Recording Drums

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:32 pm

I've got a very good drummer coming in three weeks to lay down some drums to a scratch track I've prepared. I've got a pretty good room (16 X 23 feet with a ceiling vaulted from 10 to 13 feet) and the following mics:

2 X SM57
Neumann U89
2 X Crown CM700
Rode NT4 stereo
AKG D112
2 X Audix D4

The kit is a nice Gretch 4 piece.

I can only track 8 analog tracks at a time, but that shouldn't be a problem.

We're going to experiment a bit, but what do y'all think of this as a starting point:

Kick - D112
Snare - SM57
Rack Tom - D4
Floor Tom - D4
Oheads - CM700s or perhaps Rode stereo
Room - U89
Undersnare - SM57

Preamps - Demeter HM-1 stereo
Mackie 1202 pre-VLZ
MOTU 896HD preamps

I could also bail on the undersnare for a hi-hat mic, or for a beater side kick mic. Or I could go for stereo room mics... It may seem that other than my Demeter pre, I am skimpy on the preamp side, but frankly my ear hears mic difference a lot more than I hear pre differences (I borrowed my neighbor's API pres and couldn't tell a big diff), so there you have it.

What do y'all think?

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:27 pm

Well, for the OH's, I am not a big fan of the NT4/5 models; too harsh.
I really like the Crowns for that. And as long as you can easily reverse the polarty of the 2nd SM57 (undersnare), I'd certainly give it a try..
And if that D112 doesn't work out on the kick, I''ll bet that the U89 would be a viable contender...

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:22 pm

Todziilla,

Things is a tad slow over here in Graham waitin' to start the build... gimme a shout dude!

The locker's pretty well open an' if you wanna' try the MP2MH or some of the MLA2's or other junk I got slung from A to Izzard, yer' more than welcome!

(Nobody tell him... I'm workin' a deal for getting another pair of eye's on the blueprints for the studio, OK?!?! SHHHHHHHH It's just our little secret!)

Lemme see... there's the D112's, the D6, some 57's, a few NDM9's and 10's, some 421's, the 414's, a pair of NT2's and a couple of M110's... Oh yeah... and my baby... the SF12.

Max

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:22 pm

Max,

You for real? Email me if you're sincere. I'd be happy to take a look at blueprints, but I'm not the most authoritative source.

Moonie,

Yeah I record the undersnare to its own track in Digital Performer, so I can reverse phase after the fact. Also, I am tres nervous about putting my precious Neumann in a kick drum. I figure the capsule could get blown out by the sheer wind of it all...

Keep 'em comin' Gleep Glop...

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:05 pm

Todd....Ya put the D112 IN the kik drum and put the Newman OutSIDE the drum......

So if Max is offerin some gear, by ALL means get the Royer involved. You aint never heard cymbals sound quite this good. The D6 gives you another color INSIDE the kik and the pres are gonna give ya the 'room' you're gonna be lookin for.

Now THATS whut I'm talkin bout.

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:22 pm

Todzilla wrote:

Max,

You for real? Email me if you're sincere. I'd be happy to take a look at blueprints, but I'm not the most authoritative source.

Moonie,

Yeah I record the undersnare to its own track in Digital Performer, so I can reverse phase after the fact. Also, I am tres nervous about putting my precious Neumann in a kick drum. I figure the capsule could get blown out by the sheer wind of it all...

Keep 'em comin' Gleep Glop...

No kid!!

The email in the sig valid or snag the one off your site?

Ain't gonna' hijack yer thred, but dude, you been through it already... I'm just gettin' started...

Besides, I love to see guys wet themselves when they hear the SF12!!!

... Then you gotta esplain' it to th' Mrs... (heheheheheheh)

Yeah, the U in the kik is a bit scary... I like the M110's on the snare top and bottom. D112 in the kik, NT2's out in the room ORTF, 421's on the toms and the SF12 OH. If I'm in a really sadistic mood, I'll put a C1000 on the hat... just to proove it ain't necessary.

Just got the D6 and was thunkin' D6 in the kik, D112 beater side or visa versa.

I like to power the OH's with the Great River and the kik with the Langevin... It's 2 channels and I figured the other channel was getting lonely, so I got the D6... call me crazy...

The MLA2's came with my O2R. They ain't very fancy... OFF, ON, Phantom, Volume... but they sure are clean and colorless... (24 of em')

So... which email addy?

Max

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:52 am

Max, I just hit you on your dmmobile account.

You are threatening to bump the seriousness up several levels.

I don't know what kind of music you're into, but we do rock-pop-funk-ska-smartass-politico-erotic-lounge-psycho-puss-punk with some hillbilly bee-bop thrown in for good measure (We're too old for emo). You know, typical North Carolina folk music.

Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:21 am

Todzilla wrote:

Max, I just hit you on your dmmobile account.

You are threatening to bump the seriousness up several levels.

I don't know what kind of music you're into, but we do rock-pop-funk-ska-smartass-politico-erotic-lounge-psycho-puss-punk with some hillbilly bee-bop thrown in for good measure (We're too old for emo). You know, typical North Carolina folk music.

SHHEEEEEEEEIT... You know Ben P and that crew of loons... that's all I need to know, errr be forwarned of (heheheh)

Hey, saw Brad and Chamis at DRL two weeks ago... they're obviously up to no good, but stayin' out of trouble... where's the fun in that!?!

I'm into just about anything from Bach to ZZ-Top... You young punks think you got goin', doncha'!?! Us old farts that survived the 60-70's...

... were damn lucky.

Won't have a chance to check the dmmobile email before late, late, late... I'll holler as soon as I can!

(p.s. The Tar Holes shall sink again this year! Go Devils!!!)

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 6:11 pm

Some NC people in here! Where are ya'll at? I'm up in western NC in Hendersonville (near Asheville/Ashevegas), with a little home studio starting to take shape. Love to make a road trip sometime to check out something better in my neighborhood! Email if so inclined...drumist69@yahoo.com
ANDY

Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:26 am

Born and raised in Durham. Moved to Hillsborough (aka Hillsbilly) just north of Chapel Hill 5 years ago.

Daughter is a senior at UNCAsheville, where my son graduated a year ago, so I'm quite familiar with that beautiful part of this awesome state.

here's a link to my studio. Give me a shout if you ever roll down the mountain towards the piedmont.

Whoops - link fixed...

Posted: Wed Sep 06, 2006 8:07 pm

davedog has got the right idea however you put something like the m147 or fet 47 outside the kick. something a little more midrangey

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 5:58 pm

I just wanted to chime in here. I just got the best drum sound I have ever recorded to tape (bits).

I recorded a 1968 Camco Aristacrat set at Audio Design Studio and I used 414 TLII for OH's, 414's for stereo room micing, 57 for snare top and bottom and 421 on toms, atm25 for kick inside and a u87 outside the kick.

simply the best rock drum sound ever. i barely eq'd the kick inside and the overheads going in, and recorded everything else flat. amazing. the console is really nice there, vintage API 2488. seriously API brings such a depth to rock drums. i have a couple API and a couple NEVE clones in my home studio, but I am really starting to think that I prefer the API sound over the NEVE for drums.

I will post up some clips once I am done, but just wanted to give some people some additional ideas.

Also my friend records live sound for big concert events like coachella and large stadium concerts, and he uses a beta 91 inside the kick and a beta 52 outside the kick. another interesting combination.

steve

Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:58 pm

that sounds awesome, two questions which nice tube/FET style mic would you use on the outside of the kick. ive been thinking M147? what do you think?

also are those little audix d4's studio quality mics? anything comparable to the 421?

Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:19 pm

liquidstudios wrote:

that sounds awesome, two questions which nice tube/FET style mic would you use on the outside of the kick. ive been thinking M147? what do you think?

also are those little audix d4's studio quality mics? anything comparable to the 421?

The 147 is fine, but I would prefer something with a bit more tightness in the bottom end. I've been finding the SoundElux U195 to be awesome in front of the kick - no other mic needed. As long as the kick is well tuned and damped, you're golden.

As for the D4s - they are excellent. For toms though, I prefer the D2.

J.

Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:44 pm

+1 on the 91 inside... well live anyway... havent heard it in the studio...

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