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msmd

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Posts posted by msmd

    ? About Recording Live Drums

    in Performance

    Posted

    What kind of mic is it?

    It is a Shure sm57.

    I've altered my set-up a little bit based on your guys advice.

    I don't have access to any other mics, and my 8-track only has one mic input. However, it does have an onboard microphone.

    So, I have the microphone hanging over the drums, and the onboard mic behind the bass drum. It may not be ideal, but the recordings sound a lot better than they did before. Thanks again.

    How Many Strings Does Your Bass Have?

    in Performance

    Posted

    Gentlemen,

    I see I am the first 6'er to answer. That's fine. You all probably hate me, but you are probably just jealous of my range. :P

    I agree with some of the anti-6 sentiment on here. I don't really want to play a 6 anymore. I'm trading down to a 4 string again sometime soon, so I can be more like the rest of you -- regular, boring, etc (JK!! :P:P) . Honestly, unless you are some extreme bass virtuoso, there is really no reason to have a 6-string. I enjoyed playing it while I had it, but I can't look myself in the mirror anymore. So, I'm done.

    Jack

    ? About Recording Live Drums

    in Performance

    Posted

    If I understood you correctly, most of the other tracks (instruments) are already recorded and you're basically adding the drum tracks last? If that is the situation, just for future reference, that's the reverse of what's most commonly done. Most demos start the final recording with the drum track and use that as a timing guide to add all the additional tracks. I'm actually a drummer and a writer. I used to do my demos with live drums, now I've switched to using a drum machine for most stuff. I've also done what you will need to do...which is add the tracks last. An buddy of mine had done a bunch of tunes with a machine and wanted me to replace the machine tracks with live drums. I've got a couple suggestions for you:

    - If there's a way for you to borrow 2 more mics, try to use 2 overheads criss-crossed and a 3rd mic on the bass drum only. The criss-cross overheads will allow you to achieve stereo with a little more control over the final balance and the bass drum mic up close will give you more punch and the ability to control the volume seperately.

    - I'd forget about having him play with a metronome....just have him play with the already recorded final tracks. After all, when it's all said & done, that's what you want the drums to mess with. That freind I told you I helped out.....some of his prerecorded tracks didn't keep strictly to the metronome pace. There were spots where he ran a little faster & spots a little slower. After a couple times through, I became familiar enough with some of the imperfections, that I was able to do a decent job matching the pace changes so it didn't end up sounding too dicie.

    - If you have songs that require him to begin playing immediately when the song starts, he's going to need some type of count in...click track or a manual count in so he's able to catch the beginning. Whatever you decide on, try to standardize it.....if it's going to be a 2 measure count-in, do it that way every time.

    - Like John indicated, deader is probably better. If you want to ring, reverb, some delay.....add it later after you've got what you want in the raw recording.

    Hope this helps some.

    That helps a lot.

    These are not songs we have practiced a lot... if any, so that's why I'm doing the drums in reverse order.

    Thanks again.

    Jack

    ? About Recording Live Drums

    in Performance

    Posted

    Hey

    What kind of mic is it? Really I'd recommend you at the very least record the drums in stereo using two overhead mics (matched).

    Unless you are deliberately trying to capture the ambience of the room involved a small room with decent damping is better as you don't get large amounts of unintended reverb (reflections from the walls). You can easily add reverb later using an effects unit.

    Because modern recordings often require sync with sequencers a "click track" is often used to help drummers stay in time. Playing to a click track is a skill in itself. There is still plenty room for dynamic variation. Only real issue you will encounter is if the piece requires changes in tempo, particularly sections where it slows down gradually as part of the feel of the song.

    You can overdub drums, but far better if you can get it down in one take, or at the least record the drums in song sections to composite later.

    Cheers

    John

    Greatly appreciated. I will try and find another mic.

    Jack.

    ? About Recording Live Drums

    in Performance

    Posted

    Hello All:

    It has been a while since I've posted here. I must say I'm a little dissapointed in myself for not frequenting these forums more often, but I'm here now, and I come looking for some answers.

    First of all, please keep in mind that I am an amateur. I work very hard, but I don't have a lot of formal training in sound production and recording. My only knowledge of the subject comes from a few years of experimentation with a BOSS-864 digital 8-track. So, my methods may not be the most efficient, and my terminology may be a little bit off. Please bear with me. Here's my situation:

    I've been working on an "album" since August, and I've been telling myself that I would finish it before graduation. Unfortunately, I've been working so hard on this album that I may get a time extension, if you know what I mean. Finance and music don't always mix well... But that's a another story. I'm finishing up everything, and I wanted to record live drums for all the songs I've been working on, and I need some general advice, so I can get the most out of what I have to work with.

    1. I have only one (fairly decent) microphone, that I believe is more of an instrument microphone. In this case, is there a "better" place to put it? Above the drums? Directly in front of the drums? Is this just something I should do by feel, or is there some "trick" that will make the drums sound as good as they can with only one microphone? Should I cover the microphone with a cloth?

    2. I'm not sure, but I think I've heard that it's better to record drums in a small (carpeted) room, as opposed to a large room. Is this the case?

    3. Do drummers normally try to play with a metronome while they are recording? Does this help or hurt? I generally like synching everything up with a metronome, but I don't want it to turn out to rigid or robotic? (I have the main instrumental parts recorded and will be listening to them through headphones while I try to record the drums)

    4. Can you overdub with drums? Or do you have to play a perfect take all the way through with no mistakes?

    Not sure if any of that made sense. If not, any piece of advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated, even if it's not related to my questions... I may have some more questions later anyway.

    Thanks to anyone who answers in advance, I really appreciate it.

    Jack

    Methods

    in Songwriting

    Posted

    I'm interested to hear others methods in songwriting/music making. How do you go about it? Where do you start?

    rhythm? harmony? Lyrics or poetry first? Or just a general concept of what the song should be?

    [smiley=drums.gif][smiley=vocals.gif][smiley=acoustic.gif]

    [smiley=rockin.gif][smiley=rockin.gif]

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