Tips on Recording Steel Drums

2A Batterie · 23rd August 2006, 07:02 PM

No, not a steel sheel snare, but the actual tuned (sometimes referred to as "Pans") steel drums. I'll be recording a demo tomorrow with a steel drum trio in my basic home studio. I'm going to record all three instruments (steel drum, bass, and drumset) in one live room and am not sure what the best approach to mic'ing the pans are. Any suggestions?

mbrebes · 23rd August 2006, 07:33 PM

I've had success using an AKG 414 before on a steel drum. With condensors I'd stay with really flat, no peaks. Dynamics, you might try an SM7, 441, or RE20.

gwailoh · 24th August 2006, 08:14 AM

I asked the same question recently over on PSW and received a couple of very interesting and helpful responses. Here's a link: http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind.../t/12608/8853/.

Hope this helps,

--Mark

uncle duncan · 24th August 2006, 12:52 PM

Ear Plugs

2A Batterie · 24th August 2006, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle duncan

Ear Plugs

(Said in Comic Book Guy voice from the Simpsons) Best reply ever.

2A Batterie · 24th August 2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbrebes

I've had success using an AKG 414 before on a steel drum. With condensors I'd stay with really flat, no peaks. Dynamics, you might try an SM7, 441, or RE20.

I was thinking about trying a pair of Oktava MK012's, since I don't have anything like a 414. Do you think this would work or would I be safer with a 57?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwailoh

I asked the same question recently over on PSW and received a couple of very interesting and helpful responses. Here's a link: http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind.../t/12608/8853/.

Hope this helps,

--Mark

Have you had any time to try any of those suggestions yet? I may try miking from the bottom just for shits and giggles. I'm also only recording one steel drum.... thank God.

MIKEHARRIS · 24th August 2006, 03:27 PM

Royer SF-24

The dman · 24th August 2006, 03:29 PM

When I was in Nashville we set up a couple of sdc's on either side of the drums about 2' out and 4' high(give or take a little). I don't think we used a room mic.
I wonder how ribbon mics would sound added in to the equation?

Quote:

I was thinking about trying a pair of Oktava MK012's, since I don't have anything like a 414. Do you think this would work or would I be safer with a 57

If you have the tracks and the pres record them all and pick out the best.

Jim vanBergen · 24th August 2006, 04:10 PM

FWIW, every time (more than a dozen, now) I have discussed this with steel pan players, they suggest a 57 from underneath.

Who cares, as long as YOU like the sound. Players seem to like a rounded top end, however... so the dynamic from underneath makes sense in that regard.

Hope this helps.

tubejay · 24th August 2006, 05:00 PM

I haven't recorded a steel drum before, but if I had your two mics you mentioned I'd try the SDC mics from further away (a few feet) because getting too close might be harsh, and then I'd try the 57 closer up (maybe from the bottom as suggested above and checking/flipping phase if you're going to mix the two mics together).

bgrotto · 7th November 2006, 08:11 PM

Condensors will only work if it's a REALLY nice and NON-SOPRANO drum...I'd stick with ribbons or (my new personal favorite) RE-10s, mic'd from beneath.

Oddly enough, I was recording pans last night, and I happened to set up an ATM-25 as a comm mic for the player (for no particular reason; it was just the first mic i grabbed), and that combined with the RE-10 from below the drum yielded a GORGEOUS sound when I panned them out.

For the record (no pun intended), soprano pans are a bitch to record. Don't ever do it.

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23rd August 2006, 07:02 PM	#1
2A Batterie Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 129	Tips on Recording Steel Drums No, not a steel sheel snare, but the actual tuned (sometimes referred to as "Pans") steel drums. I'll be recording a demo tomorrow with a steel drum trio in my basic home studio. I'm going to record all three instruments (steel drum, bass, and drumset) in one live room and am not sure what the best approach to mic'ing the pans are. Any suggestions? __________________ My webpage

24th August 2006, 03:27 PM	#7
MIKEHARRIS Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: MIAMI FLA Posts: 1,307	Royer SF-24 __________________ harrisaudiosystems.com

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23rd August 2006, 07:33 PM	#2
mbrebes Gear addict Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 346	I've had success using an AKG 414 before on a steel drum. With condensors I'd stay with really flat, no peaks. Dynamics, you might try an SM7, 441, or RE20.

24th August 2006, 08:14 AM	#3
gwailoh Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 295	I asked the same question recently over on PSW and received a couple of very interesting and helpful responses. Here's a link: http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/ind.../t/12608/8853/. Hope this helps, --Mark

24th August 2006, 12:52 PM	#4
uncle duncan Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,933	Ear Plugs

24th August 2006, 04:10 PM	#9
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,285	FWIW, every time (more than a dozen, now) I have discussed this with steel pan players, they suggest a 57 from underneath. Who cares, as long as YOU like the sound. Players seem to like a rounded top end, however... so the dynamic from underneath makes sense in that regard. Hope this helps.

24th August 2006, 05:00 PM	#10
tubejay Gear maniac Join Date: May 2004 Location: WI - United States Posts: 185	I haven't recorded a steel drum before, but if I had your two mics you mentioned I'd try the SDC mics from further away (a few feet) because getting too close might be harsh, and then I'd try the 57 closer up (maybe from the bottom as suggested above and checking/flipping phase if you're going to mix the two mics together).