too many options and the concise sound

[capnreverb]

This can apply to many things, but I will stick with drums.

Having bought a lot of mics (this sounds best on snare, no this one and this sdc is best for overheads...no, this is the best...etc) I am starting to come to the conclusion that too many cooks in the kitchen aint working.

At one point I think I had a different make of mic on each drum. It sounded good, but there was a consistancy issue. Each had to be eq'd differently, bleed was never consistant. So, I had a mic that I liked on toms and bought a bunch of em and mic'd each drum of the whole kit with it and they sound like a dream (to me). I have a nice homogenous sound that is consistant and I know what I am getting each time. When I set up mics now to record a drummer, I got a pallet whose colors I am familiar with. Just set up, get levels and go. Try it, it might work for you!

Sometimes it seems like too many options can be a hinderance. I know guys with 8 jillion recording computer plug ins that they cant complete a project because they have so many options. Seen bands do the same thing, arguing about plug in options.

Since I am sure I will be asked, my set up is Josphson c42's as OH's, RCA bk5-b on the outside of the kick, and AT 3525's on everything else including beater side of the kick drum. AT 3525's are an extremly underated mic when used in places you might not think to use em!

[andychamp]

Originally Posted by capnreverb

(...)I have a nice homogenous sound that is consistant and I know what I am getting each time.(...)Sometimes it seems like too many options can be a hinderance. (...)

While it was (and still is) fun to explore the many shades available through different mics, pres, etc..., it's also important to remember that the records people quote as musical or sonic milestones were usually recorded with only one type of preamp (a.k.a. "console") and a limited but proven set of mics.

This has the effect of
A) giving the whole record a coherent sonic identity and
B) focusing the listener's (and producer's/technician's) attention on the music, since the basic sonic character is already set.

Don't be amazed if, some time from now, you feel a yearning for the elegant simplicity of a decent console and a handfull of standard mics (57s, 421s, RE20s, U87s, or whatever "standard" you're happy with). And judging by your post, you're already on the way there.

Fewer options tend to make the music better, not worse.

[John Eppstein]

Originally Posted by capnreverb

This can apply to many things, but I will stick with drums.

Having bought a lot of mics (this sounds best on snare, no this one and this sdc is best for overheads...no, this is the best...etc) I am starting to come to the conclusion that too many cooks in the kitchen aint working.

At one point I think I had a different make of mic on each drum. It sounded good, but there was a consistancy issue. Each had to be eq'd differently, bleed was never consistant. So, I had a mic that I liked on toms and bought a bunch of em and mic'd each drum of the whole kit with it and they sound like a dream (to me). I have a nice homogenous sound that is consistant and I know what I am getting each time. When I set up mics now to record a drummer, I got a pallet whose colors I am familiar with. Just set up, get levels and go. Try it, it might work for you!

Sometimes it seems like too many options can be a hinderance. I know guys with 8 jillion recording computer plug ins that they cant complete a project because they have so many options. Seen bands do the same thing, arguing about plug in options.

Since I am sure I will be asked, my set up is Josphson c42's as OH's, RCA bk5-b on the outside of the kick, and AT 3525's on everything else including beater side of the kick drum. AT 3525's are an extremly underated mic when used in places you might not think to use em!

That's nice! Glad it works for you. You don't mention what kind of music you're recording, how much vaiation you have between bands, and what kind of drum kits you deal with.

I have my go-to drum setup, but it will vary somewhat with the kit and the drummer. I think that's true of most engineers....