All this advice and no one with links to samples of their proudest drum sound moments? Peculiar.

http://www.newblack.net/mp3/03_New_Blac ... Action.mp3

best i've done so far (i'm still improving - that's why i didn't wanna jump in and pretend this snare is the second coming of christ or anything - or to seem like an overtly self-promoting whore - but this is about the micing, not the band...) this was done in our practice space to 1" 16 track. but this is a beyer 201 about 3" off the batter head - back a couple inches. rode nt5s in an xy configuration as room/kit mic about 3 ft high, 6 ft back. AT4041 OH spaced pair. oktava mc012s on toms. atm 25 on bass drum resonant head. 8 tracks used for drums.

everything was through the standard soundtracs MR preamps then to tape. drums and bass were recorded simultaneously, the other parts overdubbed. the bass was goboed off in it's own mini-partition room - and then covered with a moving blanket to keep the bleed from the drum ambient mics.

q1w2e3r4 wrote:All this advice and no one with links to samples of their proudest drum sound moments? Peculiar.

Most of the advice I've given has involved recent experimentation, because it's the stuff I've been happiest with. Having worked FOR bands, I don't generally run around posting copies of their stuff everywhere without their permission. Much of the music I've commented on has not been officially released yet, an awful sign of the effects of the economy on artsists in this area. This applies mainly to the stuff with which I've been happiest and believe most people would find enjoyable.

On top of that, I don't believe that anyone can really make an honest, intelligent and informed judgement on something as subjective as snare drum miking by listening to an MP3. That's part of the reason why I've never responded to a post where someone puts up a mix and wants it critiqued.

If you wish to contact Bellyfull in order to do hear a 414 on snare drum played by Curtis Wingfield, I'm sure you can find something about this band by doing a web search. If you want to hear a fine example of a good-sounding drum played by Jonathan Erickson, (a good drummer) and recorded using an M201, you'll have to wait until Jason Scavone finishes his excellent project and releases it. If you want, you can send some money to Jason so he can finish his project. You can also check with Rayen Belchere to hear a KSM141 on a snare drum played by Rick Murray, but since this was mixed last night, I'm not sure what his near-future plans are for making it available for critique. Vince Rivers, the drummer for Soul Station also really digs the KSM141, but I don't know about the availability of their EP. I was under the impression that they would be using it to get some gigs locally.

I'm not sure what the point of your post was. If it REALLY was no more than an observation, I apologize. My point is, I don't think I have to PROVE my opinions when someone asks for advice. Get some of these mics and try them yourself. They work for me, they may or may not work for you or anybody else. I don't think that by listening to an MP3 that anyone is going to rush out and buy whatever mic I used on a snare drum. In the case of the Scavone CD, by the time it's been mastered and converted to MP3, the snare drum will have been processed by no less than three stages of compression (depending on the mastering job and MP3 conversion process) and more than likely, two stages of equalization. I still manage to make music for a living.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

Well, I didn't expect anyone to break any laws, I'm sure many that post here are home recordists, and didn't think it would be much of an issue.

And I do think that I can make an honest, intelligent and informed judgement listening to an mp3. I listen to mp3s all that time. I'm aware of the differences between the mp3 versions of records I love and the vinyl versions on my home stereo. Make a 320 kbps version, it'll be good enough. Many many things make it subjective, don't pin it all on it being an mp3.

I wasn't asking for proof. Just an exchange of ideas. And maybe to understand where someone is coming from when they say "This mic is the best, all you'd ever need". Thanks, by the way, Nick, the drums sound good.

Oh, and as much as I'd love to buy an endless supply of mics and preamps and try every single possible combination myself, I have to pay this pesky rent each month.

All I'm saying is that you can only make a judgement for yourself by trying out the mic yourself. Take these suggestions, see what common ones you're hearing and get hold of one or two of those mics to try out. That's what I've done over the years and it's how I've bought mics. I don't think I've ever actually returned a mic and I can't recall ever having bought a mic based on a single example I heard. I hate to be the one to break your bubble, but I too have to pay rent and I still own a decent mic collection that I've chosen without hearing MP3s and without criticizing people for not telling me what mic to buy.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

A nice distortion will always do the job.
Try combining this with a directional condensor aimed at the bottom of the snare and not too close to the snare.
fair enough, this will pick up everything in the damn room but that's ok!
i quiet like this in combination with dryer tracks of say the guitars without any ambience.
If you're recording your drums live while others are playing as well, try using some straight signals from the guitars.