Advice on mic'ing things? (drum, bass, jazz, microphone, quote)

Whatsitoosit · 07-11-2008, 08:12 AM

Satcho speaks the truth... at this stage in my life if I were in Halfa's situation I would just go buy more mics and a new rig to allow for more mic inputs, throw a mic on EVERYTHING!!!! but I understand when you need to work with what you got... good luck to you Halfa, I would like to hear whatever it is you are recording with that setup (when you are happy with the mic placement).

Halfa · 07-11-2008, 03:04 PM

well...we have a max of 8 mics. XP and no money to get a better rig...but i mean...an 8 mic setup is pretty damned good for a bunch of highschool and early college punks.

~~lebouche~~ · 10-27-2008, 06:55 PM

I've heard people say if you can't get a great sound with 3 mics on drums you are an idiot.
I don't always use 10 mics...v much dependent on the song and drummer.
The better balanced the drummer the easier the job.
Look up the recorderman method and glyn johns.
Both these techniques use two overhead mics and a kick.
I normally add a snare as well but often don't need it.

Either that or hire a studio like mine.
Having a properly treated room and some nice gear helps

.

Halfa · 10-29-2008, 07:53 PM

we figured out a good way for drums. not the best but if ur drummer is decently loud u just need one in the bass drum and one overhead. not the best setup but it works well for decently recorded demos.

DearJenny · 10-30-2008, 09:11 AM

Sticks and duct tape?

Dr_Rez · 10-30-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

The same way you would with specialized mics.
Optimally for a drum kit you would have a mic for every piece - including cymbals- in the kit. For the average kit that's 8 mics. It is always good to use application specific microphones whenever possible, especially when you have good equipment/software to support it. However I've worked in live situations with national acts that insist on throwing SM-57s on every piece in the drum kit. The result is a less dynamic, but tighter and more uniform sound.
A grand piano is considerably easier. Usually 2 mics taped to the inside of the sound box lid, one in the general area of an octave below the area of the middle C string and one two octaves above it usually works quite well.

Not to contradict you but I have found using only 4 well placed mics works quite well for a mid size kit. Just make sure to check with tech that you placed them where they should be.

And that right about the piano, I found with 3 it makes a very noticeable difference though.

Halfa · 11-01-2008, 10:30 PM

well for piano we found the best solution:
just go with keyboards. they're louder through a decent amp even if they dont sound as good at all

GuitarPlayer101 · 11-23-2008, 04:41 AM

can you plug your keys straight into your desk and avoid using a mic on the amp?

Halfa · 11-23-2008, 10:27 AM

lol no......the problem is there are 4 digital imputs and a couple of analogue imputs. the analogue imputs are ehhh.....they're really hard to soundcheck. its a lot easier for us to just put everything through the digital imputs. all you have to do is get good balance between the keyboard and whoever is sharing and ur good to go.

futuredisco · 12-08-2008, 05:06 AM

I would use 4 mics on the drum kit ( Kick, Snare + 2 Overheads ) and one for each guitar, piano and vocal. DI the bass.

07-11-2008, 08:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
Whatsitoosit Bringer of Carrots Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 648	Satcho speaks the truth... at this stage in my life if I were in Halfa's situation I would just go buy more mics and a new rig to allow for more mic inputs, throw a mic on EVERYTHING!!!! but I understand when you need to work with what you got... good luck to you Halfa, I would like to hear whatever it is you are recording with that setup (when you are happy with the mic placement). __________________ "It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but it doesn't take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face."

07-11-2008, 03:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
Halfa Allman Brothers Obsessor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Whipping Post Posts: 260	well...we have a max of 8 mics. XP and no money to get a better rig...but i mean...an 8 mic setup is pretty damned good for a bunch of highschool and early college punks. __________________ Check it out: www.myspace.com/sdotldotidotpdot Watch your step.

10-29-2008, 07:53 PM	#14 (permalink)
Halfa Allman Brothers Obsessor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Whipping Post Posts: 260	we figured out a good way for drums. not the best but if ur drummer is decently loud u just need one in the bass drum and one overhead. not the best setup but it works well for decently recorded demos. __________________ Check it out: www.myspace.com/sdotldotidotpdot Watch your step.

10-30-2008, 09:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
DearJenny Raptor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metro Detroit, MI Posts: 1,321	Sticks and duct tape? __________________ So here's to living life miserable. And here's to all the lonely stories that I've told. Maybe drinking wine will validate my sorrow. Every man needs a muse and mine could be the bottle.

11-01-2008, 10:30 PM	#17 (permalink)
Halfa Allman Brothers Obsessor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Whipping Post Posts: 260	well for piano we found the best solution: just go with keyboards. they're louder through a decent amp even if they dont sound as good at all __________________ Check it out: www.myspace.com/sdotldotidotpdot Watch your step.

10-27-2008, 06:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
~~lebouche~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: London Posts: 3	I've heard people say if you can't get a great sound with 3 mics on drums you are an idiot. I don't always use 10 mics...v much dependent on the song and drummer. The better balanced the drummer the easier the job. Look up the recorderman method and glyn johns. Both these techniques use two overhead mics and a kick. I normally add a snare as well but often don't need it. Either that or hire a studio like mine. Having a properly treated room and some nice gear helps .

11-23-2008, 04:41 AM	#18 (permalink)
GuitarPlayer101 Groupie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 17	can you plug your keys straight into your desk and avoid using a mic on the amp?

11-23-2008, 10:27 AM	#19 (permalink)
Halfa Allman Brothers Obsessor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Whipping Post Posts: 260	lol no......the problem is there are 4 digital imputs and a couple of analogue imputs. the analogue imputs are ehhh.....they're really hard to soundcheck. its a lot easier for us to just put everything through the digital imputs. all you have to do is get good balance between the keyboard and whoever is sharing and ur good to go. __________________ Check it out: www.myspace.com/sdotldotidotpdot Watch your step.

12-08-2008, 05:06 AM	#20 (permalink)
futuredisco Groupie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Leicester Posts: 9	I would use 4 mics on the drum kit ( Kick, Snare + 2 Overheads ) and one for each guitar, piano and vocal. DI the bass.