Overhead Mics?

[suicidalsid]

this is an update on my original post - i found this video on youtube of a drum kit being recorded with one mic...



he says he uses an AKG 2000b to record the whole kit and it sounds pretty good to me. I'd probably add another mic for the kick drum - an sm57 as it's all i've got.

also i posted in musician corner about miking a floor tom... if i wanted to record floor AND middle could i just use the 57 to mic both or would i need two mics?

i only have two mic inputs so might have to do some creative layering.

any advice?

[suicidalsid]

don't think video worked so here's a link...

YouTube - one mic drum test (getting good drum sound on video)

[mrlizard]

Originally Posted by suicidalsid

don't think video worked so here's a link...

YouTube - one mic drum test (getting good drum sound on video)

yeah, that one sounds not bad, cymbals are a bit harsh though and there is LOAADS of compression on it, even though he says he only used a tiny bit. It also sounds like its distorting in a nasty way. That could be a pleasing drum sound for an effect or a video like that, but try that in with other music and it'd piss you off very quickly.

As i was saying in another thread, i'd probably use an omni small diaphragm condensor for this rather than a large one. You'd probably want to avoid a high pass on it as well.

Blending the 57 on the kick in would sound good too but i'd be tempted to use it a bit higher up and a little bit back from the kick to pick up the lows of the rack toms as well. Or you could stick it round the beater side of the kick just below the snare pointing kinda between the underside of the snare and the kick beater..

You can get some really good sounds using a couple of mics on a kit. But i really think compression is the key when using this kind of setup, i can post up a couple of examples with and without if you want to hear what i mean.

[ubermensch]

Originally Posted by mrlizard

You can get some really good sounds using a couple of mics on a kit. But i really think compression is the key when using this kind of setup, i can post up a couple of examples with and without if you want to hear what i mean.

Please do Robin, would like to hear!

[suicidalsid]

Yeh please do...

I agree it wouldn't be suited for all kinds of music but i'm only interested in my own and it sounded ok in a lo-fi demo way.

I really like compression as an effect anyway and was thinking about getting a hardware unit to "beef up" my recordings.

I found the (small diaphragm) AKG C1000s which is a good make (so i'm told) and at sub £100 it's cheap enough you could get another at some point and use for stereo overheads.

Having said that i'm coming to the conclusion I can't afford all this gear really and would be better off going to a studio

[mrlizard]

Originally Posted by suicidalsid

Yeh please do...

I agree it wouldn't be suited for all kinds of music but i'm only interested in my own and it sounded ok in a lo-fi demo way.

I really like compression as an effect anyway and was thinking about getting a hardware unit to "beef up" my recordings.

I found the (small diaphragm) AKG C1000s which is a good make (so i'm told) and at sub £100 it's cheap enough you could get another at some point and use for stereo overheads.

Having said that i'm coming to the conclusion I can't afford all this gear really and would be better off going to a studio

The first condensors i ever bought were C1000's, they are totally horrible, you'd be better off with that samson. Really really bad for drums. Even for a lo-fi drum sound. The C2000b is half decent and not that much dearer.

Heres some links to mics you should think about, don't buy a pish mic when you can get a good one for the same price:

AKG C2000B Cardioid Condenser Mic on eBay, also Wired Microphones, Microphones, Pro Audio Equipment, Musical Instruments (end time 12-Mar-08 23:07:31 GMT)

Audio Technica AT2020 condenser. NO RESERVE on eBay, also Wired Microphones, Microphones, Pro Audio Equipment, Musical Instruments (end time 14-Mar-08 18:27:55 GMT)

AKG c451e Vintage Condenser Mic on eBay, also Wired Microphones, Microphones, Pro Audio Equipment, Musical Instruments (end time 15-Mar-08 23:25:31 GMT)

RODE NT1-A Studio / Live Condenser Microphone Boxed on eBay, also Wired Microphones, Microphones, Pro Audio Equipment, Musical Instruments (end time 16-Mar-08 11:09:52 GMT)

The bottom one, the RODE-NT1 is pretty good for the money.



if you like compression as an effect you should check out some of the FREE plugins at digitalfishphones.com - free audio vst plugins download the blockfish. Good Plugin compressors will sound 100 times better than a 80 quid compressor, especially if you're wanting to use compression as an effect, you won't get the squashy pumping sound you're after with a cheap hardware unit.

[suicidalsid]

thanks for the warning. i read a few shout outs for the rode so i'll maybe look into that.

i've got a pretty decent plug in for comp - vintage warmer.

though apparently daft punk used the "nasty" alesis 3630 for stuff on homework and discovery. don't know how much of this is myth making but i think it would be good to get away from only using software.

now how am i gonna make drums recorded with just two mics fat and grooving like that and fit in with our music???!!!

[mrlizard]

Originally Posted by suicidalsid

thanks for the warning. i read a few shout outs for the rode so i'll maybe look into that.

i've got a pretty decent plug in for comp - vintage warmer.

though apparently daft punk used the "nasty" alesis 3630 for stuff on homework and discovery. don't know how much of this is myth making but i think it would be good to get away from only using software.

now how am i gonna make drums recorded with just two mics fat and grooving like that and fit in with our music???!!!

The vintage warmer is pretty good. that that analogflux or something? it's more of a tape saturation emulator than a compressor though. I don't think the alesis is going to be the magic box you're expecting, if i were you i'd spend my cash on mics instead and use some good free plugins. Then you've got a bunch of different things you can try in different situations.

If you're wanting to go down the hardware route the FMR audio RNC is really really good for the money.

If you're into the sound of extreme compression, try parallel compression. Split the signal into two groups, compress one LOADS and add a load of top end, set the attack time so it sounds punchy and the release so you get a fair bit of sustain from the drums, then blend the two together. you'll get super squashed sounding drums but still plenty of the orignal dynamics.

[mrlizard]

Originally Posted by mrlizard

The vintage warmer is pretty good. that that analogflux or something? it's more of a tape saturation emulator than a compressor though. I don't think the alesis is going to be the magic box you're expecting, if i were you i'd spend my cash on mics instead and use some good free plugins. Then you've got a bunch of different things you can try in different situations.

If you're wanting to go down the hardware route the FMR audio RNC is really really good for the money.

If you're into the sound of extreme compression, try parallel compression. Split the signal into two groups, compress one LOADS and add a load of top end, set the attack time so it sounds punchy and the release so you get a fair bit of sustain from the drums, then blend the two together. you'll get super squashed sounding drums but still plenty of the orignal dynamics.

oops i was thinking of a different plugin, that one is good though.

[nelsonflavor]

As your reference point was the Sonics (whom I love), I thought you might be interested in the 'Shitty Is Pretty' approach. Although this is based on recording raw/heavy funk (Desco/Soul Fire/Daptone-type stuff), that kind of sound is not a kick in the balls away from 60s Garage. If nothing, it's a highly entertaining read, and sure to get up the noses of a few 'gearheads'.

Check it out - http://www.phobospeepl.dk/documents/shitty2.pdf

If analogue is not your thing, I'm sure Robin has it covered. He's the man to explain this shit.

[suicidalsid]

Originally Posted by nelsonflavor

As your reference point was the Sonics (whom I love), I thought you might be interested in the 'Shitty Is Pretty' approach. Although this is based on recording raw/heavy funk (Desco/Soul Fire/Daptone-type stuff), that kind of sound is not a kick in the balls away from 60s Garage. If nothing, it's a highly entertaining read, and sure to get up the noses of a few 'gearheads'.

Check it out - http://www.phobospeepl.dk/documents/shitty2.pdf

If analogue is not your thing, I'm sure Robin has it covered. He's the man to explain this shit.

Wow thanks for bringing this too my attention this guy sounds like some kinda mad soul preacher.

Yeah Sonics and Funk/Soul have a lot in common. I'd be interested to hear some records gabriel produced.