Metal Kick drum sound

[Janesaid2me]

Ok so Im recording a heavy metal band tomm and i've never really done anything that heavy...im a little concerned about achieving that heavy clicky sounding kick drum...my standard kick mic is a d112...ive heard the d6 is good for heavier stuff but I cant afford and dont have the time to get one at the moment. So give me some tips on how to get that sound...im assuming point the mic right at the beater to pick up the click more then usual...any other tips for eq, mic placement, mic scenario etc...let me know!

Thanks

[AllAboutTone]

Its gonna be harder to get it with a D112, you cannot get a Beta 52? If not try placing the mic in the center of the kick, let half the egg stick out the front of the kick head and the other half inside, i have a 6 inch hole in my kick drum in the center outside head. crank up the mids and lower the low mids, add some high end and play with the mid high till you dail it in, i use a 20 inch kick btw.
Good Luck, you really need a Beta52 or the Audix D6
BTW run the kick head lose, very lose to get extra snap

[whosyourdaddy00]

take and leave the front head of the kick drum completely off

turn the beater around so the plastic (not the felt) is hittin' the head...

or try puttin' a quarter on the point of impact for lots of click...

[Janesaid2me]

Already got the head off actually :-)...I like the quarter idea...might give that a try...not sure if I have a plastic beater but I do have an old wood one...will it mess up the head though?

[jbuntz]

What was said earlier. Some type of clear head. Powerstrokes or superkicks work well. Audix D6 is an instant eq'd kick sound. Samples are very useful for metal.

[TheGetDown]

put the mic IN the bass drum, close to the head (that the kick pedal is hitting, but on the inside of course)

[Tom Hakala]

put the mic inside the kick facing floor tom. then there's less snare and hihat on the kick drum track. then simply just Drumagog it. that's IMO the fastest and easiest way in the world of metal... everyone uses samples.

You can sample your own kick drum or you can use those zillions of samples floating around the net.

But if you don't wanna use samples. I would then go for Audix D6 half way in the kick. And one thing you must consider is that kick drum "tunnel" made of matress and carpets. Less leakage that way.

[AllAboutTone]

Originally Posted by Tom Hakala

everyone uses samples.

You can sample your own kick drum or you can use those zillions of samples floating around the net.

This speaks well for a major drum company or drummer that really loves his drum tone and takes alot of pride in it..... samples on drums

[Matt_Weston]

If you have another mic and input to spare you could try this. I use it in combination with another mic part way inside for metal applications. Lots of click... it'd work great with a 57 or whatever... it's an ATM25 in the picture.

Good luck!

[Janesaid2me]

Thanks for the picture...ive tried micing the other side with like a 57 and didnt really like the sound...i always use a kick tunnel...so that will be in use...dont have a d6 yet...although that might be my next mic purchase...looks like were going with a D112 in alil further then usual pointed left towards right where the beater hits...someone also said try taping a quarter to where the beater hits...might give that a try...ill let you guys know how it comes. Off we go!

[Yetti]

Originally Posted by Janesaid2me

Thanks for the picture...ive tried micing the other side with like a 57 and didnt really like the sound...i always use a kick tunnel...so that will be in use...dont have a d6 yet...although that might be my next mic purchase...looks like were going with a D112 in alil further then usual pointed left towards right where the beater hits...someone also said try taping a quarter to where the beater hits...might give that a try...ill let you guys know how it comes. Off we go!

I recorderd a metal band a couple months ago, and I went with the D112 just as you describe.
I must say that if I had to do it again, I would definatly go with the previous poster Matt's advice of using a 2nd mic like a 57.
When it comes time to mixdown, adding highend eq to the D112 only goes so far. I was able to get "decent" results, but I know I could have achieved much more presence and clarity if I had that 2nd 57 to work with.
Good luck Brotha!

[gabetx26]

I think the key to getting that "METAL" kick sound is dynamics or lack of that is. You want to squeeze all the fluff out of the kick and get the same consistent sound every time. This will help to avoid what I call the popcorn effect when the drummer starts to double bass and help tighten up any fancy footwork. I personally have found it easier to use triggers and samples for the kick but a mic'd up kick will sound just as good with the right processing. I haven't had to use a second mic when using my Audix D6, it seems to be able to capture the high end click when placed inside the kick drum. As mentioned before a click pad on the drum head along with wooden or plastic beaters also help. If your lucky your drummer will be able to kick consistently hard even through the double bass. Moracspace made a good point to get as good a kick sound as possible up front without any extreme processing. I personally like to process after tracking. Off the top of my head the processing chain I used was eq first to roll off the bass under 80hz and add a little click anywhere between 2.8-4khz, then I squash it with a compressor which should also make that click pop a little more then another eq for fine tuning and finally a gate to take care of any bleed through. Hope this helps.

[andremattos]

I prefer use kick 5 or kick 1 (Steven Slate Drum)
I replace using drumagog or soundreplacer (PT)

[jitterybit]

another vote for the D6. We do lots of metal and commonly use the D6 on the in, D112 on the out, off axis. also, watch out with the quarter trick. The drummer could punch it through the head, depending on how hard they play (and how cheap of a head they have). The D6 also out performs the D112 on bass cab, IMO.

[project 114]

I've Only done Metal bands so far (just starting out) and I use a d6 about 2 inches from the beathead and drumagog it. I only mix it about 50% with the natural sound though. In addition I use a kick tunnel and wide condenssor, this give you all that low end so that it doesn't just sound like a click but there's still some bass behind. And to really make it stand out link the channels with the bass guitar and duck the bass. I just learned that last week and it does wonders for metal.

[bitman]

This won't help too much but I feel it would be irresposible to not tell you.

I have an Alesis DM5 electronic drum brain that has a kick patch called heavy metal. Yeah, except is sounds just like the Megadeath kick - exactly. Some years ago I went to the trouble of sucking every sample out of the DM5 into my PC for use in a software sampler. Lately however, with the help of sound replacement plugs, I have used them to fix micing screw ups and engineer ineptness. (Although once it was indeed a wuss drumer that did not hit the snare hard enough).

My last client got thier demo from me and the drummer came back for a "consultation" and a Megadeath CD in his hand. He said "No, I want my kick to sound like this." - Now I was very familier with what he wanted, But after I said "Your kick does not sound like that" - He looked like He might hurt me. Then I said "but I can replace it with this sample". Now I feared for my life. I put the sample in place of his kick and we almost pee'ed from the delight.

I would send you the sample but don't want trouble with Alesis.
But it's in the DM5 drum brain. It's 'prolly not cool for me to even suck the samples to my PC. - but I dun it.


Oh I called them Megadeath cause if I use the correct spelling this happens: Mega

:Rock on

:Ron

[Psychoguitarz]

Evans Emad kick head - the only way to go.

Start with a fat punchy, clicky Kick and that's what you get!

[somedude74]

I use a d112 and do the following--

Make a copy of the kick track so that you have two tracks.

High pass one at like 200hz, and then find a frequency to boost for the click sound at around 3k to 4k to get a snap on the Hi Kick track and compress it. You will have to find the best sounding eq setting yourself by cranking the EQ notch way up and then bring it down a bit. You can also eliminate the high frequencies at around 10 to 15k to get rid of some bleeding.

Then low pass the other at the same range if not a bit lower, maybe even around 100hz. Then you can boost the lows (as much as you need for a chest thumping sound around 50hz on the low track and compress it.

So, now you can adjust the levels and bring up the low kick or high kick as much as is needed. You may need to adjust the low and high pass frequencies to your tasting.

This method ALSO works great for bass guitar -- you can even slap some distortion on the high track to your tastes if needed- and do not distort the low track in order to keep it thick.

OPTIONAL: First gate your tracks, and then apply an envelope curve if needed (to lengthen or shorten the kick blast).

As I said, it works real well for me, and I can get a good snap this way. And tune your kick to the song if you can.

[Janesaid2me]

Ok so its recorded now...came out good...not spectacular...still needs some more tinkering later tonight...i think my next purchase will be a D6...and use that inside and the d112 outside like a few of you mentioned...i wish i had and extra 57 but all of them got eaten up on toms...I prolly shoulda used a leftover dynamic on the front beater...but to late now...im gonna stick the mix up later tonight, ill drop a link in here and you guys can take a listen and see what you think at my first take of doing metal...thanks for all the info...i learned alot of new tricks and techniques from all the comments!

[Bang]

D-6 is a great choice, and it eqs very nicely too. Actually all the audix drum mics rock. I used a lot of them for our samples, I was amazed at how fat they could sound.

[Janesaid2me]

Here it is guys...an initial mix of my first death metal song... go to here:
www.myspace.com/circleoffear
and listen to "burn the saint"...let me know how it sounds
sorry for the poor myspace quality....hook me up with some feedback!

[Methlab]

Honestly most metal records have kick samples. I have watched them tracked for Roadruner MEtal Blad...and the like, and they always get replaced with samples.

[bachconnelly]

No votes for the Beta 52!? What gets more clicky than that?!


D-

[keithrt99]

sounds pretty good to me.

[Janesaid2me]

Thanks keith...that was the initial first mix...there are a few more tweaks that are being done...if anyone has any comments or suggestions let me know...as i have to have the final product ready by sunday.

Thanks guys

[myrmidonlord666]

I like the mix personally but I am a metal fan. Although I think maybe put the vocals alittle lower/hihat alittle a teence lower. I like how you have the bass mixed alot of metal albums I hear have the bass so low, its nice to hear it audible.

The guitar sound is pretty cool mind asking what you used? Sounds like theres a little delay/reverb ? Maybe put the solo up a tinge? It seemed alittle low in the mix.

[-silent-sam-]

basicly you need to mic the kick drum like you always do so you get a good overall kick drum sound. then you add a sample.

the thing is when you add your sample...remember what your adding it for...tick...dont go and get a big phat bass sample and try sticking it over top of your already good recorded kick drum....

get a sample
compress the hell out of it
and roll alot of the low end off

then you will have a nice ticky kick drum

[Janesaid2me]

I really didnt use much on the guitars...they used line 6 vetta heads on some programmed metal sound...through a marshall 1960 cab...all i added was a tad of compression, eq and reverb but seriously barely any...most fo it was achieved through the heads and the cab....ohh and i double mic'ed each cab...with a 57 and an i5 through a meek twinq preamp....hope that helps.

[Farview]

Use a hard beater and tune the drum low. With a D112, I end up sucking out some 200-500hz (depending) and adding a bunch of high shelf set at around 5-6k. (depending)

As long as the drummer actually hits the drum, you should be in good shape with a little EQ and compression.

[AndrewsLaneRec.]

metal and hardcore bands are super fun to record. to me, it's all about the compression. i use a D6 about 6 inches away from the head, inside the kick. i also like to use a beta 98 inside as well. Snare top = D3, Snare bottom = sm57. Toms = Sennheiser 609s!!! (weird, but i love them on toms) Floor = Beta 52. Hats/Ride = 451's, overheads = AKG c4K's, or Audio Technica 3035's. this is usually my standard hardcore/metal drum config. i love using a DBX 160X on kick and/or snare. Joe Meek VC1Q's for drum sub group smasher. Also, on overheads or hat/ride channels, i LOVE the FMR RNC. especially for the money.

i did this band back in 2005. all of my other hardcore or metal stuff hasn't made it online yet. check it out. songs "intro/the hard goodbye" and "Tooth & Nail" are my work.

www.myspace.com/harderthefight