Snare volume

[tddrummer]

Just wondering what levels you record your snare drum using one mic, compared to the levels of the entire mix (on drums). Mine seems to be louder than the mix the way I have it but when I turn it down the mix overall sounds horrible. This is probably a simple trial and error question but I decided I'd try the easy way out, any solutions?

 

[Elton Bear]

Didn't understand that at all. You record snare at the same volume as everything else - as loud as possible without clipping. Then you mix it to whatever volume you want heard...

 

[tddrummer]

Yes, when I do this it is to loud, so I turn it down and then it sounds bad (im starting to feel stupid for posting that)

 

[Dogman]

I just record mine normal, and then turn it up or down in the mix depending on if I want more or less....you might need to do some eq if you are just wanting to get certain sounds, like more pop.

 

[Elton Bear]

Do you have a clip? If your drums sound bad, I doubt it's because you're recording at the wrong volume.

 

[Farview]

Didn't understand that at all. You record snare at the same volume as everything else - as loud as possible without clipping.

You should not record everything as loud as possible without clipping.

You should go for an RMS level of -18dbfs.

With drums, I'll shoot for a peak of -6dbfs or so. (drums have too low of an rms level to get them up to -18dbfs without clipping)

If you are asking how loud you should mix your snare, that depends. Some mixes I lead with the snare, some I lead with the kick.

If everything falls apart when you turn the snare down, you might want to compress the snare. Or, better yet, buss the drums to a group channel and compress the drums as a whole.

 

[RAMI]

11.

Eleven.

 

[Supercreep]

.....Normalize?

 

[mixsit]

It's normal enough already.

 

[tddrummer]

I think I fixed the problem with some eq, and tuning thanks for all the help and suggestions.