micing drum kit using speakers
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Posted on Feb 07, 2005 08:59 am
ZX6R1033
Perdido
Member Since: Dec 15, 2004
A while back there was a thread asking about doing this. Well, I tried it over the weekend using 2 MB Quart 8" two-way speakers. I would post sound clips, but there are too many variables, and I wouldn't want to discourage anyone else from trying this... So Ill just tell you a bit about it.
I set the speakers in folding chairs, one on each side of the drum kit out front. They were angled back toward me much like one would set up speakers for a home theater. The 8" speakers added a very large amount of low end punch that is not there with just microphones. I would definitly suggest that anyone trying to mic drums tries this.
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Feb 07, 2005 09:23 am Interesting, I got a couple of subs laying around, I may have the give this a go.
Thanks for touching base with us regarding this little project.
Did it help the kick, or toms or anything specifically, or just an overall effect? Did you try one just right in front of the kick, I wonder what that would add to the power of that sound?
Interesting.
ZX6R1033PerdidoMember
Since: Dec 15, 2004
Feb 07, 2005 09:43 am I tried a couple of different things... I'll give you the rundown.
Things to keep in mind...
1. I dont have drum mics, just 1 dynamic (AKG, bought at radioshack)
2. I dont have a recording studio environment... I have a 10 x 10 room with a queen size mattress leaned up against the wall.
3. I lack in such equipment as studio headphones, EQs, compressors, a decent sound card, exc.
4. I lack in the knowledge needed to atain a decent sound with all of these variables.
that being said... here is what I got.
( R-Ride, HH- high hat, S-snare, T-Tom B-bass C-Crash, 8 - MBQ 8" speakers, M - Microphone )
Note: periods were used in order to keep the spacing, as the website automatically adjusts the text.
First setup:
...C.M.......8
..R...T....T
.........B
HH..S........T
Results: obviously a bit unbalanced. When playing with the volume of the 8" speaker, I noticed there was enough low end to bottom my computer speaker (6") when playing it back. the 8" lacks the highs, unless you turn the treble up on the mixer.
Second Setup:
........8
...C....M
..R...T.....T
.........B
HH..S.......T (mic facing straight up)
Results: A more balanced sound, a lot harder bass, since the 8" speaker was about 4" away from the bass drum.
Third setup:
..8C.M........8
..R...T.....T
.........B
HH..S.......T
(mic tucked between the crash and hat, 8" speakers set up on folding chairs facing in toward the kit)
Results: a very ballanced sound, harder hitting bass with the use of two speakers instead of one. The cymbals became more controllable due to the fact that the mic was pretty much dedicated to them at this current point in time.
I want to try a few more setups, and I will keep everyone updated, but I still lack a lot of the equipment and know-how to get a decent sound compared to what I have heard on this site so far.
RigsbyUltra MagnusMember
Since: Nov 13, 2004
Feb 07, 2005 10:12 am Quote: "Did it help the kick, or toms or anything specifically, or just an overall effect? Did you try one just right in front of the kick, I wonder what that would add to the power of that sound?"
You can get a really bassy sound off an NS10 pretty much clamped on the kick, but it really lacks anything more than bass IMO, there's little sound of the actual drum, just all bass signal, it sounds pretty cool using a speaker to grab that bass, but it just doesn't sound right unless you use a second mic to capture the sound of the drum itself. I'd wondered how it sounded until a few weeks ago when i did a session playing glock for this band in a pretty glossy London studio, and they didn't use a second mic, when i got the rough mix a wwek or two ago all the drums sound pretty awesome save the kick which is just a bassy thud with no drum sound.
Disappointing, sounds like you're having some luck with a little more distance though ZX6R1033, quite like to hear some of that.
