For those who record drums in bedrooms/small rooms
- Thread starter AllanD
- Start date
pikachu69
mixomatic 2000
Spot micing cymbals to minimize room spill is really the only way I could think of. If you go the spaced pair OH route the amount of room sound captured will be too hard to eliminate altogether. Then create 2 verb sends. One being only early reflections to put the kit back in a room. Then the second verb to create the length of tail you want. HP and LP filters and well as some surgical EQ may also be necessary.
If you have a spaced pair you could also try cutting round 800hz and 2khz with a HP round 250 to 400hz and a LP round 18khz and add some air round 15khz.
If you have a spaced pair you could also try cutting round 800hz and 2khz with a HP round 250 to 400hz and a LP round 18khz and add some air round 15khz.
I EQ out the low end and make surgical cuts when needed. Then I boost the "ultra highs" a bit before smashing the fuck out of them with a compressor. Then I EQ again and give them a tiny bit of verb.
I've also found that using a transient designer to remove transients helps get rid of the drum and shitty room sound.
I've also found that using a transient designer to remove transients helps get rid of the drum and shitty room sound.
Melodeath
Moonbow
Checkout my signature. www.myspace.com/horrendousdeathmetal
Actually, better quality here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1579861/Horrendous - Merlin touch up2.mp3
Recorded in a sort of big room overall, but very low ceilings (8 feet or less), and drums were located literally in the doorway to an adjacent very small room. 2 Overhead mics (really cheap chinese SDCs), spaced, cardioid, pointed downwards. The backs of the mics were pretty much touching the ceiling haha
Hi-hat is basically against one wall of the doorway, and ride against the other. I believe I put home-made bass traps between the walls and sides of the kit, but the back wall was no more than 3 feet from the drummer's head. It's probably reflection city. Toms are 100% natural (no samples), and cymbals are hi-passed probably around 500 Hz, boosted highs, with minor compression. Possibly a minimal amount of reverb added. I'm 98% sure that's right, but I haven't touched the sessions in 13 months.
Actually, better quality here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1579861/Horrendous - Merlin touch up2.mp3
Recorded in a sort of big room overall, but very low ceilings (8 feet or less), and drums were located literally in the doorway to an adjacent very small room. 2 Overhead mics (really cheap chinese SDCs), spaced, cardioid, pointed downwards. The backs of the mics were pretty much touching the ceiling haha
Hi-hat is basically against one wall of the doorway, and ride against the other. I believe I put home-made bass traps between the walls and sides of the kit, but the back wall was no more than 3 feet from the drummer's head. It's probably reflection city. Toms are 100% natural (no samples), and cymbals are hi-passed probably around 500 Hz, boosted highs, with minor compression. Possibly a minimal amount of reverb added. I'm 98% sure that's right, but I haven't touched the sessions in 13 months.
DestroyTheColossus
Member
- Mar 18, 2008
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For me its compression, EQ and reverb. Some light compression seems to help define elements within the stereo image better. As far as EQ goes, I high-pass and then get rid of some boxyness in the mids. Then the reverb smooths it out a bit and helps give the feeling of a better room. I always feel like im fighting a bit of a losing battle with my overheads, but it's more the low-quality mics than the room.
Here's an example of the last stuff I did. The drums were recorded in a small room. (The clip isnt metal though, and the band was going for a raw vibe, so no click or editing.)
http://topxnotch.bandcamp.com/track/you-cant-cross-bridges-that-youve-already-burned
Here's an example of the last stuff I did. The drums were recorded in a small room. (The clip isnt metal though, and the band was going for a raw vibe, so no click or editing.)
http://topxnotch.bandcamp.com/track/you-cant-cross-bridges-that-youve-already-burned
My drum room is very small, but I get pretty good sounds. Overheads NT5's no spot micing, high pass, sugical cuts (1khz) to get rid of the trashy frequencies. My room is pretty dead, heaps of acoustic panels, foam (on ceiling as well), ply etc. I always use bottom mics for snare and toms, no sound replacement for my last few projects. Also slate vcc tames the overheads very nice (smooths the top end in a very musical way). Will post some clips of a recent project in the next week
