Recording v-drums...

[sirslurpee]

So I'm thinking this but not sure, I figured I would ask for some advice...

V-drums (TD10 brain) have 4 outputs, L and R on each. So that makes 8 total right? So, I was figuring I could do this. I will use the master outs L and R for my cymbals. The Direct 1 L and R for my kick, the Direct 2 L and R for my snare, and the Direct 3 L and R for my toms. I'm pretty much just going to have to guess on how I can pan everything from the brain and then add my compression and whatnot afterwards and hopefully HOPEFULLY I can get the volumes good like ride against the hat against the rest of the cymbals coming out of the TD10.

Anyway, I guess what I am asking is if anyone has ever done this before and if there is a better method that will give me more control over the mix after it's laid down on tracks? Thanks...

 

[mikeh]

I'm confused why you feel you need stereo outs for kick and snare? I can see stero cymbals and stereo toms - but stereo kick and snare???

Traditional placement places the kick and snare in the middle of the mix (along with bass guitar and lead vocals). This keeps the primarily elements of the mix right in the middle and allows the other sounds to be placed around these 4 things.

I'm not saying my way is better than anyone else - butI find this works well for me.

Main out L - Kick (panned center)
Main out R - Snare (panned center)
Direct 1 L - Toms (panned to 10 o'clock)
Direct 1 R - Tome (panned to 2 o'clock)
Direct 2 L - Cymbals (panned to 10 o'clock)
Direct 2 R - Cymbals (panned to 2 o'clock)

Direct 3 is used for different applications - depending on the material

Direct 3 L - either hi-hat (panned to 11 o'clock) or percussion (panned to 9 o'clock)
Driect 3 R - either ride cymbal (panned to 1 o'clock) or percussion (panned to 3 o'clock)

In some applications I may add other things to Direct 3 L & R, depending on what seperation I'm looking for.

 

[sirslurpee]

see the thing with that is the kick and snare are not separate channels. So, if I want to add more compression to the snare than the kick, or opposite, I can't do it, along with everything else. That's why I dedicated the L and R of the output to each one, and then I panned my cymbals how I wanted them, and added the ride and hats into that channel, and then panned my toms and added them to that channel. It sounds pretty good so far I think it's a good strategy for me to make this work.... Maybe I will post a clip when I'm done.

Thanks for the advice though but I think my method will be easier for me to use...

 

[mikeh]

I'm still confused, but if you feel your system works for you that is all that matters.

However, if the kick is assigned to say master out left and the snare to master out right and then each is plugged into a seperate channel on a mixer, there is indeed complete seperation. Each channel on the board can be assigned whatever processing you choose.

If you choose to assign processing from within the TD10 you can control how much send and return impacts each of the 8 "channels" so while you can only have one internal compressor engaged, you can control how much of that compression level impacts the snare vs. the kick.

As an example, I assign my toms to Direct out L & R and engage the TD10's compressor and then assign as much compression to each of the 4 toms as I see fit (but no compression to the sbare and kick). The sanre can kick can then be assigned compression at the mixer - however, I can also assign some of TD10 compression to each the snare or the kick - or - both.

While I'm confused why you don't feel you can get the isolation you need, as long as you feel your method works for you - cool!

 

[sirslurpee]

Yeah but it's like this: I would have to pan my snare all the way left and the kick all the way right in order to completely separate. I have done this before, but, I like to monitor my recording with the headphones and of course it sounds rediculous when your kick is only in your right ear or what ever. Also, it seems like when I did it that way, it did something to the signal and everything sounded really weird once it was tracked. I don't know.. it sounds really good right now. I think I need to mess with the ambience because I just now figure out how to make it send ambience only to master L and R (which my cymbals are assigned to, so it's like overheads) but I think there is too much ambience especially on one song I'm starting with a snare roll and it just sounds funny....

Anyway, thanks for the help. I am probably going to use your advice about the compression and if I need more I will add it into the mix.

And... It's cool to see that there is at least one person on here recording with v-drums