Tracking Rototoms or Not

[crosstalk]

I searched for this, but only found one thread and it didn't have much info in it. I have a band coming and their drummer has a set of rototoms that I believe they are going to insist on using. The style is something like hard rock/metal. I think it's one of those smaller 3 piece rototoms. I don't think I've even seen a set in person let alone have I attempted to record them. After micing up the normal drums, I'll have two E604's and an i5 left.

I'd rather not mess with the silly things. I'm not sure how the guy uses them, hopefully not as an extension for his standard toms as I think that would be really odd. I've seen that he has them placed on the right above the floor tom/ride.

If you don't have recording advice, any good arguments to use to convince them to not rototom it up?

Thanks

 

[wishtheend]

If the band uses them, don't try to talk them out of it. If you could get an extra condenser mic, I would just use a single mic for the whole group. Those drums have little to no low end information, and typically you don't heard rotos panned out. If they use them, you'll probably get a bunch of them in the OHs but a single mic on the group would be good so you can comp down on them.

 

[JonWormwood]

Rofl. The Box.

Step out of it now and again.

 

[crosstalk]

Rofl. The Box.

Step out of it now and again.

Thanks for the insight.

 

[BLUElightCory]

You could also consider overdubbing the rototoms, depending on how they are used. Or make samples of them, and place them wherever he plays them after the fact (you'll still have them in the overheads).

 

[XnaySaturo]

You could also consider overdubbing the rototoms, depending on how they are used. Or make samples of them, and place them wherever he plays them after the fact (you'll still have them in the overheads).

That seems like the most logical suggestion. You can then use your tom mics or a 57 or something.

 

[demirichris]

The intro to time by pink floyd has roto-toms...and it's one of the coolest sounding things ever.

Just sayin.

 

[crosstalk]

Some great ideas! I didn't even think of sampling them or the possibility of overdubbing them.

As usually, it's going to be a session of "lets record a dozen tracks in two days" which won't allow time to really experiment and figure things out like I would prefer. So, if anyone has experience tracking or sampling toms, would you go with a 57, i5, or E604? Do you want to mic similar to a standard tom? I have a feeling I'll be working with the original heads from years ago, how much effect that has on rototoms I have no clue!

I hate the thought of tracking something that I'm inexperienced with and then having to live with it in the mix later.

 

[greyskull]

id cry.

 

[ahjteam]

same question as "should I mike the toms or not". your choise really.

 

[Ionei]

I'd sample them before with the best sounding mic(for them) on it.
Then use whatever i had left to mic them.

 

[if6was9]

Nothing to freak out about- certainly no need to make them not use them!
Sample em, try out your mics on them and see how they sound, doesn't take forever to find the mic of yours that sounds nice on them.

 

[KillFrenzy]

if you have inputs left, use 1 mic for each rototom, or maybe a single one under the set (if you cant place on top of it). I think the guy won't use it like crazy, so that's not something huge to worry about.