Tips on Recording Steel Drums

[2A Batterie]

No, not a steel sheel snare, but the actual tuned (sometimes referred to as "Pans") steel drums. I'll be recording a demo tomorrow with a steel drum trio in my basic home studio. I'm going to record all three instruments (steel drum, bass, and drumset) in one live room and am not sure what the best approach to mic'ing the pans are. Any suggestions?

[mbrebes]

I've had success using an AKG 414 before on a steel drum. With condensors I'd stay with really flat, no peaks. Dynamics, you might try an SM7, 441, or RE20.

[gwailoh]

I asked the same question recently over on PSW and received a couple of very interesting and helpful responses. Here's a link: http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind.../t/12608/8853/.

Hope this helps,

--Mark

[uncle duncan]

Ear Plugs

[2A Batterie]

Originally Posted by uncle duncan

Ear Plugs

(Said in Comic Book Guy voice from the Simpsons) Best reply ever.

[2A Batterie]

Originally Posted by mbrebes

I've had success using an AKG 414 before on a steel drum. With condensors I'd stay with really flat, no peaks. Dynamics, you might try an SM7, 441, or RE20.

I was thinking about trying a pair of Oktava MK012's, since I don't have anything like a 414. Do you think this would work or would I be safer with a 57?

Originally Posted by gwailoh

I asked the same question recently over on PSW and received a couple of very interesting and helpful responses. Here's a link: http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind.../t/12608/8853/.

Hope this helps,

--Mark

Have you had any time to try any of those suggestions yet? I may try miking from the bottom just for shits and giggles. I'm also only recording one steel drum.... thank God.

[MIKEHARRIS]

Royer SF-24

[The dman]

When I was in Nashville we set up a couple of sdc's on either side of the drums about 2' out and 4' high(give or take a little). I don't think we used a room mic.
I wonder how ribbon mics would sound added in to the equation?

I was thinking about trying a pair of Oktava MK012's, since I don't have anything like a 414. Do you think this would work or would I be safer with a 57

If you have the tracks and the pres record them all and pick out the best.

[Jim vanBergen]

FWIW, every time (more than a dozen, now) I have discussed this with steel pan players, they suggest a 57 from underneath.

Who cares, as long as YOU like the sound. Players seem to like a rounded top end, however... so the dynamic from underneath makes sense in that regard.

Hope this helps.

[tubejay]

I haven't recorded a steel drum before, but if I had your two mics you mentioned I'd try the SDC mics from further away (a few feet) because getting too close might be harsh, and then I'd try the 57 closer up (maybe from the bottom as suggested above and checking/flipping phase if you're going to mix the two mics together).

[bgrotto]

Condensors will only work if it's a REALLY nice and NON-SOPRANO drum...I'd stick with ribbons or (my new personal favorite) RE-10s, mic'd from beneath.

Oddly enough, I was recording pans last night, and I happened to set up an ATM-25 as a comm mic for the player (for no particular reason; it was just the first mic i grabbed), and that combined with the RE-10 from below the drum yielded a GORGEOUS sound when I panned them out.

For the record (no pun intended), soprano pans are a bitch to record. Don't ever do it.

[figfarmer]

I just did a gig with a Palestinian group called Halal Meat. Traditionally Muslim bands are all percussion and this one was. Mostly I used my SM58s-ain't many things they aren't good for, with a good old AT814 for the lead vocal. He also played a Hang Drum, which is very like a steel drum in characteristics. He warned me many times that the instrument would feed back, go quiet, feed back, go quiet all night and nothing was to be done. I hauled out my 'instrument mic', a good old V-Tech VT1050-set my level and was good all night. These mics aren't expensive; about $50.00 new and I got this one for $12.00 off a guy on ebay because, "The damned thing don't work right. You can't move around it at all, just sing straight into it." In other words, it is very directional and just what one needs to mic instruments that don't move around too much, but are inclined to feed back.

[NorseHorse]

I'd record it just like you would a bell choir... a really obnoxious bell choir. ORTF, spaced omni, or M/S are probably great. Then add some spots to play with later.

[mixedupsteve]

I've never recorded steel drums but I have done bells, marimba, etc and tend to agree with the dynamic idea. SM57, SM7, or Heil PR22. If you have some spare channels than run a SDC at the same time. (assumes your going to mixdown after recording)

[thedoner]

I hate to start with this tired caveat, but.... it depends.
Steel pans, if played hard can be VERY piercing. I've had good results with the SM7 from above with one player who had a soft touch. The same mic on a more dynamic player sounded harsh at times and required some taming in the mix (Pop/calypso track) I was wishing for some nice ribbons but didn't have access to any at the time. Good luck
-Doner

[charles maynes]

I record a fair amount of metal items... and I have to give a huge +1 to the Royer SF24

It does exactly what you want it to do to the leading edge transient sound, while still sounding pretty and full like a good condenser mic....