problems with SM57 on floor tom...

Posted on

Member Since: Apr 27, 2002

okay...the floor tom sounds awesome, is tuned well, sounds huge...the problem is no matter where i put the mic on the drum, all i get is the stick attack, no bottom end, no body, no anything, just stick attack....and its starting to get me very upset, this has never happened before, i tried changing out cables, made sure the lo-cut was off....im getting very upset...anyone have any suggestions?

i would hate like hell to have to trigger the toms, but im not ABOVE doing it...

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JR Productions
Member
Since: Mar 03, 2005


Jan 18, 2006 02:31 pm

That is most likely due to the mics frequency responce. If you look at shures site, you can see that there is not much pick up in the sub 150Hz. It also has the presence boost in the 5,000Hz range, which would explain why all you are getting is stick attack. If you dont have a different mic to try, just EQ the track until your happy with it (Cutting 5 KHz, boosting 80 to 150 for more body). Good luck.

Josh

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Jan 18, 2006 07:04 pm

Since when do 57's have low cuts?

Agree with josh. Fix it in the mix!

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Jan 19, 2006 10:37 am

The only real solution is another mic. I have tried the Sm57 on my floor tom and have never been happy with it. If you have access to another kick drum mic use that as that does real nice mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... If like me you could only use the 57 then eq it, but you are never truly satisfied it doesn't seem to have the umphhhhh.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jan 20, 2006 12:16 am

CS, I am guessing he is talking lo-cut on his mixer. My desk and most larger mixers have a low cut switch to accomadate when a mic may not have it.

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Jan 20, 2006 01:05 am

My first thought was the positioning and that the mic might not be close enough to the center of the drum. It sounds like you've already tried that, though. Did you try another mic? I've never had any trouble getting enough low end with an SM57, although I always EQ a bit more in later on in the mix. You may be getting more low end than you realize, but the switch between hearing the drum live and hearing the recording could be messing with your ears.

Member
Since: Jan 07, 2003


Jan 20, 2006 04:01 am

i heard a LDC on a floor tom works good too...

havent tried it though...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jan 20, 2006 05:25 pm

Yep, LDC will work well on the toms. Just make sure it has a high enough SPL rating to accomodate the loudness of the toms and your all good.

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