Our Favorite Drum Recording Trick | Season Six, Episode 13

[@michaelmoore9726]

I looove this!! I used to stuff like this in late 90s/early 2000s. I had no funds for real drum mics at that time. I had some used sm57s and 58s. I experimented with different configurations. A 57 inside the cabinet under the kitchen sink ( that the drums were facing) with the doors open. A 57 to my right behind me angled forward slightly, to aim very slightly to the top off the cymbals. A 58 to my left, pointing down to the snare, high tom, and hats. Panned l left and right on two channels for stereo effect. AAAAANND... I recorded it on and old Tascam cassette tape one. And mastered in onto a VHS tape on hi-fi. The resolution is much higher on vhs that the audio cassettes. Then I burn to CD. The sound was pretty damn good for what I had to work with. You guys are great, I love your videos

[@GT-fx8fd]

Sick video guys. You lot in front and behind the camera are legends. Much love and massive thanks for the effort to make this vid. Helping the world of drummers wake up to everything. Boss

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks so much! We both appreciate the kind words. 👊

[@DrummerRIP]

This is awesome! Thank you! Also love the change of hats to Kerope. I understand & appreciate this choice. Keep up the great work.

[@bigkickleo]

I am SO VERY happy you guys finally got to this technique - I recently added a mic in this spot for my In Ear rig - I have always brought my own mixer and an Overhead mic, so I can judge stage volume and hear the kit a little better vs just the monitor mix coming from FOH. Since adding this mic and generous compression (Behringer FLOW 8), It has added TREMENDOUSLY to the sound in my ears and my enjoyment of the gig. Try adding some compression (4:1 or even 10:1 with fast attack/ release) and Enjoy! 👊🏼❤️

[@groovehog1]

I’ve been recording using this technique the last year, but what I use for a mic is an old school 70’s-80’s cassette recorder, per the recommendation of a friend. You can pick them up for next to nothing at any thrift store or rummage sale. Just look for one that has an aux out on it for routing. Panasonic, Sears Solid State, and Radio Shack Realistic are a few of the brands to look for. In fact, get a few because they all sound a little different and can really add some interesting stanky snot to the overall sound of the mix.

[@jasonshort1437]

Started using this for recording in the last couple years. I have tried a couple different mics there, but lately I really like the RE20. I crank the preamp up, compress the crap out of it and use it as the center of my sound, building everything around that. Its also great for recording a band practice when you can't have a bunch of stands and cables in the way. Also also really good at minimizing bleed from other instruments.

[@shalaq]

This is one of the most usable microphones apart from the standard direct + OH setup. It's a great glue for all of those microphones. Just put some compression on it, maybe some reverb and fade it in gently to your drum track to glue every instrument together. I also like to use large diaphragm condensers for this, usually I will put an sm57 and a LDC at the same spot.

[@allanmalloy8266]

I have always loved exploring options with trash mics, I'm particularly fond of a floor mic. Literally just lay down an SM57 pointing at your snare 6' in front of the bass drum, when I starting doing that I stopped doubling miking my bass drum as the texture it added was both close enough and different enough then the cheap ribbon I was using.

[@Santiagoperroud_music]

i never thought this one , thank you very clever man

[@SantiagoIzaguirre_potenciar]

Did you try underhead micking instead of overheads? An example of use you can see is in Divididos concert in Velez Stadium (Argentina) 2023. It would be very usefull if you can explain that technic.

[@matthewzagorski9161]

All the gain!

[@marty9464]

This looks like a great option for achieving that unique sound that can become a signature drum track. I can imagine using just a little reverb at times to create a little more depth & presence. I also have a V-amp box with something like 100 presets of old amp sounds, again a wonderful way to achieve a unique sound for a one of a kind track !!! Looking forward to experimenting!!! Thanks guys.......

[@joc8]

Such a timely post, I'm just researching gear to do some home recording, just for personal use. I'm tossing up whether to start off with just a 3 mic set-up - LOH/ROH/KD, to initially keep it simple. Or, do the close mic method. I have zero experience or knowledge on this subject, so any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. Great video, thanks guys.

[@Claes_Isacson]

Very cool tip! Thx guys! 🥁👍

[@ItsABOUTflamTIME]

The biggest difference I'm hearing is not the distortion, but the midrange boost (and therefore overall volume boost). I'd also suggest trying a high pass on the distorted signal to tame the weird low frequency pops that get introduced by the distortion on every drum transient.

[@kayspillman4499]

The SM57 is a great mic. You can even use it as a hammer!

[@clayfoster8234]

Where would you place this mic on a 2 up 2 down single kick kit?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

If we decided we absolutely wanted it, probably just forward of tom 2. Still, as with placing any mic, experiment with positioning and listening to the results. Make an adjustment, listen to the new results. Trial and error is everything with this stuff, particularly when trying to techniques. You’ll always learn more by experimenting with variations on a theme than you will be strictly adhering to a specific prescription.

[@drummercarson896]

Awesome video. I learned this couple weeks ago

[@jonathanreddish8590]

this works in ALL recording... adding distortion in some form to guitars, bass, drums, VOX all adds to the sound we are used to... the only exemption is classical... which is why classical recordings sound boring, (if you will).....

[@a.j.wilkes6352]

Interesting video! Would a Wurst/D**k/Trash mic be something one would do live? I'm crossing into some larger outdoor gigs with my Bavarian Band (a Bass/Snare/Ride/Splash setup) and trying to figure out if close-miking the snare or an overhead mic or this Wurst mic would be the next thing to do after miking the bass drum.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Absolutely! Our good friend Gunnar Olsen recently used such a setup on tour with Puscifer: instagram.com/reel/Cvuql1XNUFd/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[@johnreardon4944]

My live blues venue just ditched all Shure mics and went strictly Audix. So with tongue in cheek, it's funny to hear the SM57 be called a trash mic. Haha! In my defense, we A/B'd Shure mics vs Audix on every part of the stage. My sound tech and I agreed that Audix was way better for our live context. While Shure mics are durable, the technology in the 57 and 58 is old. Maybe it works in your context, but not ours. Just making an informed statement.

[@ErickC]

Honestly, it sounds good on its own. I think it could be pretty handy in a metal setup where the shells need to project and the guitars have lots of low end that might otherwise be problematic. Most drummers are wussy on the shells but wail on the cymbals, so it should help to balance that as well.

[@Johnnodonoughue]

I do that for my monitor mix. I use a gribraltar goose neck kick drum stand attached to the front of my kick and bent over to kick side. Works a treat. My mic is a stagg copy.

[@drumjedi5301]

I've heard it called the "crotch mic', and I used one just recently with great results!

[@jonathanreddish8590]

are you sure??? it might have been something else...

[@bigkickleo]

​@@jonathanreddish8590 He's correct - that exact position has several names depending on the region and experience of the engineer

[@kushking420]

Sounds really good for Rap or Hip Hop to me

[@A3woodworks]

I know it as a party mic. You can move it around if you want it to pic up less of the toms.

[@hescottbeats1]

yamahas ead unit is great for this as well

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Yep! If you’ve already got one, this can be a great use blended in with the rest of the mics on the kit.

[@hescottbeats1]

@@SoundsLikeADrum have you guys done a rundown on it? id love to hear your take on how to get the most out of it

[@jonathanreddish8590]

one possible issue with this, is throne squeak... and or body movement..... i have seen a cardoid aimed more closely to the snare, aimed toward the hats to avoid the throne...

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Have you experienced this issue with this setup?

[@ChristopherRoss.]

I'd say that this wouldn't be a problem with a dynamic mic. Overheads are far more likely to pick that up than a 57 in the middle of the kit. Signal to noise ratio is pretty significant there.

[@jonathanreddish8590]

good point! my thoughts were, when you compress this mic into oblivion, all that stuff comes up.... if you happen to have a squeaky throne......@@ChristopherRoss.

[@bozhidarrachev9879]

That’s how I record my entire kit

[@Joethedrummer]

Sausage!