Using sound replacement software when recording

[Heabow]

Hey

I use to go in a little studio near my place to record drums because I cannot make it at my home-studio. The result is I have a very limited time each time I work there. The sound is okay but not as good as I would like and as I could do if I had more time. So lately, I though using a drum replacement software (monitoring only of course) to get more precise sounds and have a more accurate judgement while tracking.

Someone to share experiences or give some advices?

 

[Arsenu,]

would you mind explaining how exactly is not having enough time making you compromise on your sound? cause the if it's mic placement that is the problem than those extra 30 mins won't kill you, but if you're talking about performance (e.g. drummer not hitting hard enough) than that's a different thing...

either way doesn't seem like a great idea giving up on the source sound before you even recorded it

 

[Heabow]

Well, the studio I usually rent for my drum recordings has a decent equipment. Not good really but just okay. The control room is pretty bad though!!! The thing is that I cannot rent it for 4 or 5 full days, so every drum stuff - even for an entire album - are done within 2 days maximum. I always spend a good amount of time setting up and tuning the drums properly. All tracks are recorded totally raw. No eq. Sound wise, the result is always okay but the monitoring is far from comfortable for me. The drummers are usually not that good too. The idea to use Trigger for example - once everything is set - is just to get more attack (only) mainly for the kick and the snare. I believe that Jacob Hansen does this (except for ultra fast playing)

Oh and I don't want to replace the original source but blend it with a sample of course!

 

[Arsenu,]

running the tracks through a trigger should not differ to loading a trigger track unto a duplicated track during the mixing stage, so i don't see any point in doing what you suggested...
if you're having trouble callibrating the trigger plugin so it picks every hit during the mixing stage, try isolating the high pitched hit using a HP + LP + band boost EQ before the trigger plug. if you're still having trouble throw in a compressor as well to really isolate the hit.
if that's not the problem you're having, than maybe i didn't get you...