What Pres do you use for drums?

[RCM - Ronan]

API pres are legendary for drums so it is certainly no mistake to keep going to them.

I usually use Pacificas for my OH, Kik and snare. I usually use some old NTI PreQs if I close mic cymbals or hats.

[radicalron]

I have experimented with many O Mic Pre's for the drums. I have settled on the Millennia Media HV-3D. I find the high headroom - super clear sound can easily be colored with plug-ins or outboard gear during production. The Millennia has quick transients. = Explosive/Big Sound! - I find I am using less EQ, and less compression. Usually just a quick Eq on the kick drum, and a compressor on the drum sub-buss - and I am done.
One more observation I have encountered. I find I really prefer using the same premp on all the drums. There is something to say about the slew-rate or (speed) of the pre-amp. Using all the same mic-pre's gives the drums an overall cohesiveness that really works. Even Kick and Snare can really benefit from the same Mic Pre as the rest of the kit.
Having said all this. API's do sound very good on drums. The 2520 op-amp is a very nice sounding circut. Classic rock n roll tone!
Also having a quality drum kit, properly tuned drums, decent room acoustics, and a good drummer are probably way more important than any piece of gear.

[Steffmo]

I have an original Focusrite isa115 I generally use for kick and share. Great pre and the EQ is perfect for drums

Toms either API or Trident S20.

OH UA 2610

Hat Avalon 737, Sytek.

Rooms....Sytek compressed with Manley Mu.

Sometimes other sthings get used..but thats probably my forst choice.

[Andrew Kinsey]

I like the 1073 (clone or original) on drums.

Its not as open as a Millenia or even an API for that matter but its got a really meaty sound which i love.

[Titans55]

Originally Posted by radicalron

Also having a quality drum kit, properly tuned drums, decent room acoustics, and a good drummer are probably way more important than any piece of gear.

That is so true and it seems that when gear is discussed this element is alot of times not talked about.

[jjblair]

You can use API on all your drums and still have great drum sounds. The only thing I really like, that's part of "my sound," is a Neve 1073 on kick, and that's mainly because of what i can so with that EQ.

But aside from the pres, 550a EQs kill on snare, toms and OH.

[henryrobinett]

+1 for Milennia. I always tracks with Millennia on all drums. I don't like using different pres on a kit. Whatever they are I like them consistently the same.

[Brad McGowan]

I tend to agree about being consistent with all the preamps on the drum kit. I'm typically using 8 channels of API style preamps I spec'd out and built on all my drums with a pair of A Designs P1's for drum room. All of these preamps use the same Cinemag output transformer. Four of my API-ish pres are 312 clones using Avedis 1122 opamps...those get used on toms and outside kick, and bottom of snare. Inside kick and snare top go through a 312-ish pre using a 2520 clone opamp and the same iron that's in the P1's. They sound really really punchy in the lower mids and have excellent top end extension. My overheads go through a pre that uses the a cleaner input transformer and a JLM 99V opamp. The end result is a very elegant and detailed sound that matches up well with my Royer SF12. The differences between each of these pres are pretty subtle, but they are each tailored for the intended applications.

For the rest of my productions I just use A Designs Pacifica on everything.

Brad

[xj32]

+2 Millennia HV3D (8 Channels on kit)....sometimes though I will substitute a TG-2 on snare (top & Bot), and I love my Blue Robbie as overheads...

XJ

[t-hiho]

Grace m802 for BD, toms & overheads & room. Purple Biz for SD, Great River for HH.

[901]

What is the difference between an API 312 and a 512 pre? Or is it the same in different shapes?

[thethrillfactor]

If they are around Helios & real Neve's. Once in a while some older Focusrites on overheads. These days i am so passed the API sound and modern API(with the new op amps) to digital feels like sticking an ice pick in your ears sometimes.

Also lets be honest...does it really matter?

If down the road someone will sample replace the kicks and snares anyways. And for all we know maybe the toms and cymbals as well. So all of your hard earned work you put into tracking the instrument will be for naught.

My 2 cents.

[analogica]

have someone tried JOHN HARDY SERVOS on OHs ???

Im building a pre with the same input trafo and john hardy OP, and dunno

hows gonna sound...

Im finishing another with vintage apis 2520, and I though it only worked

on snare but it seems is great all over the kit, Im desperate to try them!!!

[starfighter]

And if you can find one ebay Universal Audio 2108 always sound incredibly punchy to me...

Been using it with a Royer SF12 on overheads for a couple of years; it's the one thing that never changes in my drum setup...


If someone on this forum would like to sell me a second I'd really appreciate it...

Morten

[Silvertone]

I use Electrodyne M100 mic pre's on kick and snare and pretty much Langevin or Electrodyne 201A tube pre's on the rest of the kit. I use to use Neve 1073's on the whole kit...

[Musiclab]

I use all different pre's, for me it's
ISA 110 kick In
ISA 110 Kick Out
Daking 52270 snare top
daking 52270 snare side
api 312's toms top and bottom
9098's hat and overhead
adl 600 room.
thats 13-15 channels of mic pre depending on how many toms.

[TanTan]

API's are just great drums preamps
sometimes 1064\1073 on the kick drum..

for me nothing can touch the Neumann branded RCA BA-71a for overheads !
from time to time an original UA 1108 on HH

[jchadstopherhuez]

daking

best,

jchristopherhughes

[Chris]

BAE 312a's
API 3124
GR NV
DAD

[Outlaw Hans]

mci JH-400 board preamps. My favourite preamps on drums. Tight and foward sounding. Not as sloppy as some of my more hi-fi sounding preamps (v72, Gyraf G9 etc.).

[retropete]

Dan Alexander (Neve) 31105 for overheads
Purple Biz or API for snare
Brent Averill 312 for bass drum
Helios 69 for room

Have also tried and loved the Shep 31105 on kick and snare as well

[Titans55]

No one is using the Shadow Hills Mono Gama? I have heard that they can sound like the API, but just a little more "hifi" If this is the case, they should sound pretty good on drums. The API feel with a modern touch


Any thoughts?

[slaves666]

I just got a Neve 5432 8 channel........rocks on drums. For larger kits, I use some external stuff, like Api on the toms, or Vintech 72 on OH's.

[warhead]

Generally I use Earthworks ZDT preamps for overheads, Chameleon Labs (modified with Carnhill i/o transformers, tantalum caps) pre / EQ on kick and snare, and Mackie Onyx preamp / EQ on toms.

I never EQ overheads while tracking, but like to EQ close mic'd drums during tracking so this setup makes sense for me in my room.

War

[svart]

I keep going back to 1272/1073 on drums and OHs..

I don't EQ the OH, snare and kick but I do compress them. I don't compress toms but I do EQ them lightly while tracking.

[analogica]

......No john hardy twin servos over here ???

Ive heard good feedback but not so much...how do they sound ???

[rhythminmind]

I use 4 John Hardy M1's, SCA T15's & a Trident S20 for my full kit.

[numrologst]

pacifica on the whole kit... If it is a live session, I may use adesigns em on toms or api on toms

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

If they are around Helios & real Neve's. Once in a while some older Focusrites on overheads. These days i am so passed the API sound and modern API(with the new op amps) to digital feels like sticking an ice pick in your ears sometimes.

Also lets be honest...does it really matter?

If down the road someone will sample replace the kicks and snares anyways. And for all we know maybe the toms and cymbals as well. So all of your hard earned work you put into tracking the instrument will be for naught.

My 2 cents.

these days...most likely there will be sample replace...it seems to be automatic...you make an unfortunately good point.

Nick