Drum Overheads - Recording Drums without Samples - Part 1 - Mastering Drum Overheads

New Updated PDF Guide. 8 Pages of my best information on drum overheads: creativesoundlab.tv/overhead-m...
Follow up episode now available on the Weathervane Method (Reference as the "McTear Method"): • Drum Overheads - The W...
Part One of Mastering the Art of Recording Drums without Samples is a video on the drum overheads.
If drums are the start of any recording project, then overheads are the start of finding your drum sound and recording great sounding drum tracks.
The drum overhead microphones act as an outline that is to be filled in by the sound of your close microphones. The drum overheads are the foundation of your drum tracks and drum recording and they record much more than just the cymbals.
The drum overhead microphones determine how the stereo image of the drum kit sounds in a stereo mix. In the video I give a practical technique for dividing the drums so that the most important drums are down the middle, (kick drum, and snare drum) and the complementing elements of a drum kit are to one side or the other in the stereo image. This may seem like a small detail, but in the audio example you can hear that the drum kit that is divided in the recommended method is much more balanced sounding.
I also give techniques to include the room sound in with your drum overhead microphones. In the audio examples, you can hear that the sound of the room increases when I raise the overhead microphone. This is an advantage because you are using less microphones and therefore getting a slightly clearer sound. It's also cheaper to use microphones for double duty too.
The last step to mastering the drum overheads, is to decide on which technique that you would like to use. I give audio examples of several techniques in the four approaches. You can find the full details of stereo micing techniques in the downloadable PDF for this episode.

[@ddrum1090]

Really appreciate the tips here man! Great drumming as well! Always nice to hear someone who's well rounded on the kit while getting an explanation.

[@teddygrant5416]

This is crazyyyyy before I heard of your chanenel I tried the diagonal mic placement to emulate the Motown mono drum sound and it's been my favorite overhead option since December 2015 I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this!

[@Banmier]

Great video series man! I love the sound of the Glyn Johns technique. I'm going to try that out first chance I get!

[@MadJack122]

Hi Ryan, I love your videos, your ideas on re-amping and "bringing things into reality" is exactly what a love about production and what I've been practising for a while now. When I got introduced to the technology of re amping I was blown away and have been using it constantly ever since.

[@georgerobb1546]

Seriously good information and a great presentation. Excellent teacher. Thank you.

[@JustinColletti]

Split down the center (Old-School Technique)

[@VijverEendje]

And again you did it! Love the video man! Keep up the good work

[@subterraneoestudio]

awesome video!!! i´ve been watching all your videos, and experiment in my home studio, it has been fun

[@StephenTack]

Great stuff! -Subscribed

[@AndrewBarracloughComposer]

Love your Videos, these are a massive help and very inspiring! Thank you!

[@ddrum121]

Just found this channel, subbed. Your content is great man! Keep doin whatcu doin

[@jeannadeau1508]

Very nice explaining of these technique.

[@lukesuperflyjones]

WOW! This is really well done! Thank you for this!

[@octopusonfire100]

Very nice tutorial, just found these by chance and I'm already subbed. Thanks for doing this!

[@charlie_sin_mag]

It's so nice to see someone else doing this with overheads...I understand why so many people go with 'standard' overhead positions, but I've always thought if what's meant to be in the middle is in the middle and in mono compatible, do whatever the hell ya like!

[@stix2slivers]

Just stumbled across your channel and I must say I really enjoyed your tutorial, very useful information, thanks for sharing and the education, cheers Bruce

[@lewisticknor]

Thank you! Excellent

[@starboy2013]

I like the quality of your presentation....that is a good sounding room as well....

[@dw13ronro]

Great set up, great tuning, great recordings!

[@tommibjork]

This is how I have been recording drums for the past 10 years to get snare and kick in the center. Great tutorial once again.