Mixing metal drums: ROOMS & OVERHEADS

Rooms & overheads are one of the keys to getting that depth that makes drums feel huge, powerful and gelled with the rest of the mix -- and yet most people don't know how to work with them! Robin Leijon is here to help. // Want more? Join NAIL THE MIX ► goo.gl/Pkrjcg
NAIL THE MIX is an online mixing school created by Joey Sturgis, Joel Wanasek and Eyal Levi - the guys who produced bands like TDWP, Chelsea Grin, Blessthefall, Machine Head, Monuments, Miss May I, Reflections, Born Of Osiris, Asking Alexandria and dozens more of this generation's best metal bands.
Every month, NAIL THE MIX members get exclusive access to the REAL MULTI-TRACK SESSIONS from a REAL ALBUM, and a 6-8 hour live streaming class from the producer who mixed it. These aren't bogus covers played by some nobody off of KZbin, these are the actual sessions by bands like Gojira, Chelsea Grin, Periphery, Papa Roach, Machine Head, Neck Deep and State Champs - and NTM is the only place in the world you'll get access to them!

[@joelcoool]

why does near mic sound far and far mic sound near

[@robinleijon]

Hey! Might be true actually, when you mention it haha! But in my case it wouldn't matter what is what, i'd be processing it in the same way!

[@joelcoool]

Robin Leijon hey, thanks for replying it's not a problem, just an observation great lesson!

[@acidbath3226]

depends on the physics/dimensions of the room

[@graemebrook9367]

Thanks Robin! Awesome tutorial 🤘🤘

[@robinleijon]

Thank you for watching!

[@peepinyowindow4517]

Round robin

[@GamePlayMetal]

I wish that video was done with real drums... I'm kinda sick of hearing programmed drums everywhere in metal, and I feel real overheads are much trickier to process right

[@dylanwerle1870]

GamePlayMetal absolutely. I’ve been doing live drums. Metal or not most of the time with my clients. It just adds some damn rock & roll back into it. Programmed drums are amazing and have there place. I still don’t understand how someone can program their drums with this sorta cymbal velocity.. it sounds boring. To be fair, I’m sure a lot of people will now know fo get the hard hitting drums if need be.

[@NMVTabs]

How come you be sick if you can't tell it's programmed or live?

[@sebastian6616]

Some of the months there are real drums for the Nail the Mix songs. It’s very expensive and requires a great drummer to get that done right.

[@OlesMusic]

Overhead compressed so hard that they make the cymbals sound like white noise?

[@seamusmcsorley7638]

I’ve never seen a mix video I disagreed with more…until he pulled up the full mix and it sounded massive. Wild

[@TheBDD65]

Excellent use of Reaper Folders my friend!

[@Tracks777]

Keep it up! Keep it up!

[@the.brad.thomas]

Unstoppable Robin Machine

[@robinleijon]

Hahaha, thank you!

[@heyimdalton1]

I'm loving all of these videos! Really clear explanations and a killer final sound.

[@01left]

Is there a Video out for that Bass Tone? Thanks

[@briann2911]

Is it a good idea to phase align drum samples? I know some of Superior's samples are out of phase with the overhead mics, so I'll sometimes try to correct it, but I'm not sure if it really makes much of a difference.

[@the.brad.thomas]

Heya Brian - your ears can really help you decide that! :)

[@artemi-music]

Exactly the video I was looking for, thanks a lot Robin!

[@ThatcherUlrich]

These are programmed drums? If so, would you consider adjusting individual contributions to the room mics (e.g. more snare, less cymbal) rather than using EQ?

[@robinleijon]

Yes, I would. This time I got these pre-rendered so I couldn't change anything but what I usually do is to seperate the cymbals and then print OHs without cymbals and kinda use it like a ''Sky'' room mic!

[@danmenez]

Hey, these tutorials are absolute reference for me now. Hey Robin, what about toms?

[@robinleijon]

Glad to hear! Toms will come in the next series, sadly this song didn't have any toms!

[@TheJigsawAudio]

Yes Robin

[@peepinyowindow4517]

In program drums where you can adjust how much kick and snare are in the overhead and room(like addictive drums) is it better to take the kick and snare 100% out of those mics?

[@epidote6020]

Nah leave them in, it gives them some meat

[@peepinyowindow4517]

Epidote thank you. Ill mess with that, i know its all to taste

[@TheRobGuard]

Is the kick and toms or low toms in the oh messing with the overall drum kit sound? Im starting to filter out the oh a lot more these days, sounds more focused and clean with less drums in oh and you can compensate with more room mics i guess making it more 3 dimensional overall, get more depth to the mix perhaps...

[@Cartman_Studio]

What mic technique is best for recording drum room for metal please? MONO, XY, AB, ORTF, M/S or other? Also what distance from drums and mic height do you recommend? Thank you!

[@betteroffdead79]

this technique is called superior drummer...

[@dashrendar4879]

How did he get both mono OH mic signals into one stereo track like that?

[@jasonfontaine7072]

But, but it's in the red you're not supposed to do that! Kappa

[@mikei5104]

Man these are some sick samples!really huts you in the chest

[@gabo182b]

Toontrack Power

[@altizeraudio]

What Reaper Theme is this?

[@marcellonfire]

This is really good !

[@robinleijon]

Glad you liked it!

[@PetexZen]

What drum samples are these?

[@robinleijon]

Superior Drummer Avatar kit!

[@briann2911]

I used to use Avatar and I've never heard them sound this good! I'll definitely be trying again!

[@ΤζίμηςΝουάρ]

thumbs up just for using reaper

[@JaFoste_Studio]

Toms?

[@jensloetzsch]

This is very helpful, thanks for this 👍

[@mazenayoub6213]

Thanks robbyy

[@xiecanaxcan6423]

Which program is that? How can I do the same with Adobe cs6?

[@gustanoid]

haha

[@xiecanaxcan6423]

@@gustanoid you take 2 years just to spread you shit how patetic is that jajaajajaj

[@colinplante5311]

What program are you using???

[@robinleijon]

Cockos Reaper !

[@richardaling5278]

Sampled cymbals? Where were these overheads positioned? Over your fake-musician-laptop??