Recording Drums - Texture and Color mics

I am on a HUGE kick to explore new sounds, colors and textures for my recordings. Starting with drums I want to explore a single mic position in front of the kit that I use quite often. In this video I'll run through some different mics to hear how they can change or mold the kit sound. I'll even test some compression and guitar pedals.
This year we're going to infinity and beyond! Well, inside the studio that is! Lol.
Gear list:
Ludwig Classic Maple Kit
Paiste Cymbals
Audio-Technica ATM250 Kick Mic
MicParts SDC84 Snare Mic
Heil P430 Tom Mics
Roswell Pro Audio Mini K87 Overhead Mics
MOTU 8 Pre Interface & Mic Pres
Valley People Dynamite Compressor
ZVEX Mastotron Fuzz Pedal
Segments:
00:00 Intro Performance
00:15 Goal of video & drum kit walk-through
03:26 Demo of the 5 test mics back to back
04:22 Breakdown of possible uses
05:07 AT4047
06:15 Cascade Fathead II
07:16 Shure S55
09:22 SM57
10:30 AT8004
11:53 Talking about Omni polar pattern
12:21 12 Gauge “Red 12”
13:44 Using compression (Valley People Dynamite)
16:09 Using guitar pedals (ZVEX Mastotron)
19:29 Wrap & more thoughts on using mics in front of the kit
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[@eddyvilar]

The S55 was amazing suprise. Just proves that a mic by itself isn't the point. It's how it brings the entire kit together. You said it perfectly.....that mic just opens up the kit in a natural way.

[@robertgilliam6245]

Test mic #4 is a winner It makes the kick come alive

[@jeffreyjbyron]

Do you have any videos talking about drum tuning? Even after years I still go back and watch these videos and learn. You've done so much. I miss the old channel too!

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

I haven't actually done any tuning specific vids. I've been trying to get Scott to do a run of FullOnDrums but he's super busy going from one TV show to the next. He even won an Emmy!

[@DonalBowens]

Love what the Red 12 added to the snare 😁

[@edgarfigueroa5511]

good ole 57 comes through every time!!!!

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

I know! It's amazing how versatile that mic is.

[@lochlanbyron67]

A trick : watch movies at flixzone. I've been using them for watching loads of movies lately.

[@carlemory6188]

@Lochlan Byron Definitely, been using Flixzone} for since november myself =)

[@jaredhudson8145]

@Lochlan Byron yup, have been using flixzone} for months myself :)

[@jojothetasmaniansassmonkey8866]

WOW!!! WHAT A SASSY LAD!!!

[@issacbiehl]

We kind of built our rig around your videos explaining analog/digital hybrid workflow. The idea of more content from this channel is definitely something to look forward to.

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

I have been using an RE 20 in that position and it works great.

[@diegogonzalezvenegas6702]

We recorded a black/death metal at school, in order to make it even more metal I reamped the drum shells through a Boss HM. Great and brutally nasty sound

[@mortonharwood9836]

Alright, I've been beaten into submission, I finally picked up a used AT 4047 after loving what it does to drums on this and every other video you've made with it! Lol.

[@jojothetasmaniansassmonkey8866]

NOW ENTERING THE SASSY LADS ONLY ZONE!!!!!

[@TimKaseyMythHealer]

This is excellent! Yes, yes, and yes!

[@tuknchuk]

Nice video !!! Fathead II was my fav... as well as the 4047.

[@hillie47]

Great videos, and some interesting ideas. Thanks a ton!

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@manuelcasas8013]

Man! THE kit. THE sound. Great playing, off course.

[@gregedenfield1080]

wow, I was shocked by the SC55....super bright but I think I want to try a pair in a cymbal O/D pass....had know idea...I rebuilt a pair last year and they where just hanging out in the locker, think I have a use for them now.

[@pocket1684]

Thanks for this very informative video. I like your vibe.

[@thesebarehandsmusic]

Dude, this was great.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Thank you!!

[@TheLordcasio]

I've been working my way through ALL of your vids (found you via my Toft ATB) and I have to say, your "demo" drum beat might become my go-to "Hey bud, play these bars". AND your drum mic videos are amaze-balls. I have all of my next mic purchases (and definitely placement) figured out (sadly...no Audio Technica). Would love to see more about how your sliding bar room acoustic treatment works. For example: room mics on drums, and showing us the difference between diffusers and rockwool...uncompressed.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Thank you for watching!! That drum beat just works great for testing sounds. I tell drummers to okay something similar every time we do a sound check. There are some big changes coming to the live room so a lot of the setup is going to change. I’m really trying to dial it in to the way I’m hearing things now. I will do a video when it’s all done.

[@gregedenfield1080]

ok , I commented before the vid was done, but now I'm 100% Shure I'm going to use my 55's in the room, maybe closer to floor???

[@MrSunnyday4u]

Lovely - I'm gonna try the 12 gauge and another microphone in that position. Loved the shure S55 as well (don't own that one though.... yet :P).

[@davidluke7927]

I love your drum videos! I have watched all of them multiple times over the years and keep on going back to reference as needed in my home project studio. I’ve been think of combining multiple different techniques for recording drums in a small space. Was wondering if you could possibly try it out for me before I buy any new gear? I recently watched the “Crazy Drum Recording Techniques with Moses Schneider” on the produce like a pro channel. I thought it might cool to use his idea of the “droom” mic but then to set it up as a front of kit mic in a mid side set up with the figure 8 mic pointing out to the sides and a single hypercardiod mic facing away from the kit. These mics would be set at the same distance away from the kit as the overhead mics. Almost in a pseudo blumlien set up. Was also curious about putting an Omni mic like the red 12 in the mid position. Do you think this would work? (Hopefully the way I explained it made sense)

[@J-DUB-F1]

Really fun stuff!.........I happen to have both my Fatheads with me. Never tried it in that position before. Love what it does to the kick.....easy bottom end ;:-) I've always wanted to get one of those 12 Gauge mics, sounds SO damn good!. It gets that big splatty sound with no effort. Somehow I forgot that it's an omni. I think a Fathead and the 12 Gauge would be a really cool massive sound, and add a little compression!! ;:-) ................One odd mic I would recommend would be an old RadioShack Boundary omni mic . Really cheap on ebay. Flat with no eq they don't sound so great, but with a big mid cut they give you a big bottom end!.

[@tomnaumann2104]

This video was great. I’d love to hear what the fathead and S55 in this position would sound like mixed together as a 2-mic setup - does low end + high end = balanced? Also worth noting, I can’t believe how great the Red12 mics are for their price either. And the 57...! I could keep going, but suffice to say thank you for this video!

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

The 57 never seems to fail! Lol. There is a reason it's in every mic locker in the world. There are so many possibilities with mics in this position. Since I was experimenting for upcoming recordings I kept the 4047 as my reference since I use it there a lot. The Fathead/S55 combo could be pretty cool though. Hmmm, I'm going to have to figure out a way to do more of these so I can try combos that everyone wants to hear without getting too redundant. I'll work on that. The Red12 is awesome!! I have a Blue12 on the way too. Thanks for watching!

[@Dwolfmusic]

Hey man, i love watching your drum recording videos and they inspire me to try out my own recording techniques as wel. I’ve created a 3 mic set up which is really easy and takes 3 minutes to set up ( i’ve timed it haha) -a ribbon mic in front of the kick sticking out slightly above the rim . - a omni directional mic as a wurst mic - a snare mic The ribbon picks up the low end of the kick and the rack tom. the omni mic picks up the cymbals, attack of the kick + rack tom and also picks up the floor tom. The snare mic thickens up the snare and ads the high hat and a bit of the crash back in. It’s a really easy mono set up, try it out!

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Hey Dirk! I've done a setup just like that one many times. Works great if the minimal setup works for your music. Plus it's a fast setup! What omni mic are you using?

[@Dwolfmusic]

@@Ultimatestudiosinc the omni mic i’m using is a WA-47jr. It’s sooo good, warm sound with a nice smooth top end.

[@markitux]

kinda revealing a "secret" here, but i use a Shure SM63 with a Boss RCL-10... lots of fun!

[@Drumbo_Limbo]

Awesome as always! The Red 12 (which I grabbed on your recommendation) is really great here to my ears, as are the Fathead and the AT8004, but they all bring something. I saw Blair Sinta used another reporter-type mic, the EV 635A, as an overhead in his vid on recreating the drum sounds of “Tomorrow Never Knows”. Must be som’n in the way those are voiced for the human voice with an omni pattern as well...? Have you tried a bullet harmonica mic, by chance? I’ve read some about that. Awesome work again!

[@Drumbo_Limbo]

...I also would think that the AT8004's frequency response, combined with the omni pattern's lack of a proximity effect, could make it an interesting mic on a guitar cab, especially in conjunction with a ribbon.

[@bedtimeforbailey679]

I’d be interested to hear what the Placid Audio Copperphone sounds like in that position.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Me too. That mic is on my list for sure!

[@jano6423]

Cool, but doesnt the mono kit mic mess with the toms and cymbals panned in the overhead mics? and doesnt it occupy too much space in the middle?

[@drumtopics]

Any opinions on Sontronic mics for recording drums?

[@thezogs95]

Do you think the AT 4047 or 4050 sounds more natural?

[@glaubergarcez5182]

man since I've seen your video on the red 12 it has been a every recording mic for me, I have a pair one sits permanently on the corner of the room, and its my room sound for everything, specially acoustic guitars. regarding the drums, I've been using a red12 as mono overhead and a Nude stereo ribbon in front of the kit and it has been a game changer.

[@kwichangcaine27]

Would the AT 8004 be a good mono OH like the Akg d 19 ?

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

I haven't tried it there yet but it could definitely work if you like it's sound. I'm adding this to my list of video ideas. Thanks for watching.

[@socialbeats1]

What do you do with phase issues ?

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Hey Timothy! That's one of the great thinks about a setup like this as it's easy to get the phase correct. Usually I get the overheads up and make sure they are working great with the rest of the kit then I do the front mic. I should have pulled up the front mic and overheads only to demonstrate that. I'll add that to a future video to cover it. Thanks for watching!!