Don't forget to try ORTF technique if you want a bit truer stereo field.

Davedog, post: 468535, member: 4495 wrote:
Don't forget to try ORTF technique if you want a bit truer stereo field.

I don't know if I'd call it truer. I think ORTF is more spacious and XY is more precise. My preference would be to retain the ability to time align things for the tonal benefits, which is why I like XY.

I think I might experiment with a pair of PZMs back to back.

I got side tracked by the arrival of my final big spend yesterday, a Roland RD2000. I'll get back into the drum room today, and get some more stuff done. I think the overall reaction I got from various people was that the initial setup was almost nailed immediately. I think I want to try to get more of a polished sound straight out of the Apollo, that's going to take another pair of hands and me on the drums though, or maybe I can Sidecar the iPad and pull it off. The biggest problem I have is the IEMs aren't loud enough to make it completely isolation level. I might try some other over ear headphones to try to isolate the live sound away more, or in an ideal world completely :).

I do think that for my purposes, and room that XY plus those 2 mics is the right choice, thanks though Dave :).

Just a suggestion since you seem to be in experimental mode.

I use several methods here. They are all different.

I especially use X/Y on acoustic guitars I want more punch from. X/Y over a kit with a couple of room mics makes a nice image .

ORTF and a front condenser on a kit gets a nice space for the drums. Maybe add a dynamic under the snare. Beyer 422 or 201 is good for this.

Davedog, post: 468538, member: 4495 wrote:
Just a suggestion since you seem to be in experimental mode.

I use several methods here. They are all different.

I especially use X/Y on acoustic guitars I want more punch from. X/Y over a kit with a couple of room mics makes a nice image .

ORTF and a front condenser on a kit gets a nice space for the drums. Maybe add a dynamic under the snare. Beyer 422 or 201 is good for this.

Oh I do appreciate the advice. I’m also restricted to a maximum of 5 mics. That’s why I asked initially what I should mic. My remaining mic is a F25 condenser mic.

New take. I tried using my Sony closed can headphones to rebalance the mics. Bass drum mic moved a little oh mics too snare a little closer in. Some preamp changes too.

Thanks again for thoughts. Sounds about right to me again, but that’s no true indication :).

Attached files Mixdown 2 Drums.wav (11 MB) 

Finally got around to doing a mic recording of the drums. Since last time I have tuned the drums and mics some. This now is the live mix people hear when I play on Jamulus each time. I have added a 16inch Istanbul ion crash and a Audix F15 mic on HiHat.

I'm reading the comments and am a little surprised by what you're doing. Spaced omnis on jazzier stuff with lots of delicate cymbal work can be nice IN A GOOD ROOM - but spaced cardioids are my usual technique because the volume difference between some crashes, and the usually lower ride make X/Y coverage of an entire kit very difficult unless they are high up = 90 degrees and a left and right cymbal mean they have to be hellishly high and then sound hollow and thin. Even with jazz, a crossed pair wouldn't be on my list. I'm also the kind of person who makes my own rules when things work for me - for example, for some jazz I might have one overhead only and concenrate on condensers for snare, a separate one for the hats and another couple split and panned a little to cover the toms. Kick I'll probably do with a 112 because they're clicky rather than thuddy. So my width comes from the toms, which do cymbals too. I've even recorded jazz sets with overhead and snare/hat - no kick at all - if it suits. I don't do heavy drums because I don't like the genre and frankly am not very good at getting that kind of sound

Heya Paul, That was recorded exactly how I play live every day. I use a XY pair of Rode NT55s overhead cardioid! of the snare, a D112mk2 in hole just of bass drum. SM57 on snare and the Audix F15 on hihat. The room is quiet relatively and certainly is small but reasonable height ceiling. I just play and record for myself mostly. We spent time getting the mic and preamps dialled in. And of course the drums all got tuned properly now. New skins I like better G2 Evans. I was trying to find the original sample I put up to compare but it’s disappeared on here.

That's really purrrtty

Small rooms are hard, maybe a sound cloud of rigid fiberglass (4'x4'X4") directly above the kit will tame the close ceiling reflections.

+1 on the room reflections being a bit much. The drums sound good, the room is just getting in the way.