best way to record drums?

Author
bagleface
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 7
  • Joined: 2013/07/18 12:55:12
  • Status: offline
2013/07/27 06:57:46 (permalink)

best way to record drums?

whats the best way to get drums recorded onto sonar x2 all i have is a quad capture and no midi interface, i have tried using the step sequence but its very slow, and i cant seem to bale to record the drum patterns in Si Drum kit, wondered if any of you guys had any ideas 
#1

3 Replies Related Threads

    gswitz
    Max Output Level: -18.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5694
    • Joined: 2007/06/16 07:17:14
    • Location: Richmond Virginia USA
    • Status: offline
    Re: best way to record drums? 2013/07/27 07:21:00 (permalink)
    With a drummer. :-)
     
    The Quad Capture can record 4 tracks at once. 4 Mics can do OK on a kit. Put one on the kick, one on the snare and then two overhead mics ? Not sure how your drummer plays.
     
    If you just want a drum track to play along with, read up on Session Drummer. You can pretty easily get a nice sounding drum track in Sonar with Session drummer. Then you don't need a midi interface at all, you just drag the loops into a midi track and roll them out.
     
    Obviously, it's nice to have more tracks than 4 for recording drums, but give it a try... you might be surprised with the result.
     
    Also, you can create a 'drum track' track template for yourself with your 4 tracks. Then, when you want to re-record the drum part, mute the original and bring in a new template and re-record... now you have the 4 tracks of the first take in one folder and the four tracks of the second take in another folder. This way you can mute and solo the different track folders. You also have the tracks grouped if you want to give audio snap a go. When you have a lot of bleed between tracks, you want to adjust the timing on all the tracks together or else you can get some goofy badness you don't want.
     
    I must say, I have never cared enough to succeed with audio snap myself. Some people are anti-electricity (Pete Seeger) - some anti-midi - I guess I kinda drew the line at keeping human time human.
     
    I know it's possible to make things sound better with audio snap, I just don't.
     

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
    #2
    bagleface
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 7
    • Joined: 2013/07/18 12:55:12
    • Status: offline
    Re: best way to record drums? 2013/07/27 07:47:30 (permalink)
    ah thanks man thats helped a bunch i just want to get a basic drum track then put my guitar on it and when my drummer is around he can put his own thing on it  
    #3
    gswitz
    Max Output Level: -18.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5694
    • Joined: 2007/06/16 07:17:14
    • Location: Richmond Virginia USA
    • Status: offline
    Re: best way to record drums? 2013/07/27 18:50:34 (permalink)
    Well, in that case, I would do it the quickest and easiest way you can... For example... I often don't know how fast I feel like playing a tune on a given night until I play it a little... So, I'll play 48 bars and then use the Insert Tempo window to measure the tempo I'm playing that night. Then, I'll set the project tempo to that tempo (use W to rewind to the beginning then change the tempo so it doesn't change in the middle of the project).
     
    Then, insert soft synth > Session Drummer > (I usually include the midi track and open the Synth window).
     
    I pick a drum kit ... randomly ... I listen to some of the drum loops A B C D E F G H and pick and drag the (+) to the midi track and roll out the drum loop.
     
    Then I arm my guitar track and play along.
     
    Later, you can drop out the original drum track and let the drummer play over you.
     
    The thing is, that you are likely to surf off the rhythm, so better to keep a simpler rhtyhm than to get over-complicated. If your Session Drummer rhythm is busy in places, you're likely to back off your guitar in the same places. If your drummer doesn't fill them in, holes will be left.

    StudioCat > I use Windows 10 and Sonar Platinum. I have a touch screen.
    I make some videos. This one shows how to do a physical loopback on the RME UCX to get many more equalizer nodes.
    #4
    Jump to:
    © 2025 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1