Tips for getting good sounds out of toms?

[MaximumMetal288]

Hey all, my band is starting to do some recording and I'm having some problems getting a good tom sound. I want that big, solid attack that is found on most metal albums, and the sound I'm getting now is kinda weak and flubby.

The biggest factor in the sound right now is the drum heads. They need to be replaced and we are doing so on Friday. Doing that might fix the beef of my problem, but I want to know what kind of plugins and or EQ settings would help define the toms and add some more attack to them. I'm using an Audix i5, SM57 and E609 on the toms right now (from highest to lowest respectively).

I love the way the toms sound on the Andy Sneap drumagog gog files, but getting the drums in perfect time with drumagog can be quite the task and I'd prefer to get a good sound like that on my own without drumagog.

Thanks!

 

[evolutions_end]

A drum tension watch. im not sure if thats the right name, but its saved me heaps of time. just use it to get the skins to the same tension around the drum.

also getting your drummer to hit a tom while another person moves the mic around while your in the control room listening to it is a really good way to find the sweet spot for a mic.

not much, but i hope it helps!

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Drumheads will fix 95% of your problem. What heads are you buying?

Also learn to tune drums, drummers very very very rarely can.

Interesting mic arrangement you have .

 

[MaximumMetal288]

The drummer for my band tunes his drums frequently, he's got one of those drum tuner/tension reader that he uses. He tuned them before our last show on saturday, but they might need a little adjusting.

He uses Aquarian heads, not sure what model but they've got the black ring around the edges that are supposed to act as a mute sorta. He's a pretty much open to whatever I have to say EXCEPT for what drum heads to get, so it's gonna take a lot to get him to switch to something else. I've always like Evan stuff but he refuses to play it.

 

[ManegarM]

i use evans ec2 in my yamaha oak custom toms, they have a very good low end and attack

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Tell him (for serious) that those heads with the mute rings may sound great to him live and in the room but they really do sound like ass recorded (really really shitty, they just don't work). This is something I run into constantly with drummers they have a head they think sounds great when in reality .

If he won't bend then your probably going to have to use samples.

My favorite tom head is the remo pinstripe followed very closely by the power stroke 3.

 

[LSD-Studio]

He uses Aquarian heads

!!WORST!! heads you can get for recording! they sound like a drumstick on a loaf of bread when recorded!

I like emperor for batter and ambassador for reso side.

but those Aquarians can only be sample-replaced if you can't convince them of using different heads, there's no way you make them sound decent

 

[derfbonker]

!!WORST!! heads you can get for recording! they sound like a drumstick on a loaf of bread when recorded!

I like emperor for batter and ambassador for reso side.

but those Aquarians can only be sample-replaced if you can't convince them of using different heads, there's no way you make them sound decent

Is that backwards? I thought ambassador was better for batter, because it is 2-ply, and emperor's (1 ply) are good for resonance.

 

[LSD-Studio]

Is that backwards? I thought ambassador was better for batter, because it is 2-ply, and emperor's (1 ply) are good for resonance.

nope, I like the emperor for batter

 

[derfbonker]

We had a band come in recently (the drummer was a bit slow, to say the least) and he had emperors and both sides. The toms sounded kind of flubby to me. I also noticed that when I tuned them, it was harder to get them to sound the way I wanted because I had to raise the pitch to get any tension on the head. Thats why I like the Ambassador, Its thicker and has a sharper attack, and I can tune it lower. But hey, to each his own, right?

 

[LSD-Studio]

We had a band come in recently (the drummer was a bit slow, to say the least) and he had emperors and both sides. The toms sounded kind of flubby to me. I also noticed that when I tuned them, it was harder to get them to sound the way I wanted because I had to raise the pitch to get any tension on the head. Thats why I like the Ambassador, Its thicker and has a sharper attack, and I can tune it lower. But hey, to each his own, right?

I like the toms tuned high....
don't know but that might be why I prefer thin heads for toms... I like the powerstroke3 on snare though.

but yeah, ambassador is fine, too...just NEVER EVER use Aquarians, lol

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

I like the aquarian superkick 2 head but thats it period for that company. I only like that head because the use of a pillow in the drum becomes unnecessary.

That head is a tad on the expensive side though.

 

[KeithRT99]

i'm a fan of coated emporers on top, clear ambassadors/emporers or pinstripes are probably more what you're looking for. try tuning the top and bottom head to the same tension, then tighten the bottom head to lower the sustain of the tom.

 

[Baddo]

!!WORST!! heads you can get for recording! they sound like a drumstick on a loaf of bread when recorded!

I like emperor for batter and ambassador for reso side.

but those Aquarians can only be sample-replaced if you can't convince them of using different heads, there's no way you make them sound decent

I've gotten good results with Aquarian heads. They just need to be new.
Tuning is important and mic distance too.

 

[alexrookie]

Is that backwards? I thought ambassador was better for batter, because it is 2-ply, and emperor's (1 ply) are good for resonance.

ambassador is 1-ply and my reso skins ,as well.

ambassador works for the batter side, but needs a really nice shell, otherwise
there will be so much 'ouoummph' after every tomhit.



not every skin with a black ring on the outside is ass for recording! that's nonsense. it all comes down to what you're looking for.
for a metalsound i prefer remo powerstrokes 1-ply skin (with a black ring on the outside ). emperor is nice, as well.
I'd be aware of 2-ply skins like remo pinstripe - these sound a bit flattened through a mic.

 

[KeithRT99]

i've gotten decent results with aquarians on toms, but they tend to sound kinds dark and dry.

 

[wishtheend]

You just can't use the Performance II from Aquarian. They have the muffle ring in there that just kills everything. They have the new Super 2's that mic really well. Very loud and bright. I use their classic clears (1 ply) for the reso skin.

Chris Adler from LoG uses the Aquarian Response IIs on his batter (I believe coated) and his got a great tone. I just thin the Performance II's are too muffled.

 

[Deaf Ear]

I'm a big fan of Evans G1 top and bottom, both tuned to the same pitch.

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

ambassador is 1-ply and my reso skins ,as well.

ambassador works for the batter side, but needs a really nice shell, otherwise
there will be so much 'ouoummph' after every tomhit.



not every skin with a black ring on the outside is ass for recording! that's nonsense. it all comes down to what you're looking for.
for a metalsound i prefer remo powerstrokes 1-ply skin (with a black ring on the outside ). emperor is nice, as well.
I'd be aware of 2-ply skins like remo pinstripe - these sound a bit flattened through a mic.

Notice I said "mute ring". I love pinstripe heads when they are tuned just right, just the right amount of attack resonance and decay. Your right though personal preference.

 

[botus99]

I can definitely throw a +1 on Remo Pinstripes. I've been using those things for years and everytime I put on a new set, I'm still amazed with how awesome they make my kit sound