Drum Recording Studio: and the beat goes on and on...
Many people may not realize it, but good percussion can make or break a recording session. This is why it is so important to record at a studio with top quality instruments and correctly tuned instruments. If you are you looking to create your sounds in a music recording studio with great drum tracks for your latest recording, help is at hand from the limehouse studio in London.
Here are some tips...
Did you know that some sound engineers believe that the snare drum is actually more important than the lead vocal in setting the tone for a song? It is true. The snare drum is simply the most important part of the drum set. The best way to get a great sound from the snare drum is to put the mic close to it; about 1 to 2 inches over the snare rim. Also, be careful when choosing the type of mic to use-- some people, including professional sound engineers, recommend the SM-57.
If you are using a kick drum in your recording, you should use one of the RE-20's for the best sound. You can also use an SM-57 mike too if you wish. The best way to get a great sound from the kick drum is to actually stick the mic down into the drum itself just about 3 inches or so from the beater. Then, you can move around the mic and experiment to get the sound that you want. If you are unhappy with the quality of the sound, you might consider putting blankets against the rear drum.
The Toms can be a little trickier to mic. If you have enough, you can place a mic on each tom; this is the best way to do it. The SM-57's are a good choice if you wish to mic your Tom's, but the Sennheiser 421's are even better. The only drawback is that they can be quite expensive and may not be available in the studio. The best way to mic the toms is to put the mic about 4 to 6 inches above the drum head. With a little bit of trial and effort, you will find the sweet spot where you can pick up the best sound. A little bit of duct tape placed strategically on the Tom can help to dull the overtones if you are getting any.
You may have created your own studio for recording drums or are looking to hire a recording session with expert musicians - either way it's a great way to experiment.
The take away lesson in all of this? Don't be afraid to experiment in order to get the sound that you want.