Recording snare

  • Thread starter Thread starter ecktronic
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ecktronic

ecktronic

Mixing and Mastering.
Does anyone know about mic placement for a snare drum?
The way i am doing it justnow is having a 57 on the top of the drum pointing straight down at the skin near the outside edge of the skin (about 1 to 2cm away). The snare sound when recorded seems to ring quite a bit and for too long. I dont want to use a gate as i dont think i can as the snare hitting is pretty fast. Could i use sticky tape on the bottom of the snare to calm down the ringing?
The sound i am looking for is a really in your face punchy sound with not much of the actual snare rattle, but i still want some snare rattle!
Could i use a 57 and a 58 both facing the top skin using the X/Y method?
 
It looks like you have to retune your snare, check the pitch of all your lugs, maybe they´re overtight. You know that fine adjustments make big differences in the sound. Use your highest tom as a reference and tune your snare 3 o 4 notes higher. I like the bottom head a bit higher than the batter, it´s all a matter of taste.

Hope it helps
TS
 
Move your mic closer to the center of the snare, you get more attack from there. Also, don't point your mic straight down, it should be at about a 30 - 45 degree angle. Good luck!
 
Yeah, angle the mic but i'd keep it nearer the rim rather than moving it in. Seriously man, take some time tuning your snare, you -will- be able to sort the ringing out, don't go down the gaffa tape route.

I say this in most of my posts, but pick up snare with overheads aswell, two overheads can add so much to the sound, and sometimes even make a snare mic redundant. I'll say it again - listen to Shellac's drum sound.
 
Cheers alot for all the help. I will test out different tunings and will point the snare mic at an angle rather than straight at it. But what about X/Y? will this give a BIG snare sound?
I thought the looser it was the more ring. oh well shows what i know!!
Thanks.
 
ecktronic said:
But what about X/Y? will this give a BIG snare sound?
Click to expand...
That is what the overheads are for. in order for XY to work, you have to be farther away.
 
X/Y is when the mics are close almost touching together in an X shape isnt it? So one mic is pointing at one bit of the top of the drum and the other mic is pointing at another part of the top of the drum. When the mics are far apart isnt that stereo micing?
 
XY is a stereo miking technique. That is when you (in the case of drum overheads) set up the mics at a 110 degree angle (varies with taste) to each other with the diaphragms lined up and put them 8 to 10 feet up. This method gives you a more coherent center than a spaced pair and is more mono compatable. (not as much as MS)
 
the big snare sound comes from the over heads and the snare mic adds more punch if u want more crack place a mic under the snare pointing at the wires
and if u want a fuller sound add stereo room mics
peace
 
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