Advice on recording drums

[Eddie T. Ellis]

What do you guys think the best way to record drums is with 4-5 mics and still have it sound professional?

I have a studio projects condensor, a Mogami, Beta 52, SM-57, and now a Bock Condensor.

Thanks!

Eddie

[SRS]

Need more info. What drums, how many, the room setup, the pres and other gear, the style of music, etc... And what's a"a Mogami"? You mean cables?

[Eddie T. Ellis]

PDP 5 piece Fusion Kit

2 crash, 1 ride, Hats


Chain: Protools LE-Digi 002-Apogee Ensemble-Chandler TG-2/Manley Dual Vocal Combo

Mics: 1 Bock Audio 195 Condenser, Studio Projects Condenser, Octavo Small Diaphram Condenser, Mogami Condensor, Beta 52, Sm-57


I'm going for a rock/pop sound. More on the rock side.

The room is relatively small but has some room to tweak.

Thanks!
Eddie

[Eddie T. Ellis]

Is that sufficient man?

[Jadestar]

Use your gear. Move it around. Listen. What sound more "pro".
Use that!

Maybe you learn something too!

[Sid Viscous]

Set them up as best you can and record. Then move something and record again. Do some reading here and do it all again.
I would start with Kick, Snare, overhead (1 or 2) and then 1 or 2 rooms according to how many overheads you used.

[Player1]

Mic your kick, and snare drum. Use two overhead mics. Placement of the overheads will be crucial. You wan to make sure you get the toms with out too much cymbals. I have miced up kits with this set up and had pretty darn good results. I prefer more mics of course but with what you have I'd use the two condenser mics as your overheads. You might want to come over the top of the drummer allowing you to get a little more toms than cymbals. When you mix them start with your overheads and get the best sound with them and then add in the kick and snare to taste.

[firby]

Try this.

Recorderman technique with the bass drum miked and the snare drum miked as well. A room mic to squish.

That works pretty good here. I did 5 mics for a long time. The trick is getting the bass drum just right and the overheads in phase.

Regards.

[cdog]

1) The mics hear the drums in the room

2) Hang blankets all over the room if its small and crappy sounding

3) But the Beta52 in the kick, 57 on the snare, Bock as an overhead, and use the studio projects mic in front of the kit the same distance from the snare as the overhead - about 5'.

4) Hit record

[Eddie T. Ellis]

I really appreciate you guys chiming in.

I will say, the biggest problem recording at all is the room. How exactly do you recommend me getting this room to sound better?

It's basically a basement with a smaller area where the drums are set up. It's all open but not very big relatively. My dad builds guitar amps and the biggest problem testing them is the sound of the room.

[Sid Viscous]

Start with doing nothing and see how it sounds.

[ianvargo]

You can move the overheads around just an inch or two and it will dramatically affect the balance of everything. Put them in one spot, record a bit, listen then move them around more. Spend at least a day doing stuff like this before you start recording anything for real.

[flail19]

When I started working from home I found that my room sucked and the more mics I used was more mics picking up a crappy room sound; also phasing issues. This article was a good place for me to start.....it may help you too:


Mercenary Audio - Three Microphone Drum Stuff by Fletcher from the rec.audio.pro Usenet Group

[GoldenOne]

I have to deal with a basement setup whenever I record at home. I have the most luck using dynamic mics *gasp* as OH (md421), close mic'ing the snare and kick, and putting a room mic, LDC, at the opposite end of the room (all cement, ceiling is bare wood/studs.) Around the drumkit I have some room treatment to tighten up the sound in the overheads. I'm using a combination of wooden scaffolds (these work GREAT! look cool too) and Clearsonic sorber baffles. Sometime soon i'm going to use the rest of my OC703 to cover the ceiling above the drumkit.

Now, YMMV, as this sound works for my aesthetic, but may not even be close to what you're going for.

With your own setup I would recommend moving your kit around the room (GET IT OUT OF THE CORNER) to find where the "sweet" spot is. In rooms with low ceilings I find that OH mics like to be IN FRONT of the kit rather than above it as nasty reflections from the ceiling will plague the sound and make it sound thin/hollow. Experimenting with OH/Room mic placement will give you your best results.

[O.F.F.]

I prefer a three-mic set up every time.
Placement does take time though as small movements can produce big changes and every drummer, every kit and every room needs different placing.

[SRS]

Track some drums and post here and you will get more focused advice I am sure.