Where would YOU set up the drum kit in this room?

[chille01]

Our jam room is an old project studio, and I hope to do some recording in there next week. I'm not familiar with the best placement of the drum kit to get a decent room sound though... as far as where to put the kit itself in the room. I guess the first thing is if it is better to put it in a corner (I'm guessing not), or more towards the center. And if so... oriented facing the length of the room, or the width? Facing one of the width walls, or one of the length ones? Or maybe INTO a corner? I really don't know.

Room is a decent size, with non parallel walls on the length of it.

12'4" width at one end
15' 8" width at other end
17' length on the perpendicular/straight wall
17' 11" length on the non perpendicular/slanted wall

Ceilings are 12', untreated drywall.

Walls are drywall, with some treatment. Foam diffusers in what seems to me a random pattern, covering mostly the corners and a few spots on the 17' wall. Also a big sheet of carpet on that wall. No treatment on the 17' 11" length wall, but this is where the door and control room window are.

Floors are hardwood, with some drum rugs.

Thanks in advance for any opinions. They will be most appreciated. I do of course intend to also just walk around banging on a snare drum and see if I can find a spot that sounds particularly sweet, but if there are any tips on a general area to start that search, would be great.

[Glenn Kuras]

Take the tom and walk around the room hitting it. When find the best spot then set up the kit and try it out. No I don't think corners or the dead center will be the best spots.
You may want to also think about treating the room properly. If you have a untreated ceiling you will get a lot of unwanted reflections in the overhead mics. I generally recommend placing acoustic panels above the kit.

[chille01]

Thanks Glenn. Is there a cheap, temp solution for the ceiling? There is a good chance we will be forced to vacate this spot in a month or so, so I don't want to invest in anything permanent.

Also, any comment on orienting width versus length wise?

Cheers!

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

Take the tom and walk around the room hitting it. When find the best spot then set up the kit and try it out. No I don't think corners or the dead center will be the best spots.
You may want to also think about treating the room properly. If you have a untreated ceiling you will get a lot of unwanted reflections in the overhead mics. I generally recommend placing acoustic panels above the kit.

thumbsup +1

The problem Glenn speaks of with reflections in OH mics is exacerbated if you use ribbons, most of which are figure 8 and pick up a lot of back side.

[DanDan]

I find that drums, particularly the Kick, greatly benefit from corner placement. It's a bass horn, plus it tends to stimulate most modes pretty evenly.
If the LF lift is too much, boomy or such, try close to a single wall. Facing the room in both cases of course.
Worth trying the 38% zones if you don't want any of that LF lift.
You can completely avoid the OH problems by using PZM mics on the ceiling. In the corner situation they do work very well on the walls, and not necessarily up high. You may be quite surprised at the full balanced kit sound from this arrangement. There is a great open clarity to the PZM, plus an LF lift from being at the wall. Deep and crisp and even.

DD

[chille01]

Interesting stuff guys. Thanks. Sounds like, as I suspected, there about a million ways to skin a cat. The PZM idea is interesting. Wonder of I can rent those?

[DanDan]

Any mic will work as a PZM to some extent. A small SDC against the wall. (or ceiling, or floor) Could be taped or blu-tac or on a stand, but touching the boundary. A little bit of felt or fabric to prevent scratches if you wish. This will create a half PZM, directional in the obvious direction.
An omni mic will create a normal hemispherical PZM. The DPA 4061 Rules.
DD