Recording hand claps

[Kiwiburger]

An omni mic would be a good start. A good hand clap is all about the room sound - so directional mics generally not so good.

[chymer]

Sometimes i like to tape an SM57 to each writst and it gives a nice stereo clap, just remember to invert the polarity on one of the mic inputs. Boost the low mids around 400 to add body and bobs your uncle.
If this doesn't work, which it usually doesnt Ive found, then put up a large condenser and stand a few feet back and that should do the trick. Also, a room mic heavily compressed and blended in adds "bigness" to the sound, especially if its a tight room and the decay is short.
The closer mic can sometimes sound too thin, so some EQ can definately help, proabably in the low mids somewhere, dont add too much high end as this may make the claps sound too thin, if you want them brighter then add the high end and then send to a compressor and smack it!
Chymer

[uncle duncan]

Probably want a ribbon mic for hand claps. Just don't get too close.

[2xBassist]

I've had great results with 3 clappers around a Royer SF12 stereo ribbon.

[peat]

all the handclaps ive ever recorded have been in stairwells
with fairly large natural reverbs

used an MD421 at the door of a smallish stairwell pointing inwards, with 3 clappers behind it

and the other occasion was an SM57 in a large stairwell pointing down the stairs and 3 clappers behind it.

just make sure you get a good direct-reverberant ratio happening, you dont want too much room sound. (i guess thats cos i was in a concrete stairwell)

[Zack]

Im definitely a low-end guy, but I happened to just record hand claps 2 days ago with some good results (I thought they sounded cool anyways), using a bathroom, an NT-1 sort of in the corner of the room but a good metre out from the walls (the stand was actually in the bath) and a guy clapping in the middle of the room. 2 claps either side (L and R) and it sounded pretty cool. Next time....classroom of kids....

[roger]

57s taped to the wrists....gold!

a ribbon in a nice space OR a dead space and always get at least 3 pairs of hands going...no compression! claps really reveal a nasty-sounding space - you can't hide it so it's a good idea to deaden up your space as much as possible if you are chasing the holy grail of hand claps...you can add a little space later if you want.

[pan]

I usually use my vocal chain for recording handclaps, shakers and tambourines.

UM 57 -> API ->no compression

[centurymantra]

There's a great thread over at TapeOp about recording hand claps that goes into a variety of techniques, including the techniques behind the clapping action itself. It's concurred it's best to have multiple clappers and there are some other interesting tricks on there as well, like slapping the leg as an alternate and ways of using reflective surface to one's advantage. It was suggested that the best way to keep claps in the groove was to teach the clapper to only move one hand. Here's the thread:

Tape Op Message Board :: View topic - Handclaps

[Recording David]

Thanks for all those suggestions - I will check them out. Keep it coming if there's any other info...

Cheers!

[chymer]

An engineer friend told me that they used to hit the glass window with a drums stick and blend this in with the claps. havent tried it though, might work great.
chymer

[dbbubba]

If you do multiple passes, have the clapper/clappers move different distances from the mics) on each pass.

Since no one records to tape anymore, vari-speeding the individual takes is out of the question.

I like having a heavily distorted version of the claps to blend in with the normal recorded version. Here again, analog tape worked better. A compressed playback or mult'ed channel will work.

USE the room tone....'cause it's gonna' be there!

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF YOUR CLAPPER:
YOU DON'T WANT YOUR SHIT TURNING ON AND OFF WHEN THEY START CLAPPING!

[andychamp]

All of the following has worked before:


Ribbon (fig.8) or omni mic
Not too close to the mic.
Air/ambience is good, but too strong reflections have a nasty way of accumulating when layering.
Multiple passes with as many clappers as you can get.
Have the drummer be the lead clapper and the only one wearing headphones. Have all the others follow him.
Blend in dum machine claps.
Reamp dm claps.

[beats workin']

handclaps are tricky because, as was stated before, you want to have the mic at some distance (same with most percussion instruments) but obviously that brings in a lot of room sound. So if your room sounds bad, your claps are gonna suck in the track. If this is the case, have the clappers stand in front of your most absorbant wall and keep the mic pretty close. Then add the ambience with Altiverb, or the like. if you have 3 or 4 people, 2x or 3x track it- you need numbers.
david

[castle]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

Since no one records to tape anymore, vari-speeding the individual takes is out of the question.

Not with Protools HD it isn't...

[TornadoTed]

I had a band in a few weeks ago that had a section with clapping. I got the whole band to stand around an ORTF pair of SDC's (Schoeps)

It sounded really cool for that particular track which had a singalong, camp fire kinda vibe to it!

I often use this method with backing vocals also. The band always find it loads of fun and really like the sound.

[Benmrx]

Originally Posted by dbbubba

Since no one records to tape anymore, vari-speeding the individual takes is out of the question.

I do!

Thanks for the tip

Anything with a hard transient gets recorded to tape.

[Steve G]

HAND CLAPS !?! grab the mic that's right next to you, and all the people in the room that can at least think in time, and hit record. Repeat. Done.

Steve

[chris carter]

For handclaps I typically use a cardioid LDC. The key is the room though more than anything else. It's nice when I have a dead room next to a really bright room (like a utility room or lounge with hard floors/walls/etc.), then I can kind of position the clapper and the mic through the doorway using the rooms as kind of a wet/dry balance.

[C/G]

Originally Posted by pan

I usually use my vocal chain for recording handclaps, shakers and tambourines.

Me too.

[Fredrik]

Heres some I found in the basement.

A good clap

How to record good handclaps

Recording hand claps

Snaps, Claps and things???

[gurubuzz]

Originally Posted by Steve G

HAND CLAPS !?! grab the mic that's right next to you, and all the people in the room that can at least think in time, and hit record. Repeat. Done.

Steve

And slam it into a limiter really hard, usually they can get lost in the mix so the louder you want em the harder you hit the limiter.

[DeathMonkey]

Anyone remember that Boss clapper pedal? Ah, the 80's....

[stevep]

I just grab whatever is close,.. usually a U87 in omni

chymer Sometimes i like to tape an SM57 to each writst and it gives a nice stereo clap, just remember to invert the polarity on one of the mic inputs

LoL .. That sounds like something you got from Sqye




.

[Recording David]

This is all very useful stuff - thanks for the continued input!

[spacebass]

here is a trick i learned a very long time ago that can work great.

first get the right people who can clap IN TIME and clap at the same volume for each clap.

get yourself about 50 to 75 of those thin metal bracelets everyone wore in the '80's and have your clappers wear them.

you will get a very nice "wosh/crack/sizzle" sound......think aquaboogie baby!

[bryancook]

Originally Posted by castle

Not with Protools HD it isn't...

but come on, who buys a Sync I/O just so you can varispeed?