Recording (ethnic) drums

[ivo]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

I am in a process of recording intensive drums tracks for a dynamic
CD. These are rather ethnic drums like various kind of djembes, frame
drums, small percussions etc.
The tracks will be played by one or two players at a time.
I have already recorded something before, using a Schoeps omni stereo
pair (MK2). While it did not sound bad, it could have had slightly
more space, punch and clarity.
I have just arrived to completing "full power" 4 recording channels: 3
pairs of Schoeps (MK21, MK2, MK4V), 4 ch Millennia and 4 ch Lavry AD.
Would it be beneficial to use 2 pairs array for recording these drums
? Like 2 close mics (MK21 or MK4V) and one more distant ambience
("overhead") omni pair ? I tried a small sample just now, with a
single djembe, using MK4V as closed mics and MK2 as a "spacy" pair and
when mixed properly together, it sounded quite well (better than any
single pair).
When recording a frame "shamanic" drum I heard slight "phase" issues.
What would be a recommended starting point for 4 mics array(position,
distance) for one or two drummers in action, to get nice, very
dynamic, spacy drumming sound ? The room is of smaller size, quite
neutral, acoustically treated.
Thanks in advance for an advice (I have never done this before).


Ivo

www.savita.cz

 

[peter]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

ivo@savita.cz (Ivo) wrote in message news:<14112cd9.0408291151.b08fedd@posting.google.com>...
> I am in a process of recording intensive drums tracks for a dynamic
> CD. These are rather ethnic drums like various kind of djembes, frame
> drums, small percussions etc.

I'm not an expert around here but I just did some doumbek recordings
that came out really well. The doumbek is somewhat similar to the
djembe in shape and sound.

I used a large diaphragm condensor on the front (about 12" away) to
get the attack from the player's hands and then I placed a 57 about 2
feet behind the drum to pick up the low "boom". During the mixdown I
panned each mic a bit off-center (one to the left the other the
right). The result was very large and very tonal.

Hope this helps.

-Peter

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Ivo wrote:

> I am in a process of recording intensive drums tracks for a dynamic
> CD. These are rather ethnic drums like various kind of djembes, frame
> drums, small percussions etc.

> The tracks will be played by one or two players at a time.
> I have already recorded something before, using a Schoeps omni stereo
> pair (MK2). While it did not sound bad, it could have had slightly
> more space, punch and clarity.

> I have just arrived to completing "full power" 4 recording channels: 3
> pairs of Schoeps (MK21, MK2, MK4V), 4 ch Millennia and 4 ch Lavry AD.
> Would it be beneficial to use 2 pairs array for recording these drums
> ? Like 2 close mics (MK21 or MK4V) and one more distant ambience
> ("overhead") omni pair ? I tried a small sample just now, with a
> single djembe, using MK4V as closed mics and MK2 as a "spacy" pair and
> when mixed properly together, it sounded quite well (better than any
> single pair).

> When recording a frame "shamanic" drum I heard slight "phase" issues.

Distant pair too close? - room too small?

> What would be a recommended starting point for 4 mics array(position,
> distance) for one or two drummers in action, to get nice, very
> dynamic, spacy drumming sound ? The room is of smaller size, quite
> neutral, acoustically treated.
> Thanks in advance for an advice (I have never done this before).

Single stereo pair (the 21's are the sub cardiods aren't they?) in
larger, untreated but not overly live room, a school gymnasium perhaps,
may work better.

> Ivo
>
> www.savita.cz


Kind regards

Peter Larsen

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