Drum recording

Logan · 03-09-2008, 01:45 AM

so my band is planning to do some recording in the guitarist's basement this week, but we're really worried about how the drums are gonna be done. we have a bunch of mics, but none of them are 'drum mics.' any advice? can/should we rent them? im the drummer btw lol i dont know anything about drum recording.

Logan · 03-09-2008, 01:52 AM

free demos to whoever helps out lol thats an AMAZING incentive i know.

ruonitb · 03-09-2008, 06:16 AM

drums are really hard to record; if you aren´t experienced with it, the recordings will most likely suck.
there are several mics you can use for drums+other instruments.

shure sm 57 is often used for guitars+snare drum (just as an example).

I don´t know what mics you got; maybe you can post a list.

and the mic-placing is just as important as the mics you use.

maybe I can help you a bit, but post the mics please. ;)

Ouroboros · 03-10-2008, 12:26 PM

Tune your drums well. Make sure the room is suitable. Get someone to walk around your drum kit, and ask them if they notice any weird sounding reflections anywhere in the room. If they do, take note and do not place overhead mics in those areas.

As far as mics go, I use 57's for snare and upper rack toms, high quality condenser mics for overheads (large diaphragm if you want the overhead sound to pick up the entire kit, snare, toms, kick. Or small diaphragm if you want OH's to pick up cymbals and snare mostly), dynamic mic for kick drum (AKG D112), and Sennheiser 421's for floor toms.

As for placement, google XY overhead micing, and spaced pair overhead micing, then try both methods. Likely, you will get phase issues since it is your first time. I spend upwards of an hour adjusting mic placement to eliminate phase cancellation. Sometimes it sounds as if there is some depth being lost, in more severe cases, it will sound like there is delay or even like a phaser pedal is on a mic, but thats an extreme case of phase problems.

Hope that helped.

Logan · 03-10-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ouroboros

Tune your drums well. Make sure the room is suitable. Get someone to walk around your drum kit, and ask them if they notice any weird sounding reflections anywhere in the room. If they do, take note and do not place overhead mics in those areas.

As far as mics go, I use 57's for snare and upper rack toms, high quality condenser mics for overheads (large diaphragm if you want the overhead sound to pick up the entire kit, snare, toms, kick. Or small diaphragm if you want OH's to pick up cymbals and snare mostly), dynamic mic for kick drum (AKG D112), and Sennheiser 421's for floor toms.

As for placement, google XY overhead micing, and spaced pair overhead micing, then try both methods. Likely, you will get phase issues since it is your first time. I spend upwards of an hour adjusting mic placement to eliminate phase cancellation. Sometimes it sounds as if there is some depth being lost, in more severe cases, it will sound like there is delay or even like a phaser pedal is on a mic, but thats an extreme case of phase problems.

Hope that helped.

yeah that helped a lot, thanks!

you're in Toronto you should come and help us record haha.

03-09-2008, 01:45 AM	#1
Logan Band Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 8,657 Rep Power: 15	Drum recording so my band is planning to do some recording in the guitarist's basement this week, but we're really worried about how the drums are gonna be done. we have a bunch of mics, but none of them are 'drum mics.' any advice? can/should we rent them? im the drummer btw lol i dont know anything about drum recording.

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03-09-2008, 01:52 AM	#2
Logan Band Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 8,657 Rep Power: 15	free demos to whoever helps out lol thats an AMAZING incentive i know.

03-09-2008, 06:16 AM	#3
ruonitb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Austria Posts: 1,176 Rep Power: 8	drums are really hard to record; if you aren´t experienced with it, the recordings will most likely suck. there are several mics you can use for drums+other instruments. shure sm 57 is often used for guitars+snare drum (just as an example). I don´t know what mics you got; maybe you can post a list. and the mic-placing is just as important as the mics you use. maybe I can help you a bit, but post the mics please. ;)

03-10-2008, 12:26 PM	#4
Ouroboros Nescient Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,209 Rep Power: 9	Tune your drums well. Make sure the room is suitable. Get someone to walk around your drum kit, and ask them if they notice any weird sounding reflections anywhere in the room. If they do, take note and do not place overhead mics in those areas. As far as mics go, I use 57's for snare and upper rack toms, high quality condenser mics for overheads (large diaphragm if you want the overhead sound to pick up the entire kit, snare, toms, kick. Or small diaphragm if you want OH's to pick up cymbals and snare mostly), dynamic mic for kick drum (AKG D112), and Sennheiser 421's for floor toms. As for placement, google XY overhead micing, and spaced pair overhead micing, then try both methods. Likely, you will get phase issues since it is your first time. I spend upwards of an hour adjusting mic placement to eliminate phase cancellation. Sometimes it sounds as if there is some depth being lost, in more severe cases, it will sound like there is delay or even like a phaser pedal is on a mic, but thats an extreme case of phase problems. Hope that helped.