Recording Drums with the Recorderman Configuration

[@theshawnfussellband]

Hi, Charlie. Just wanted to say that I've thoroughly enjoyed learning every aspect of drum recording over the years by watching your videos. I'd say close to a decade now. Now watching you with your own studio makes it even that much more fun. Proud of you, Charlie. Keep up the good work. You've got a fan for life.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Thanks for the compliment! It means a lot and I'm glad I can help out. Keep me posted on your recording endeavors! Happy recording, Charlie

[@ezer0923]

that's the most wonderful drum sound I have heard in a long while.

[@PedroBellora]

Great video, thank you so much for sharing!

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Thank you for watching!!

[@MeTuLHeD]

All viewers: The info in the description section is inaccurate. The overheads are NOT AE3000's. The overheads are AE5100's.

[@minorchordstudio]

I love this technique when working with rock-a-billy bands that want a traditional, open, roomy sound. Very minimal effort and less mic's to worry about!

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

love tutorials where the production actually sounds good to my ears. so many of them i find sound bad to me but this one YEP

[@RocketRoomVideo]

No problem with moving the mic higher than 2 drumsticks, BUT you should also move the other mic, so both mics are still the same distance from both the snare and the kick. The main advantage of this technique is that sounds from those drums will arrive at both mics at the same time, so they'll be in phase, which sounds cleaner and punchier than if you mix sounds that are slightly out of phase. In other words, set the overhead mic at the height you want it, and THEN use the cable to measure where to put the other mic.

[@voodoochili12]

'Can you hear me buddy' *nods 'yes'

[@MatthewParsonsDrumsAndAudio]

Recorder an has always been one of my favorite set-ups in small/poorly treated rooms. It can take a lot of the room out with still getting a nice recording.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

I agree. This is one of the few setups that mitigates a poor sounding room.

[@graysonwilson-cacciapalle7989]

@@Ultimatestudiosinc I just discovered this very thing! Been trying for the past couple months to get a decent drum sound in my somewhat small living room studio- just found this technique tonight and it was immediately the best sound I've gotten thus far!

[@tommasofaraci8568]

@Ultimate Studio, Inc it would be amazing to listen how that condenser in front of the kit would expand the setup. Love it so far, thanks a lot!!!

[@pezmoz2835]

Thanks for the video Charlie, the kit sounds amazing. I liked the snare sound better with the close overheads ... just a little more punch. I've seen this type of set up before but never tried it. My room is quite reflective and my overheads pick up quite a bit of room reverb. I am definitely going to give this a try. My overheads are Rode NT5 and kick is an Audix D6.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Perry Moyses a couple well placed gobos can be your best friend when trying to tame room reflections around the kit. In a pinch some heavy packing blanket work well too. Luckily you don't necessarily need thick absorbers to handle that kind of reflection. How high are your ceilings?

[@JulianFernandez]

Sounds killer with just 2 mics! Woah!

[@j.reinhardt36]

Hey great video! I'm currently on a low budget recording session with my band... what do you think of this configuration: - Condenser behind the drummer ( a little over drummer's right shoulder) - Sm57 about 4 fingers over the snare - Kick dinamic just a little inside, pointed to the pedal Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@daneeehhhh]

I like this setup though I'm not convinced by the phasing effect on the crash cymbals, specially the drummer-left one, seems that's caused by the combination of both capsules being angled differently and capturing a somewhat near airwave of the cymbals for example on 5:04 Check out the YT video from Sound on Sound "Moses Schneider: Drums with character" he uses this same technique in a dry room and leverages this phasing effect for dance music. I noticed this same effect happens with Glyn Johns

[@tlkshowhst]

daneeehhhh 100% agree. I love the stereo spread with an A-B setup, but X-Y and M-S are the only way to phase accuracy.

[@mrresistor1]

You can reduce the phasing effect by positioning the mics and cymbals so that the edge of the cymbal never swings above the axis of the Mics. That effect is worst when the mic goes between picking up the top and bottom of a cymbal as the cymbal rocks back and forth.

[@mrresistor1]

euronomous segovia I don't thing phase alignment can really address that issue, because it's caused by the phase of the cymbal changing in relation to everything else. Phase adjustment can really only correct for fixed phase discrepancies.

[@KyuminShimMusic]

Thanks. It sounds great! Going to try this asap!

[@norman_cuppatea]

It sounds absolutely awesome! Just one question: why the choice of small diaphragme condensers? I tried this technique with a pair of Rode NT-5 (SDC) and found that it sounded too transient-heavy, not at all the nice round sound you get in this video.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Thank you! SDC generally respond to transients much faster than their LDC counterparts. That’s why Large Diaphragm mics tend to have a rounder more full sound. What you heard with the NT-5 sounds about right. The Audio-Technica AE5100 is a different sounding LDC. As in it doesn’t sound like a typical SDC to my ears. A little rounder and smoother. Personally though I prefer LDC mics for overheads.

[@WIsammy123]

Sounds nice! I am going to try this.

[@annavmusic6309]

just now saw this, it's great thank you! Q: why do you bother measuring from bass drum to mic 1? Seems like that doesn't matter if you're simply measuring center snare to mic 1 and using that length to measure center snare to mic 2. I'm confused.

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

It's to make the snare AND the kick are centered in the stereo field. Which with a simple setup like this becomes more important.

[@dutchguy7299]

Listened with headphones, I noticed the crash hits, where sort of panning left and right, and thats with the 45% pan-setting. Is that a side effect of this particular mic setup? It was a lot less after moving the mics though

[@gonzalogomez7g]

hello! how to pan overheads mic?

[@fabricetremblay9023]

You've said that the over head mic was AT 51100 but in the description it's said AT AE3000... Which is the good one?

[@andrewarbogast1]

Any chance you could do a video of the massenburg technique you had going in another video of yours?

[@mrjenybean]

Flipping brilliant video mate

[@Nicky_Yogi]

Good stuff. Thank you

[@oleromer9525]

But where is the kick mic?

[@jcushon]

I live in KC. I’m a devout chief’s fan, especially post Super Bowl!!! Go chiefs !!! What’s with your chief’s mug? Are you a fan as well? Love the tutorials BTW.

[@jessegaronband]

It's funny how other people take credit for a slight variation of the Glyn Johns method which began over 50 years ago! By the way Glenn John's never measured mic distances. EQ is everything!

[@Zool2107]

Yeah, EQ-ing out phase cancellation is much better, than making sure with good mic positioning that the 2 mics are in perfect phase to each other. I think you don't even know what you are talking about...

[@ocassionaljunkieforyou]

I really like the sound, anyways sometimes I prefer a punchy bass drum sound, but sounds incredible for just 2 or 3 mics

[@augustoacosta3840]

Excelent!!!!

[@paulbolin7513]

I thought the right side mic was supposed to be aimed at the bass drum beater when using this method. And I guess he likes the bass drum buried in the mix, more bass drum please.

[@veerchasm1]

2:20 that made no sense at all. Please clarify

[@mothnoise7560]

Keeps it all in phase. If you imagine looking at the wave if they are both the same distance away they'll both be getting the top of the wave at the same time. If one was off he may get the top in one and the bottom in the other so they will start cancelling each other out.

[@joejeffery8581]

2-stick > 2.5-stick distance in this demo. I hear a big difference and prefer the presence and balance w/ room sound. (through vintage Klipsch KG4's) I found this technique on the forums in 2007 and did my first real home recordings this way. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX7UoZmYms12opY The closer mics for jazz drumming wasn't as much of an issue as it might be with rock. Wish I'd had nicer OH's!

[@alanshewitt]

YOU NEVER GOT TO THAT ROOM MIC. GRR.

[@matthorndrums]

drummer always looks so bummed out

[@vegasmarc21]

That's because Chuck won't Jao do a stick twirling drum solo where he ends up smashing the cymbals with his fists. Last time Jao did an 80s style Dave Weckl solo, Chuck designated Jao to receptionist position.

[@kentuckychromedesign]

You had me already, and then I saw the Chiefs mug. *thumbs up emoji*

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

Lol! Have to represent my team! Thanks for watching. Happy recording!

[@biomecaman3514]

ya boy is a machine.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

Wouldn’t work too well with those stuck in the 80’s drummers who have their crash cymbals way up higher than that two drumstick height above the kit. Play with a couple of real Animal style drummers who would 100% take the mics out moving around as well.

[@isaacmora-]

the mug keeps me in it

[@vegasmarc21]

Come on Chuck, let your boy Jao do a stick twirling drum solo where he ends up smashing the cymbals with his fists. I can see it on his face that he wants to break out showing his Bonham style bass drum foot. Lol

[@JanusJanavas]

Moving the mics actually did change the sound. So, move the mics as close as needed and punch the drummer in the face if he starts to complain. 🤣

[@Ultimatestudiosinc]

LOL!!! Just make sure you can run faster than the drummer!

[@chiefwarrior2567]

Chiefs fan out there man?

[@KazKasozi]

Why does the drummer look pissed off! Interesting mic up technique though.

[@DudemanSwede]

go to the ride...GO TO THE RIDE! :-) Hey, fellow drummers! Shouldn't we all get full endorsement from the hearing aid industry? Meanwhile, - ROCK ON!!!

[@biomecaman3514]

sounded better close

[@Pdrum]

Not really the right kind of drummer for this technique, I would put a snare mic too on this drummer, just a touch of that microphone

[@yanfang6609]

居然说中文😄

[@leeyongkeat]

一二三树😂

[@mdlassel]

kansas city chiefs baby!!! lets go!!

[@MrObelisk2290]

GLYN jOHNS

[@garystackhouse5787]

I really wanted to watch this, but starting off your video with the really loud sound of you slurping coffee turned me off......... not cute, just gross.