drums, small room

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DavidB
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2005/09/13 08:04:47 (permalink)

drums, small room

I've been working on getting drums recorded in a small (10x12) room. I had blankets hanging on the walls until this past weekend, I went for a auralex foam (starter) kit.. I think it has helped with some flutter in the overheads. It's a Sonor kit with a beta 52 in the kick.. about half way in side, with the front cover on. A sm57 on the snare, about an inch inside the rim and a couple inches from the head. Two mxl condensers in x/y configuration, about 20 inches over the cymbals and 3 qtom mics on the toms. Please let me know your thoughts.. These are just snippets.. around 1:00 each.

http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sample_metal.mp3 << added this one...

http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sample_rock2.mp3
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sample_funky.mp3
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sample_blues.mp3
http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sample_acoustic.mp3

Thanks for any comments, tips.
post edited by DavidB - 2005/09/21 10:15:16


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    codashome
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/14 08:49:43 (permalink)
    Sounds pretty good to me. Everything seems to fit well in the mix, at least on my computer speakers. And getting it to sit in the mix is the most important thing, isn't it? Did you add some 'verb to the drum mix? I really can't find anything drastically wrong with the drum sounds, and the other performances kept my interest as well. Well done.

    What else is in the room besides the Auralex? I've always found rooms that size to have all kinds of modal problems unless there is something to diffuse the sound or control lower frequencies. You know, like bookcases, sofas, and the like.
    #2
    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/14 10:29:06 (permalink)
    Hey thanks. I just added some verb on the snare.. a little more on the blues one I think. ALso, yes there is a book case on one of the long ends of the room. I couldn't afford to do bass traps so I just stack some junk in the corners and stacked some pillows around and on top of it. Seems to help a little. Also, there a inset window in one corner, about 4 ft wide and about 3 ft deep.. next to a closet. I hung a blanket over the opening.. My wife officially hates me now :)


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    #3
    Dave Modisette
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/14 20:46:11 (permalink)
    I think it sounds pretty dang good. Other than your snare. I don't think it's your technique. I just don't like that particular snare. Too metallic for me. I didn't sense the size of the room until the acoustic sample. Then the room sounded a little small. But for that particular song it works. You could reamp the track and drag the speakers into a hall or a room with a vaulted ceiling and get some space.

    Dave Modisette ... rocks a Purrrfect Audio Studio Pro rig.
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    dmassey
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/14 21:19:38 (permalink)
    After a lot of trial & erro, we tried a technique suggested in one of these forums and moved the overheads directly behind the drummer and right above his head (he has a huge kit), and the improvement was remarkable. The drum room is 12'x14', and has a mixture of foam, padded walls scavenged from some old cubicle dividers, and a small 2'x4' piece of Auralex on the wall directly behind the drummer. Not perfect, but getting better.
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    codashome
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/15 07:40:35 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Mod Bod

    I think it sounds pretty dang good. Other than your snare. I don't think it's your technique. I just don't like that particular snare. Too metallic for me.


    Actually something about the snare was bothering me too. On a second listen, I'm wondering if the snares might be a little too loose? But what do I know, I'm a bassist. Unless it's sitting naked in the tune, it's really not a big deal.
    #6
    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/15 07:57:19 (permalink)
    Interesting comments on the snare.. I hadn't really noticed anything.. but after the comments I had another listen. I think, maybe I had eq'd it poorly, dipped too much in the low mid freq range making it sound kind of harsh. It's a sonor 14" standard maple snare. Maybe I need to try another one. I did put some of the mids back to try and make it better.. it's a continuing learning process!


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    Dave Modisette
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/15 10:32:58 (permalink)
    Interesting comments on the snare.. I hadn't really noticed anything.. but after the comments I had another listen. I think, maybe I had eq'd it poorly, dipped too much in the low mid freq range making it sound kind of harsh. It's a sonor 14" standard maple snare. Maybe I need to try another one. I did put some of the mids back to try and make it better.. it's a continuing learning process!


    I tend to like the old school soggy, too much 250hz snares. To me, picolo snares should be tossed into the Lake of Fire.

    Dave Modisette ... rocks a Purrrfect Audio Studio Pro rig.
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    #8
    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/17 23:13:53 (permalink)
    I think they (picolos) have their place.. my son just purchased a perl (joey jordison) snare. They call it a power picolo. 13" X 6". Sounds pretty good on heavy stuff.


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    fif4lifefif
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/18 03:11:13 (permalink)
    I like the sounds you're getting... only one suggestion, which may just be reflective of personal preference. I'd add some 80 or so to the kick. I don't know, I guess since I'm the drummer I like for the kick to literally KICK, hehe.
    #10
    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/18 10:48:13 (permalink)
    I think I spend more time eq'ing the kick or snare than anything else when mixing drums.


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    #11
    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/18 22:31:46 (permalink)
    Here's a clip using the new joey jordison snare.. has a nice ring to it;

    http://www.studio-aid.com/samples/sample_metal.mp3


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    #12
    kevinb511
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/19 09:35:45 (permalink)
    Dave, I like the sound of that snare. Do you have compression on it to bring out some of that ring?

    -Kevin
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    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/19 09:53:46 (permalink)
    I did use some compression, but that snare has plenty of ring without it..


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    fif4lifefif
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/23 16:27:33 (permalink)
    I like the guitar parts!
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    DavidB
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    RE: drums, small room 2005/09/24 09:36:41 (permalink)
    thanks!


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