Recording a Djembe

[ddeez]

i have a u87 to record it with....its a 12 inch remo...sounds pretty good...should i just overhead mic it from a few feet away...or should i get up close..im going for the crispest sound possible...ive been playing around with it...would appreciate some advice

[TornadoTed]

I recorded a Djembe a while back. I used a SDC on the skin to get the slap and a dynamic (RE20) mic phase reversed on the bottom for the 'body'

Combined they sounded great. The player said it was the best recorded sound he'd heard from his drum.

You should be able to use the U87 on the skin and a dynamic underneath.

[Steffmo]

What tuxedo said....or get PZM mic, or a boundry mic and tpe it to the floor. The best part of the sound comes from the back.

[squeeks555]

i recorded one today, i had a U47 about 2 feet above and a ATM 23 under it. came out great.

[peeder]

Djembe stands aren't too expensive and are just about necessary, unless you have clip-on mics.

As with everything, listen in headphones while you wave both head and body mics around. Usually inside there is too much comb filtering. Sometimes I find micing the shell near the opening best. The top is miced more or less like a snare or tom top (which is also quite variable...you might want to use/blend an overhead). You might tighten things up considerably by gating the bottom mic if it's ringing too long.

[Djembe]

The best part of the sound comes from the back.

That is not true.

I play djembe and have recorded 2 CDs of traditional music in Guinea, West Africa, the home of the djembe.
It really depends on the context. If there are other low-end instruments such as bass and kick on the track, you don't need to mic the bottom.
I personally prefer dynamic mics on the top, unless it's a really dull drum. A sm57 can sound great. But give it a bit of space - not to close. Small rooms tend to give a boxy sound. The best sound is outdoors.(but not always practical) U87s can work, but again, not too close.
If there are no other bass instruments on the track you can put something like an Beyer M88 or similar kick mic on the bottom, AS WELL AS the top mic. Most of the character of the sound comes from the top.
Most people who aren't serious djembe players have pretty bad sounds - no deliniation between tone and slap.
So as always, it's 90% the sound of the instrument and the player.

Blair

[gurubuzz]

WELL Said Djembe...


If you want a dark sound lay it down on a carpeted floor in a dead room and get the player to sit on it.

57 on the front and I once used a Rode Valve Classic on the rear about 2 feet away of course play with phase and minute sample delay to get the two mics in harmony...Eq out the lows from the 57 if you are micing the rear.

[beats workin']

you need some distance to really get the djembe sound- the greatet the distance, the less need for 2 mics.
david

[ddeez]

appreciate all the feedback!

[Dirty Gear Pimp]

i have had good experience w/ using the u87 about 3 feet above and in front of the dejembe. in cardioid pattern. anywhere from 2-4 feet is good. it lets the drum sound develop a little. also, if you want alot of low end, put a mic on the bottom of the drum near the sound hole w/ the earthworks kickpad. i was using an sr-25 and the kickpad w/ the mic facing in the hole but pointing toward the opposite side of the rim. like on a 30-45 degree angle. if the mic faces directly in the hole, it will sound too woofy and peak out the preamp as the air hits the diaphram.

my 10 cents...

[Baderup99]

Hey i recorded one using a SDC a few inches above the skin pointing down probably at a 60 degree angle towards the edge, and I stuck a 57 right smack underneath and got a very impressive bass response. It was my first time recording a djembe and it was quite easy.