Best approach for drum recording using 2-channel interface?

[Newsboy]

I have a Tapco 4x6 link firewire that I've only recently used for recording. In college I got used to a ProTools Digi002 setup and never had to worry about running out of room for drum mics. This Tapco only has 2-channels though so I'm kind of at a loss as to my best approach. I do have a Peavey 12 channel mixer I've been using, then duplicating my tracks and adjusting panning and equalization to try and bring out individual drum sounds.
I have a 5 microphone AKG drum mic kit and a Shure SM57 that I use for the recordings, plus 2 MXL condensers for overheads. Is there any other options besides what I am doing (short of buying an 8 channel console) for drum recording and if not, are there any technics that work well for this style of recording? Thanks in advance.

[brandondrury]

Well, you are about to learn about "commitment". You must get it right at the source. You should have no major problems with more "natural" musical styles. Less "natural" styles of drum sound are going to be VERY tough.

The most important thing is to take your time. You can't settle for less with this setup because there is no undo and your mixing trick options are very limited.

Other than that, the same principals of audio engineering apply. You just have to get it right live.

Brandon

[jdaug]

yeah without 8 inputs you really have to get it right when you record, since you will be stuck with 2 tracks when you are done. if your mixer has SPDIF out then you can run 2 mics directly into the TAPCO and the other mics through the mixer-->SPDIF-->TAPCO (if it has SPDIF IN) . still will only have 4 total inputs though.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by jdaug

yeah without 8 inputs you really have to get it right when you record, since you will be stuck with 2 tracks when you are done. if your mixer has SPDIF out then you can run 2 mics directly into the TAPCO and the other mics through the mixer-->SPDIF-->TAPCO (if it has SPDIF IN) . still will only have 4 total inputs though.

Thanks for pointing that out to me, I do have SPDIF out/in so I can record 4 seperate channels. That will come in handy considering I can at least isolate the mix into snare/kick/tom/cymbals without having to sacrifice too much signal.

[brandondrury]

4 inputs would be quite a bit better than 2 inputs in my opinion. You could go a billion ways with it. You could put overheads and toms on one stereo track and then a kick on one track and a snare on the last.... you could put all the close mics on one track.

If you recorded mono drums (which I do more than I think I would) you'd have even more options (overhead on #1, tom 1, tom 2, and tom 3 on #2, kick on #3, snare on #4).

I don't know. It depends on the music.

Brandon

[Newsboy]

Hmm, now I'm not sure how to record enable more than two tracks at a time using Tracktion2...looks like I've got a PDF manual to study.