Drum micing/placement help
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Posted on Jun 05, 2004 12:20 am
Albertv05
Dub head
Member Since: May 03, 2004
So I'm starting a side project of recording from reggae-dubs with the bass player of the band I'm in now. I'd like to record with 4 mics at a time. I would like to record bass and drums first before I lay guitar and keys over however this is where I run into a problem. I need to record drums with 3 mics and keep the bass drum, snare, and high hat seperate in the mix so they can be controled later on in mixing (for dubs this is nessasary).
Is there maybe a way I can place my snare drum mic to get a good snare sound AND some occasional cymbols and toms? Drum fills aren't nessasary in dubs, but having a little would be nice. Any ideas??
Thanks!
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Jun 07, 2004 09:36 am From my experience, you are going to have some bleed over no matter what. It is almost impossible to isolate your snare and hats (except if you opt to go with electronic drums). I would try recording by one mic on the kick, one on the hats, and one on the snare. As you record, play as normal with fills. On the playback, listen to see if you can hear the fills and adjust your mics accordingly.
Hope this helps,
Martin in NC
MauzgrrrrrrrMember
Since: Mar 29, 2004
Jun 07, 2004 10:43 am Albert. I hope you have at least 3 or 4 tracks input. Are you wanting to record drums and bass at the same time?
If it were me I would try to with a one mic on the kick, one on the snare and two overheads. I do this and record in stereo and get a decent sound. The hi-hat will always bleed so dont worry abut that guy. It might be a bit of an unbalanced sound with 3 mics. Have you thought about how are going to pan the drums? I should think that you would want the snare and the kick down the middle with the bass and the rest spread out a bit. But that is going to be difficult with 3 mics.
Jun 07, 2004 11:15 am Yeah, I know going with 3 mics would be difficult. Getting some bleeding isn't too bad, I'm not looking for super clean mix. Actually, a semi-dirty mix would sound good with this type of music I'm recording. So I'm not worried about that.
The high hat, snare, and bass drum HAVE to be seperated. This is because during mixing I'll be adding delay, heavy reverb, flanger, etc. to different drums at different times. I guess my question is now, can the snare drum mic be placed in a such a way that it picks up enough toms and cymbols during fills? Or, can I somehow run two mics into one channel into my mixer??
As far as mixing goes, the high hat will be panned slight right, bass and snare in center or a little off. Effects on all of these (which will be quite often), will be panned both ways as I feel nessasary during mixing. I know a over-head mic would help general rythym sections, but I'm trying real hard to have bass recorded at the same with with 4 tracks only. Laying down a solid reggae "riddim" is very important. If the track doesn't groove, its not worth recording. Ya know? I guess I'll try to experiment this weekend with a small 4 track before I decided what to do. I may just have to go to a 6-channel mixer/sound card.
Thanks for your help guys!
-Al
vdalehubbardLost for words with all to say.Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003
Jun 07, 2004 11:33 am I have two sets of Audix Fusion 6 drum mics. My drummer and his drums are coming over tonight to do some experimenting over the next week. I'll let you all know if more drum mics are better.
vdalehubbardLost for words with all to say.Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003
Jun 08, 2004 07:07 am Holy crap is micing drums hard! Everything is great accept the high hat and snare. Man are they getting on my nerves!!
Jun 08, 2004 08:42 am Yeah, I hear that. That's why I asked! hehe... Actaully, just that differnt requirements I need is why I asked. Does anyone know if its possible to have 2 mics going to one channel on a mixer? I might be able to try it this weekend.
Jun 08, 2004 08:48 am You are never going to get perfect separation of drums mics. And no, you can't run to mics to one channel of a mixer unless you have another mixer in front of it.
Don't record drums with the "fix it in the mix" mentality, you'll drive yourself insane.
If you only have three mics for drums you are kinda limited on what you CAN do. And with three mics you will not get three instruments totall isolated plus have any other drums included at any decent level. Do the math, you're asking a lot from a little. Your best bet is to stick one in the kick and put the other two up over opposite sides of the kit. Record some track, listen to them, and aadjust/EQ accordingly until you are reasonable happy with the sound.
vdalehubbardLost for words with all to say.Contributor
Since: Sep 12, 2003
Jun 08, 2004 11:18 am "Don't record drums with the "fix it in the mix" mentality, you'll drive yourself insane."
Weren't talking to me but that was what I needed to hear! Thanks dB, don't feel so bad now. We're going to go at it again tonight!
Jun 08, 2004 11:22 am thanks for your help dB as well as others! I may just go with a mixer with 6 or more inputs as well as a Delta 66 (instead of a 44). I figure this way 5 drums mics and a bass would work well (or 4 drums, 1 bass, 1 guitar). I thought I could get away will less but now I know better ;-) Thanks! You all saved me a big headache!
-Al
Jun 08, 2004 02:15 pm Keep in mind that the Delta 66 only has 4 analog inputs like the 44, it just has 2 digital inputs in addition. You'll need a digital preamp or something that will convert an analog signal to a digital one if you're going to do that.
I've been happy with the drum sound I've achieved with only 3 mics. Put one in the kick drum, one on the rim of the snare, and one overhead somewhat close to the rack toms.
Pan the overhead about 40% one way and the snare about 25% to the other side. Keep the kick drum centered. Of course, more mics is definately ideal. I record drums with a Delta 44. I put the snare and kick drum on separate inputs and then mix the 2 overheads and 2 tom mics to the last two inputs with my outboard mixer.
(Note: Sorry if this is a bit irrelavant since I didn't read the entire thread real closely)
Jun 08, 2004 02:55 pm Yeah, after I posted my previous post I was looking into the 66 more and realized it only had 4 analog inputs... damn it. Perhaps the Delat 1010LT would be a better choice. I guess something with more inputs would be worth the extra bucks. These tracks I'm recording need to groove... so important. Thanks for your help PorpoiseMuffins!
-Al
MinkusMazBane of All ExistenceMember
Since: Mar 27, 2003
Jun 08, 2004 03:37 pm you can get two delta 44s!
Jun 08, 2004 04:22 pm True, or a Delta 44 and an Audiophile
