Quote:
Originally Posted by
shimoyjk
➡️
I’m looking to permanently set up for my cheapo drum set. I have only kick, snare, hh and crash&ride cymbals. It’s going to be used for some modern jazz stuff and lofi indie folk, pop music. Of course for actual recording drummer will bring his kit but for now I want to experiment with mic placement.
I have m160 x 1(hope to buy another one soon)
Cm4 x 2
Lrm-2b ribbon x 2
Tlm170 x 2
Beesneez m49 clone
M88
Sm57,58
D112 for kick. I’m going to bass drum head open, and put some towels to muffle them up as that’s the sound I’m going for.
What I want to archive is get decent drum recording by using 4-5 microphones. The music needs not so wide drums but sometimes it’s good to have options..
Any suggestions for mic placement or technique such as glyn John’s, etc… ?
You'll need to experiment and start with "right" spot to put the drums in your room.. this plays quite a big role actually.. move it where it sounds best.
If you don't have high (or very high) ceiling, I'd be careful with a fig of 8 ribbon as AB OH pointing down the kit..
would probably keep these ribbons as room mics in blumlein (or spaced pair if you want a wider kit).
regarding techniques and which mics to use.. it is also a matter of experimenting, and finding the best option FOR YOU or better said for the SONG/MUSIC/ARRANGEMENT where these drums will be put in.. there are some guidelines/rules, but there's no real right or wrong..
What I'd do is to start/test with the following:
M88 : Kick
SM57: Snare top
TLM170: OH (in cardioid AB equidistant from the snare/kick, or maybe you could experiment with MS, which you could decide how wide do you want your image in post)
(I usually don't record a separate hi hat, also because my OH mics are usually not too high up, but in some occasion you might want to do so, in that case I'd try the M160 there)
In case you might a slightly more "laid back" or "softer/mellower) OH sound that "blends" more you could test the Line Audio CM4 as OH spaced pair (obviously you can't do MS with 2 (wide-ish cardioids). These are great little mics.
In case you get the other M160, you could test these as OH as well.. Steve Remote uses a pair since forever.. he get GREAT results.. I have to admit I've never used a pair as OH.
(my go to OH are a pair of Schoeps cmc5 with mk4).
regarding the kick, the D112 could work well sometimes too, it really depends what you want.. (I also do happen to like a 421 and its "woody and punchy" delivery for some jazzy kicks.
Otherwise I'd probably use the CM4 as room mics, or the ribbon pair.
I'd always use a pair of room mics, even for dryer results.. you can always just send them only to a nice compressor and/or a short room verb, and just tuck them in very low in your mix.. this will give a very nice depth and nice "professional" results imho.
regarding the toms (when you get them), use whatever you have around (also depending what do you want, sometimes a dynamic will fit well, like the senny 441 or maybe the new small senny 421 mini?.. I do like condensers here too, they do sound a tad more "modern" but they have the advantage to have a much better off axis spill/colouration ime..
the rather inexpensive shure ksm137 works quite well on toms, and their sound could be fit a big variety of different "aesthethics".
If in South Korea you don't find used drums, maybe look at Hawthorne drum shop, they are in the US (which might or might not be too expensive regarding shipment, I dunno).. but they do have a nice selection of kits and snare and the pricing on some of their stuff is still within reason after all.. Chris was great to deal with when I bought some vintage zildjians HH from the 50ies.
(I'm not affiliated in any way, just a happy customer).
https://hawthornedrumshop.com/
I hope this helps,
howdy
Cheu