Mic'ing a drum kit in a condo?

Dopamine · 16th December 2008

Has any one ever got a good drum sound in a small apartment with 8' ceilings? Is it possible even with great gear?

KeithMoonwannabe · 16th December 2008

more importantly will your neighbors hunt you down and call the police?

Dopamine · 16th December 2008

I'll be good during the day.

Just curious if any one has ever had good results with this.

espen askelad · 16th December 2008

I've gotten some very good results in small rooms like that. Most important thing is to try to control some of the really bad sounding echoes as much as possible, and then walk around the room with a drum and hit it, looking for the best sounding spot. Then have a friend do the same while you walk around and listen from different parts of the room. This will tell you a lot about what sorts of micing schemes you need to use to counter the negative aspects of the room and maximize the good ones. You may do well to work out a way of changing some angles in corners or hanging a panel somewhere to break up the shape of the ceiling.

My first-call is generally a mono overhead and two omni room mics fairly close in and low to the ground in front of the kit; I'd rather hear floor reflections than ceiling and help it feel like a bigger room than it is. Also tried M/S yesterday with pretty good results in a small room. In small rooms the drummer's control over dynamics becomes even more critical than it usually is. Unless you can deaden the whole place to the point of boredom, you are at the mercy of the cymbal reflections coming back at every angle. I've also used the Glyn Johns method in small rooms - some of my best, as well as some of my worst, results followed; it is for me a very situational setup. I do prefer to use as few mics as possible though to help keep phase issues minimized.

allencollins · 16th December 2008

sdc's on OH

obostic · 16th December 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by allencollins

sdc's on OH

+1 That's my secret!

Dopamine · 17th December 2008

I have carpet and popcorn ceiling, + lots of baffles and bass traps.

might give it a try....

16th December 2008	#1
Dopamine Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912 Thread Starter	Mic'ing a drum kit in a condo? Has any one ever got a good drum sound in a small apartment with 8' ceilings? Is it possible even with great gear?

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16th December 2008	#2
KeithMoonwannabe Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 2,219	more importantly will your neighbors hunt you down and call the police?

16th December 2008	#4
espen askelad Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 621	I've gotten some very good results in small rooms like that. Most important thing is to try to control some of the really bad sounding echoes as much as possible, and then walk around the room with a drum and hit it, looking for the best sounding spot. Then have a friend do the same while you walk around and listen from different parts of the room. This will tell you a lot about what sorts of micing schemes you need to use to counter the negative aspects of the room and maximize the good ones. You may do well to work out a way of changing some angles in corners or hanging a panel somewhere to break up the shape of the ceiling. My first-call is generally a mono overhead and two omni room mics fairly close in and low to the ground in front of the kit; I'd rather hear floor reflections than ceiling and help it feel like a bigger room than it is. Also tried M/S yesterday with pretty good results in a small room. In small rooms the drummer's control over dynamics becomes even more critical than it usually is. Unless you can deaden the whole place to the point of boredom, you are at the mercy of the cymbal reflections coming back at every angle. I've also used the Glyn Johns method in small rooms - some of my best, as well as some of my worst, results followed; it is for me a very situational setup. I do prefer to use as few mics as possible though to help keep phase issues minimized.

16th December 2008	#5
allencollins 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended. Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Rosedale Cemetery Singing Beach, MA Posts: 4,873	sdc's on OH

17th December 2008	#7
Dopamine Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,912 Thread Starter	I have carpet and popcorn ceiling, + lots of baffles and bass traps. might give it a try....