks a lot,
Jeremy

 

[tmix]

Micing percussion

I play in a Celtic fusion Jazz group Brothers 3 (www.brothers3.ws) and I regularly record most of what you are looking at.
The hardest one to record properly is the djembe because the depth and pitch bend comes from below and the slap and whack from above. It would help to know whether this is a percussion only project or whether it is going to be just for ear candy (or somewhere in between). I have several different scenerios on the djembe depending on that. Do you have a booth or are you recording in a larger room?

For the congas etc.:
If you don't have a pair of mics for stereo , I would use the C1 centrally located about head high. I have gotten some really excellent conga/bongo/noise maker recordings using 2 large dia condensors (CAD E-100s) but years ago I used a pair of sm57s with good results (slightly rounder/softer type sound)

For the djembe:
If your percussionist doesn't mind sitting on a bar stool or some thing similar I would mic the top with your C1 and try to mic the hole on the bottom with the sm57. The mic on the bottom has to be able to handle some really loud levels which the 57 will plus the proximity effect sounds really good. If he is not going to have his hand in the bottom at all (like a doumbek), put the 57 up in the hole if it doesn't interfere.

I could give you some better specifics if I knew a little more about your project. If you wan't more info, contact me here or tmix@bigfoot.com

tmix

 

[Jburn34]

tmix,

Thanks for your reply. The project we are working on is for an acoustic guitar player and singer. We might have some other backing instruments here and there...but the main deal is his vocals and acoustic guitar.

The way he actually likes to mic it for live use is to have one mic over the djembe and then he always puts one up in the hole that sounds awesome. He uses a stand for his djembe to so he is sitting down.

Thanks,
Jeremy

 

[Me myself & him]

Also interested in recording Djembes

But I'm recording a purely percussion song. I noticed that in many albums, djembes come out sounding like Timbalis, I can't stand that. Is that why you suggested placing a mic inside the bottom? You've got some great ideas.