Suggestions? Renting big hall for drum tracking

jgdels3 · 7th November 2011

I'm a new slut, although I've been referring to the forum for a while. Found my first reason to join and post a new thread:

I'm taking up a fun tracking project. Renting out a small-midsize hall for drum tracking with my band. Really great decay in the room's natural verb, pretty straight rectangular space. No stage.

I've got a limited selection of mic's, including:

pair of Rode NT5's (overheads)
AKG D112 (kick)
SM7B (thinking snare top)
SM57s (alt. snare top choice, probably end up on toms)

Couple crappy cardioids for Room sounds (MXL, Digital Reference). Working on possibly borrowing a decent pair from a friend (either Shure KSM109's or another pair of NT5's, probably both)

If you see my "backline" in my profile you can figure out what I'm using to track (basic mobile pro tools rig + MAudio Adat Pres)

Anyway, I've posted some pictures. I'm really curious as to what room mic placement will sound best, I have a feeling this room is going to get very loud. Our drummer is quite hard hitting.

If anyone has any suggestions at all I'd be very happy and appreciative to hear them.

I have a short iPhone video of my bandmate and I goofing around with the sound of the room:

Fast, Free Video Hosting & Video Sharing - VideoBam

chrisso · 7th November 2011

It could be good, but lot's of dead straight parallel walls and what looks like a low ceiling are not generally good.

KickSnareHat · 8th November 2011

I'd be sure to leave lots of time to play around with the room, which includes adding some strategic muffling, rugs, etc. It also includes tuning and muffling the kit to the room. Also try different places in the room for the kit.
You also need to be very careful with your overheads. I've recorded in some really large rooms where the overheads originally sounded like far room mics until we adjusted the mics and placement.

relayer · 8th December 2011

My studio is a large room with a very low ceiling and the room sound isn't stellar by any measure, but a group of musicians as a whole yields some pretty decent results. For drums only, I have better luck using stone room IRs in a convolution reverb. If you have a decent rehearsal space, I'd go that route first, but that's just me. Good luck with it anyway.

Steve

7th November 2011	#1
jgdels3 Gear interested Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 1 Thread Starter	Suggestions? Renting big hall for drum tracking I'm a new slut, although I've been referring to the forum for a while. Found my first reason to join and post a new thread: I'm taking up a fun tracking project. Renting out a small-midsize hall for drum tracking with my band. Really great decay in the room's natural verb, pretty straight rectangular space. No stage. I've got a limited selection of mic's, including: pair of Rode NT5's (overheads) AKG D112 (kick) SM7B (thinking snare top) SM57s (alt. snare top choice, probably end up on toms) Couple crappy cardioids for Room sounds (MXL, Digital Reference). Working on possibly borrowing a decent pair from a friend (either Shure KSM109's or another pair of NT5's, probably both) If you see my "backline" in my profile you can figure out what I'm using to track (basic mobile pro tools rig + MAudio Adat Pres) Anyway, I've posted some pictures. I'm really curious as to what room mic placement will sound best, I have a feeling this room is going to get very loud. Our drummer is quite hard hitting. If anyone has any suggestions at all I'd be very happy and appreciative to hear them. I have a short iPhone video of my bandmate and I goofing around with the sound of the room: Fast, Free Video Hosting & Video Sharing - VideoBam

7th November 2011	#2
chrisso Gear Guru Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Oz Posts: 16,836	It could be good, but lot's of dead straight parallel walls and what looks like a low ceiling are not generally good. __________________ Chris Whitten

8th December 2011	#4
relayer Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 219	My studio is a large room with a very low ceiling and the room sound isn't stellar by any measure, but a group of musicians as a whole yields some pretty decent results. For drums only, I have better luck using stone room IRs in a convolution reverb. If you have a decent rehearsal space, I'd go that route first, but that's just me. Good luck with it anyway. Steve __________________ Intel i7-2.80GHz Quad Core-8GB RAM-W7x64-RME HDSP 9632-SONAR X1 Producer

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8th November 2011	#3
KickSnareHat Gear interested Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 19	I'd be sure to leave lots of time to play around with the room, which includes adding some strategic muffling, rugs, etc. It also includes tuning and muffling the kit to the room. Also try different places in the room for the kit. You also need to be very careful with your overheads. I've recorded in some really large rooms where the overheads originally sounded like far room mics until we adjusted the mics and placement.