Drum micing one at a time

[kevinc]

Im not a real drummer but I`ve had pretty good results recording each drum seperately especially when I map out an arrangement on a drum machine and copy it.
I was wondering if the same micing techniques applied as would with a full kit or would you do something different.
I`ve tried a few things myself but was wondering how the pros would do it.
Thanks
Kevin

[Steve Smith]

I guess we should ask R Nichols that question.. wern't the original Steely Dan records recorded that way?

[e-cue]

What's next? Each guitar string seperately on different guitars with different strings with a different player with different fingers through different amps? Or did Steely Dan already do that?

[Steve Smith]

Originally posted by e-cue
What's next? Each guitar string seperately on different guitars with different strings with a different player with different fingers through different amps? Or did Steely Dan already do that?

if they havn't actually done, it, I bet they tried it....

[nlc201]

Originally posted by e-cue
What's next? Each guitar string seperately on different guitars with different strings with a different player with different fingers through different amps? Or did Steely Dan already do that?

Two words........Mutt Lang.......I'm not kidding......

[David Herbert]

There was an article in Mix within the last few months about the recording of "Synchronicity" by the Police. The article talked about how the drums for "Every Breath You Take" were done. First step: A kick drum track was recorded using a drum machine type thingy.
Step 2: Stewart Copeland (one of my alltime favorite musicians) did a pass where he played two snares at the same time, hitting them both at the same time to get that huge snare sound.
Step 3: Stewart C. recorded a pass playing hihats.
Step 4: Played ride.
Step 5: Toms.
Step 6: Cymbals.
As a drummer I am keen to try this method if only for experimental reasons. I suspect that you have to be pretty damn good to nail 5 or six parts that hang together in perfect time.
I saw Copeland with Oysterhead a couple of years ago. He rushes. I love him to death but he rushes and makes it hard for the other players to fully express what they are trying to do.
At the same time he has influenced me more than pretty much anyone else. I mean come on, listen the playing he does on any of the Police stuff- "Every Little Thing She Does is Magic" for instance- his ability to build excitement is unparalleled. David

[kevinc]

The reason I do this is I can pull off pretty complicted rhythms this way. If I was just playing the whole kit I could keep fairly steady beats but I want it to sound like a really skilled drum/percussiuon section. I programmed drum machines for years so I have a really good idea of what I want the drums to do in a particular song.
I could use a real drummer but I dont like the idea of telling a fellow musican what to play on an insrument that they are a lot better at than me. When you mix all the individual tracks together it sounds pretty much like a real player playing a fairly intricate part. Im mostly interested in how I could make it sound even better with better mic technique.
Thanks for your replys
Kevin

[Kenny Gioia]

As a drummer, I would say that their are very few drummers that could pull this off. Stewart is definitely one of the few.

As far as guitars one string at a time, I've done that. It's a very intersting sound. You get no strum effect because all the strings are being hit at the same time. You have to do all six strings to get the full effect.

What I found to work even cooler was doing two strings at a time.

For Example, E chord

Pass 1: Just the E and B (Strings 1 & 2)
Pass 2: Just the B and E (Strings 2 & 3)
Pass 3: Just the E and G# (Strings 3 & 4)
Pass 4: Just the G# and B (Strings 4 & 5)
Pass 5: Just the B and E (Strings 5 & 6)

It gives you that strum effect plus it lets each note be heard much clearer with heavy distortion.

I haven't done this since I had long hair. (Ha Ha)

[kevinc]

I pull it off all the time and Im definately no Stew. Once you can get your timing right with a metronome and other tracks you`ve already recorded your all set. The hardest thing about playing complicated drum parts is the fact your mind is split up between the kick,snare and high hat. It`s like playing piano when the left and right hands are doing differet things. It`s not so hard to hit one drum in time with other drums you`ve recorded.(with a little practice).
Kevin

[swede]

Originally posted by e-cue
What's next? Each guitar string seperately on different guitars with different strings with a different player with different fingers through different amps? Or did Steely Dan already do that?

Mutt lange did something like that with Def Leppard.
He sampled each string and note in a chord and then they played power guitars trough the sampler.
So i've heard