Drum practice, what to improve and how?

[Deathmetal616]

I practiced my drum micing/mixing techniques and did this in the past few hours.
I know in a mix context it would be better to judge but here is what I have:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oqfxwy1ie2qnj0s/testechtedrums.mp3

I'm pretty happy with the kick+snare, they turned out pretty well.
The toms are horrid I know, but they are a bitch to tune...
So basically I ask for advice how to rescue the toms without replacing them.
I would also like to have comments on the overheads and overall balancing, stereo image, etc...

I recorded the shells with a cheap audio_technica drum mic set (exc.: snare -> 1x sm57) and the OHs with a pair of RODE NT5s.
Recorded the ride cymbal with another cheap vocal mic.
Hence it's a practice take I didn't edit them at all, so there are little poops and fuck ups all over the place. Excuse that...

Thanks in advance, cheers!

 

[Deathmetal616]

Help would still be nice!
bump...

 

[Demonstealer]

Ok very honestly it sounds a bit too 'raw' and could definitely be tweaked. I think you need to work on it a bit more. I think as a stereo balance it's good you got the live kit feel. I think it's a decent start. I just started tracking drums myself. But I use a triggered kick. I've just posted a topic with the link for my stuff.

Good luck with the recording. I think new skins + proper tuning will make a world of difference.

 

[oroinvictus]

There's no point in telling you how to improve your drum sound without the context of a full mix. There's no point in tweaking drum sounds without the context of a full mix either. The source sounds are good but it really won't matter until it's all in the mix.

 

[Deathmetal616]

Okay, thank you two! Already helped me. New skins only were given for kick+snare, cymbals are relatively new...
so the tom problem is more on the skin+tuning side I guess.

I want to add that I usually build my mixes around the drums. That means after tracking (or most likely programming) the drums I will do processing and editing directly after that. So when tracking guitars+bass I can make their source sound fit better "into" the drums. That way I have it easier in the mix and often the rest of the band wants to record to a "good" sound rather than to the raw sound. But on the other side it seems logical that it's kinda dump to do so when practising... When I get the time I'll record a full song for drum practice purposes! Or maybe I'll end this song idea right here...

Thanks again.

 

[smy1]

I want to add that I usually build my mixes around the drums. That means after tracking (or most likely programming) the drums I will do processing and editing directly after that. So when tracking guitars+bass I can make their source sound fit better "into" the drums.

Don't do that unless you are making a CD for a drummer (like Simon Phillips) where the rest of the instruments don't count.

There's nothing wrong with making a rough mix for playback purposes but building everything around the drums will usually make for a weird mix that only some drummers will enjoy ...