Outboard and drums..

[-Noodles-]

I'm gonna be recording drums, and as of yet - i don't really use anything out the box..

So, what am i looking at - Compressors, limiters, etc..

What should i be putting where etc?

Thanks

[studjo]

Originally Posted by -Noodles-

So, what am i looking at - Compressors, limiters, etc..

Huh - I'd say one at the time. Don't go outboard crazy only because it's seems to be better or because of some hype you believe in. Buy a piece - let's say a compressor - and work with it for 6 months. Throw everything at it you find - learn it. Don't sleep without it. Do the craziest things that you're able to imagine (ok not THAT crazy). If you got it under your skin - next piece and same presedure (SP?)

The first thingy takes the longest - so 6 months may be a bit short

Jo

[-Noodles-]

I ask because i'm going to be recording with a drummer pretty shortly - and i want to start to buy some outboard..

Just wondered what i should start with in terms of drums!

[chrisso]

Distressors, 1176, Spectrasonic 610's, Transient Designer.

[Reptil]

you want control or you want effect?

you want high end or gritty?

you want cheap and cheerfull or expensive and slutty?

you want all channels at once during tracking or just something to use during mixdown?

- also.. compressors have their own character. so you'll have to try. It's not like a vacuum cleaner, all suck different but the result is the same, no the result is also different.

I'd go for a bunch of old urei, or valley people. or dbx.
the 160x is pretty good and inexpensive. and not so terrible difficult to manage
orrrrrr... go for slutty and go Purple and Zener. (no I don't have those)

[yumdrum]

Are you set on pre's? I don't have them but I hear the API 3124+ is the sh!t for drums.

I can only speak to what I've used thus far, but I really like what my distressors do to the kick and snare.

[-Noodles-]

All set for pre's, just looking for hardware that i can expand out my system with.
Just wanted to start with drums, since that's the largest taken part of the mixer!

Thanks.

[Jules]

What sort of music?

[jamesosullivan1]

Hi, im getting a chandler TG2 supposed to be good for overheads and electric guitars so cant wait for that Havent tried any API stuff but heard there good to for drums. I am a novice though so my chandler TG2 has gotta do alot of work for me on most stuff - if i had the money id buy them all!!!!!

[Sensenel]

Originally Posted by Jules

What sort of music?

agreed, would be also my first question ...

hard to give an usefull answer ... just good outboards to make good drum recordings can lead to illusion ... there are some godfathers of drumrecording out there , who did 95% of they drumsound only with the right position of the mics ... what does the recordingroom sound like ? so much more things has to do with good drumsound as outboards ...

peace

[-Noodles-]

Mainly rock, and heavier rock!

thanks

[Push845]

What Pres are you using? I've since ditched everything for some good Pres.

[chetatkinsdiet]

In most modern contexts, the drums are left to sound fairly open, so gates probably aren't something that you'd want to record with. I'd say a couple of simple compressors are all that's needed. As mentioned earlier, a few dbx160x's are great to just lop the top of the peaks. If you're looking for true effects, then the sky's the limit as you can really go nuts with your room mics by squashing them through a cool comp like the 1176 or distressor.

Having a pile of compressors is really nice, but a lot can be done with a pair of 160's and a pair of distressors.

later,

m

[666666]

I'd recommend just making sure you have great pres and mics. I use a few API 3124+ units on drums, they work and sound excellent, plus they are very economical, both in terms of space and cost (when you consider the quality). They also hold their value very well.

I used to record drums through compressors and eq, but now I'm leaning more toward getting pure sounds to tape and doing all processing later. I know some like to commit to tape, but I like having options later. If you over-compress during the recording, you're dead.... and it's easy to over-compress.

Get two or three API 3124+ units... that's it. If you really feel you NEED a few eqs and compressors, I'd also look into the API 2500 bus compressor and the new 5500 API eq... all excellent stuff... I use the 2500 and a rack of 550Bs when mixing, you can't go wrong with API gear. (No, I do not work for API! )

[yumdrum]

Originally Posted by 666666

I'd recommend just making sure you have great pres and mics. I use a few API 3124+ units on drums, they work and sound excellent, plus they are very economical, both in terms of space and cost (when you consider the quality). They also hold their value very well.

I used to record drums through compressors and eq, but now I'm leaning more toward getting pure sounds to tape and doing all processing later. I know some like to commit to tape, but I like having options later. If you over-compress during the recording, you're dead.... and it's easy to over-compress.

Get two or three API 3124+ units... that's it. If you really feel you NEED a few eqs and compressors, I'd also look into the API 2500 bus compressor and the new 5500 API eq... all excellent stuff... I use the 2500 and a rack of 550Bs when mixing, you can't go wrong with API gear. (No, I do not work for API! )

I am actually contemplating the 2500 as my mix buss compressor as I write this. Is it possible for you to post a sample of a final mix with it and then without it for me?
If you can it would be greatly appreciated.
Thans.

[666666]

Originally Posted by yumdrum

I am actually contemplating the 2500 as my mix buss compressor as I write this. Is it possible for you to post a sample of a final mix with it and then without it for me? If you can it would be greatly appreciated.
Thans.

Hello... I do not have any comparison mixes on hand right now with and without a 2500. Even if I did, the 2500 is so versatile that just one listen is not enough to understand all variation the unit is capable of. You'd really need to have one in front of you and try all the different variations possible.

For instance, the 2500 has a "thrust" switch which basically allows the compression to ignore the lower frequency content, very effective and wonderful option. Yes, you can do this same trick with other compressors that have sidechain inserts but then you need to hook up a filter into a sidechain, can be a hassle... the 2500 does this with the touch of a button. Has a few different choices of "thrust" as well.

The 2500 also gives you settings for "new" style compression verses "old" style compression, putting the detector at different points in the chain for a different compression character / effect. It's one incredibly versatile unit. Has other really cool features as well.

So you really need to use one yourself so you can put it through all it's paces. You may prefer one group of settings over another... so thus you cannot really judge the unit by merely hearing one recording with it set up by a different person.

As I have posted elsewhere in this forum, I once used the 2500 on a single individual bass guitar track during a mix... very wild and unruley slap bass... after trying an 1176 and an STC-8, the 2500 proved to be the only one that could really tame this track well without any audible artifacts. The other two units just could not handle it, I couldn't tame the peaks without the units making an audible fuss. The 2500 did the job instantly and wonderfully.

You cannot go wrong with a 2500... I actually keep two 2500s right next to me at all times... one dedicated for bus use, and the other on hand for individual track use, whether it be drum OHs, or bass guitar, etc. I used to have two STC-8s on hand and only one 2500... I chose to sell one STC-8 and get another 2500. They're both (STC-8 and 2500) great, but the 2500, especially for the price, is just that much more of a swiss army knife... it's a more effective unit per dollar. I will ALWAYS keep my one STC-8 though. These are all units I can't live without.

[Musiclab]

Don't use any compression or limiting on the way in on the way in. If you screw that up you just ruined your drums