recording snare drum without leakage

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postalblue

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what do you guys usually do to reduce leakage from the rest of the kit but especifically from the hi-hat on the snare mic?
i've tried different positions for the snare mic, but my band's drummer plays with his hi-hat cymbals kind of low-positioned, so i can't properly fit the mic below them. it's not a small mic either, so i can't really angle it properly to reject the hi-hat bleed.
i'm currently gating the snare during the mix, but i'd like to solve the problem without having to use gates.
 
Tell the drummer to change his dynamics a little for the recording. I'm guessing he's pounding on the cymbals like a mad man. Also beer give him plenty of beer, this tends to tame some of the guys I work with.
 
Let it Bleed

I'm gonna assume your drummer is in the 99% (right handed) group.
Not knowing what you're using as a mic, it's difficult to make a suggestion.
Try positioning the mic below the right side of the snare, at the same time, stuff the snare loosely with newspaper. This has a dampening quality, removes the annoying "ring" from the snare, and the highhat is on the opposite side so there's still gonna be bleed, just not as much.
Just my thots.
:rolleyes:
 
Have the drummer lay down the hat track seperately....

You would be suprised at how many "Radio-hits" are recorded this method......

Just set up a pillow ductaped to a Micstand so the drummer can hit that in lew of a hi hat.. (It will help him keep his groove)..

Sorry man, theres not much more solution, other than really looking at your room situation and micing techniques...

I would and do, do it this way if I have to record a full kit... Thank god that doesn't happen very often.
 
Naturally, that seems workable, but in reality the hats are so damn loud that it create very little difference...

Plus, the drummer won't play his best, having his kit all messed up...
 
your drummer needs to develop his hi-hat technique. I can tell you right now 90% of drummers that have their hi-hat really low probably suck really bad...or at least their technique sucks on the hi-hat. You should have your hi-hat as high or almost as high as it will go. If he doesn't like it, tough shit. This is the only way (other than that pillow method) that you will achieve isolation. Trust me, the drummer won't like his hi-hat that high at first because it makes your arm work a lot more because you can't be lazy and you gotta get them elbows in the air. Take a look at punk drummers travis barker, dumster damon, the dude in the ataris. You'll notice their hi-hats are HIGH hats and they work their right arms off like a bitches. Raise them hats, you'll develop better technique, less bleeding, and you'll be less likely to hit sticks together on accident.
 
hmmmm

Try using cardioid mics, and take advantage of the rejection axis of their polar patterns.

Use one pointed straight at the Snare with the HH at 180º and the same for HH

Or: Use a pattern 8 mic between them and pray...

Peace...

PC
 
don't dismiss it !! most of the records you are trying to emulate have done that!!

i don't think so. i have done that before, and it sucks big time. there's nothing like a well record acoustic drumkit.
 
Heh.....okay, then let yet ANOTHER pro suggest....

sample and trigger.......

This is done on JUST ABOUT everything you hear on the radio in the last 15 years at least!

Does is suck? Not when it is done right....:)

Ed
 
yeah, i probably experienced a bad use of the technique, but my drummer would NEVER accept that suggestion.
but hey, ed, 99% of what's on the radio lately sucks. ;) the songs at least.
 
"sample and trigger"

Ewwwwww. WHy not just use a freaken drum machine if you go that far...

Cant you use some kind of noise gate or something? Or a lot of EQ to differentiate them ( Sonusman, I know you hate too much EQ, but wouldnt this be a good example of when TO use EQ?)
 
JFogarty said:
forgive my ignorance, but what is sample and trigger?
Click to expand...

this is just another word for "shitty engineer that can't make drums sound decent or usable".
 
Fenix... Rethink that.... you will see it's a tad HARSH..

JFogarty was just asking a question... your answer is hardly true and hardly helpful to him........

I know plenty of engineers who are great, and they get a great drum sound, but the the record company complains that the drums don't sound right for the record and they need to be changed, or the producers decide that even though they sound good... they need a different drum sound... This is where triggering samples in the industry is used alot..


Basically the drum sounds in the tracking are set up to trigger samples from a sampler..


If my method was to be used, there would be no triggerering or sampling.... Great seperation would be achieved, yet all live drums would be involved...
 
Listen to Nirvana Nevermind....

That whole album is full of triggered samples.... In some spots the whole drum kit is just samples....

You wouldn't know.. Do a google search... it's a fact.
 
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