Drum recording equipment

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:00 am

Hello I have been drumming for about 10 years and i want to record my drums. I am in a small house and i have no need to record any other instruments.
What would be decent equipment not including mics, for under 5k? (Under 5k if it is possible).

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 3:52 pm

Got a computer already?
Want to record to tape?
What style of drumming?
What drums?

5k can go along way and get you some awesome gear. You can also waste it easily. Need more info to help basically.

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:50 pm

I have Gretsch Maple drums, i am building a computer. I play all styles of drumming so i want it to be a versatile recording system in that factor; but if I have to choose, probably drum and bass/progressive. I want it to be digital (I think that is what you mean by record to tape).
I basically want a system that will sound great.

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 5:21 pm

Hmm. Cool

I dunno much about what's out there.

But if I had that kinda coin I would seriously be looking at second hand studio gear. Something like a six pack of API 512c pre's or something like that and a set of shweet converters, Apogee seem like they cut it.

You can go so many different routes. But getting something that does more than one thing at a time leads to run of the mill crud.

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:48 pm

First thing to think about is that $5K will buy a lot of time in a pro studio with better equipment than you can buy for $5K. Recording yourself can make sense in terms of art or pure pleasure, but it rarely makes sense financially.

If you are still into it here are the basic components:

1. Computer
2. Software
3. Interface
4. Preamps
5. Cables and stands
6. Mics

Choose your software first. If you go with ProTools, that constrains your choice of interface. (That is a good reason not to choose PT. There are all kinds of reasons pro and con the various packages, but that is a long discussion, so you had better search the archives.)

The basic job of the interface is to convert is AD and DA conversion so that you can hook up your mics and monitors. Most of the interfaces in the $1K-$2K range that your budget indicates have several preamps included (all of pretty good to very good quality) and you can get lots of options for digital hookup.

If your interface has, say, eight preamps you could put off considering any outboard preamps. In fact, I would suggest you do just that. Learn to make the best use of the preamps in your interface before investing in "better" preamps. Basically, if you buy a good interface, you have to spend a good chunk of change to buy preamps that always sound clearly better than the pres in the interface. If you want to spend the money, the API 3124 give you four preamps for $2600 that sound great on drums.

So I guess my advice to you is to build your computer, buy a good piece of software, buy an good interface with at least eight preamps, buy good cables and mic stands (heavy duty stands for the overheads!) (this is a lot bigger investment than most people think - easy to spend $1K) Buy your mics and get to work.

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks for your intput, i just want to do some recording at home. I live in a small town in Utah and i really just want to record drum licks and a couple of writen songs. Thanks for all of your help everybody i need all the help i can get when it comes to recording. Wink

If anyone else has any other suggestions please post them.

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:22 pm

Here's all you need
My favorite pix

Bass drum Sennheiser MD421
snare drum Sennheiser MD421top
snare drum bottom & phase inverted, AKG 451 with 20 DB pad (or Shure SM 81's with the pad on)
hat AKG 451 or Shure SM 81 or, your choice of small diameter condenser microphones.
rack toms Sennheiser MD421
floor tom Sennheiser MD421
overheads AKG 414's or the new 214's

No I don't like any of those other bass drum microphones much, even though I own them. My other bass drum favorite is the Crown PZM plopped in front or inside the bass drum. In that respect, even the Radio Shaft clone version works great!

Recorder of killer drums
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:46 pm

Interesting, a 421 on the bass drum. I did it on the inside of the kick once and was pleased but I'm a fan of the classic 52 on the kick. Ever try a BLUE ball on the snare bottom? That's my favorite for the bottom and you can still find some on the internet for cheap because they discontinued them. I've never tried a 421 on the snare... how does it sound? I don't know why I've never tried that, I bet it's fantastic.

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:16 am

Oh, it's fat, snappy, full-bodied, great tone. Generally just my favorites on drums. Stick it in the bass drum, invert the phase, tell me what you think? Don't forget to invert the phase. But only on the bass drum. In any microphone you have on the bottom of the snare drum.

My favorite sound
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 10:19 pm

Thanks for the tip Remy! Can't wait to try it on a snare.

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