Drum Shield.

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 11:29 am

Hey! Im not sure what thread to put this is so its here for now.

So in my "studio" I have my drum set in one corner and the desk is about 3 feet away facing it. This really makes it hard to monitor without hearing the acoustic kit as well. I was wondering if a drum shield would help muffel the nosie it would that just create alot of problems with the mic's and reflection?

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 1:46 pm

at 3 feet
I don't think there is anything that will make a significant difference

isolation headphones while recording and back to the monitors once the mic channels are closed ... playback

drum shields do have a place but it seems like you might be working in a very small space and that will be the fundermental and greatest issue

move the drum kit to another room
move the monitoring to another room

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 3:24 pm

Yeah i do understand what you are saying. but i can really re position the computer or the set because the room is being used. So its not only used for recording but for entertaining as well.

So what your saying is that i would be better off buying iso-headphones instead of a shield.

here are some pictures to help.

<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4515488"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/1/1316223592.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge"></a>

<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4515486"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/1/1316223466.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge"></a>

<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4515487"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/1/1316223425.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge"></a>

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 7:16 pm

Buy yourself ear muffs, that really is a bad situation, you cannot possibly monitor the drums while they are being played. you cranking up your monitors so you could hear would be very bad for your ears, plus would cause the loud monitors to bleed into the kit being recorded. Kev is right find another rotue.

Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2007 9:20 pm

Sorry but i can't just move the stuff around. Still living at the parents house (im 17) so im thankful for what i have. What would you guys do in this situation?

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 5:50 am

Well, there is no way you will be able to block off the sound of that kit with any form of shield. I just won't happen. You would need to build a soundproof booth around it, and there doesn't look like you've got space for that.
I would get a pair of heavy duty ear muffs, the highest SNR/NRR I could find, and use these over a pair of earplug phones (you know, the kind that come with your iPod/walkman etc). That way you may be able to hear at least something of the stuff being recorded and you can use your regular monitors afterwards when mixing. Not an ideal situation, but probably the best you can do.

HTH
MetalGod

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 10:38 am

http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/product/buy_vic_firth_sih1_isolation_headphones?full_sku=101547305

What about these? I told my friend about my problem and he suggested getting these. Has any one used them?

I dont really want to use ipod headphones because, they just plain suck.

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 2:28 pm

the isolation HPs look fair
and there is something called
Extreme Isolation

and these will help

BUT you are so closed in there with the walls too close
there is not much you can do about it
so acoustic stuff on the wall can catch some upper frequencies but it is all just too close

The Iso HPs will help a little
you will have to record
then playback and listen
adjust
record again

I've been there Confused

I now use E-Drums to creat songs
if the track merrits the effort ... I'll then go to a room where drums can be recorded and do them as an overdub to an already working song/track

PZMz on the walls may make for a better sound in your room
one on the wall one on the window ... equi distanced from the snare ...
can you borrow a paitr ?

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 4:27 pm

Yeah, i think im going to go buy those headphones soon. Im in need. I know my stuff should msounds better but it can cuz i have no way to monitor....

Do u mean buy a pair of these and mount them on the wall?

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 6:51 pm

I have a pair of those Vic Firth isolation headphones. They do a great job of keeping outside sound out (at least they'll save your ears while tracking 3 ft away!), but their sound quality is poor. I would not rely on them for getting sounds or for mixing; but they're fine for tracking.

You must have a bedroom in your house, and if you're lucky it's downstairs not too far from your drum kit. Get yourself a 50ft snake a monitor from your bedroom or laundry room.

Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:39 pm

No one in their right mind should ever be less than 3 feet away from from some yahoo banging out drumbeats let alone trying to record them.

I realize your situation may not seem to be changeable, but dude, if you want to be ANY kind of recording engineer in the future you better save your ears now while youre still young enough to heal from such abuse.

The snake is your only choice. Get thee outta there pronto!!

I'm absolutely serious.

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:07 am

Ok ill lookin into the snake. What all would i need for that set-up? Because for now, i cant move the computer so keep in mind i cant move the kit or the comp. But the mixer and firepod and that stuff i move.

There is a room right behing the computer room chair that already has a hole in the wall from me tryin a previous setup so i can use that and just go through the wall.

Im not really trying to be a recording engineer, although it would be fun and i love doing it....im the yahoo playing the drums haha. So for right now i am just trying to record my band with a decent cd to share locally.

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:29 pm

It ain't pretty, but the easiest solution is just to give-up on real-time monitoring for the time being. Plain and simple.

Place the mic, record a few hits, play it back.
Like it? Good - next mic.
Don't like it? Move it and repeat.

Obviously more time-consuming but it costs you nothing, you can do it now and the end-results will be exactly the same.

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:33 pm

xX5thQuarterXx wrote:

Do u mean buy a pair of these and mount them on the wall?

PZMs ?
only if they are cheap cos it may not work
borrow ... borrow ... borrow

the PZMs are mounted on the walls and go some way to removing that wall from the problem ... the other walls are still too close

this is just a suggestion based on the situation you are in

I used to use a pair of realistic PZMs and mod'd them as per my site ... for balanced and phantom
long ago when I was just starting out and was in a small room

Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 8:52 pm

My home studio is one room. I do mostly mixing there because I do location(live) recordings. But I record in my one room studio all the time too.

Never try to monitor live while recording in the same room. Move the drums in the center of the room when your tracking keepers. I set it up for the drummer can monitor with can's on, And I leave the room.

Do what MilesAway said.....It is time consuming but can be done. Work real hard with your Overheads to capture the whole kit.

What I think will help your drum recording is.........Make yourself some room treatment that can be moved around. Book shelves with some 703 in the shelves or somthing. It will help,JMO

Peace............Scoobie

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