Well I'm new to this forum and found it through a Google search on recording.? I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum but it's less about drums and more about recording so I figured I'd start here.
I am going to start recording drums for my band's 4th album in the next couple of months and want some fresh ideas.? One of my 'problems' is that I have a larger than average drum set and ended up with some phase problems on the last recording project and in the end I was not happy with the sound of my drums.?
Here's the typical setup I'm going to be recording:
I'm going to use an Audio Technica AE2500 inside the kick drum, I may also use a large diaphram speaker wired as a mic on the front head if I can't get enough out of the AE2500.? I'm going to use an SM-57 on the snare top side and another mic on the bottom side.? I was considering a condensor for the bottom but what about another SM-57 under??
I'm going to use 2 Audio Technica Pro 37's overhead.? Not sure if I should go X-Y Axis or just left and right overheads.?
I've got 4 AT Pro 35's as well for close in mic's on the individual toms but I'm not sure if I should even use them.? I've read so much about using less mics.? I want the deeper toms to come through with deep resonance but not too boomy so I was going to use a couple of AT-25s on the deepest two toms (14" and 16") but I have access to an AT 4033, SM-57 or SM 58 for that job.?
I'll be recording in our studio/rehearsal building with the main room being 30' x 30' with 10' ceilings.? I have some blankets hanging up in a semi-circle above the drums.? I'm going to move all the sound absorbing office dividers away from the drums and go for a more open sound with more room reverb.? Should I take the blankets down as well?? I'll be moving the drums into the center of the room away from the blankets so will they make a difference??
Should I consider adding a room mic for ambiance?? I have a really low budget Radio Shack PZM plate mic I could use or steal our AT 4033 vocal mic.? Any particular consideration as to where to position the room mic if I use it?
Let me sum up my questions to make it easier (I guess):
-Should I bother with a large diaphram "mic" infront of the kick drum head?
-What's the best choice for a bottom snare mic combined with an SM-57 top?
-Which (if any) of the toms should I close mic??
-How should I arrange the room treatments, do I go for minimal sound absorbsion or dampen everything??
-Which mic is best for room ambiance if any?
-If I do use a room mic, where should I position it?? ?
I am using a Mackie VLZ1604 (if we ever get it back from the new ribbon cable installation) as the pre-amp and sub-grouping everything into just 6 channels.? We are using the Ensoniq Paris computer based recording system so I only have 6 channels of simultaneous recording.? I was thinking:
1 - Kick
2 - Snare
3 - Left Overhead
4 - Right Overhead
5 - Toms
6 - Room ambiance
Thanks in advance for any suggestions/recommendations anyone can provide.?