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Signal Chain:

2 Overheads (Cheap Nady's) into preamps of cheap Behr*(&(*& mixer, mixed as the main signal.

1 Kick Mic (Cheap Nady) into dbx pre-amp (heavy compression) into line input of Behr(*&$ mixer, mixed to taste.

1 Room Mic (AT2020) into dbx pre-amp (moderate compression to taste) into line input of Behr@#@^% mixer, mixed to taste.

Pan overheads hard left/right, and room mic and kick mic center.
I only have 2 inputs from my AD into my DAW.

In the box:

Track 1 - Drums Left (mono) - roll off everything below 200ish.
Track 2 - Drums Right (mono) - roll off everything below 200ish.
Track 3 - Drums Stereo (summed to mono) - roll off everything above 150ish.
(would definitely play with those EQ settings)

The goal is to get a stereo spread of the drums, with individual kick control. I would use the room mic to help thicken up the overheads, using the parellel compressed room mic, while the summed stereo to mono EQed kick track giving me a kick track.

Any thoughts about this setup? Obviously I know my ears are boss, its the drummer and the drums, but also just wanted to run this idea by you guys for any input, advice, or potential pitfalls before I try it.

In a previous thread I got a great response from I believe Davedog saying to add the room mic, but sum all of the overs and room to one track and the kick to a separate track. I got a nice clear and strong signal from all sources, but I miss the natural stereo spread.

Thank you for any anticipated help! On a side note, working with this minimal gear is restrictive at times, but has also forced me to think "outside the box" (get it?) Necessity certainly is the mother of invention!

- Mike

NEW LINK AFTER SOME TWEAKS!
[MEDIA=soundcloud]mstar/float-drum-test[/media]

NEW LINK OF FIRST DEMO OF THIS METHOD!
[MEDIA=soundcloud]mstar/drumtest[/media]

Comments

natural Tue, 12/21/2010 - 18:07

After reading this a couple of times, I think you intend to record to tracks 1 and 2, then make a mono copy to track 3 is that correct?
That could possibly get you a little more control of the kick drum and still have a little stereo. It's not going to be great, but it's at least something.
Post an example when you get one.

ThirdBird Tue, 12/21/2010 - 18:21

Natural,

That is a correct, track3 is a mono sum of both tracks, but just the low frequencies. Here is a link to the previous way I mentioned, the one where the 3 mics are mono and I have the separate kick.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.soundclo…"]Shouting @ Librarians's sounds on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]="http://www.soundclo…"]Shouting @ Librarians's sounds on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]

I will post a recording of how it turns out when it gets done!

ThirdBird Mon, 01/17/2011 - 14:25

I just found time to trying this method.... here is my first go at it....

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://soundcloud.c…"]Drumtest by mstar on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]="http://soundcloud.c…"]Drumtest by mstar on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]

what are your thought? I also put a new link at the top too.

natural Mon, 01/17/2011 - 15:09

Well, it is what it is.
Pretty much what I would expect.
It seems to have lost the drummers right side of the mix. (assuming RH drummer)
1st 2 toms seem ok, next 2 toms get lost.

Another Idea.
This is the Recorderman technique:
[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.youtube…"]YouTube - Recorderman Overhead Drum Mic Technique[/]="http://www.youtube…"]YouTube - Recorderman Overhead Drum Mic Technique[/]

- I would eliminate the room mic in favor of a close snare mic.
- Try to get the blend of kick and snr correct going in.
- If you need more kick or snr come mix time, make a copy of one of the channels instead of combining to mono, and try your eq.
- Alternatively, make a copy of the stereo track, phase reversed, to mono. Not necessarily to cancel out, but you might be able to get a little extra snare or hi end control by varying the levels.

ThirdBird Wed, 01/26/2011 - 14:22

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://soundcloud.c…"]Float drum test by mstar on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]="http://soundcloud.c…"]Float drum test by mstar on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free[/]

here is a link with some setting and mic positions tweaked a bit....
toms seem a bit weak, but I ok with that limited setup