technique for low budget drums recording

[melvin]

hey ppl, i just started recording drum stuff on my computer (i'm pretty excited about the quality i got) and wanted to share my method of recording drums with very little budget.

i only used one mic (not even instrumental mic) and a podxt, with audacity.

i think it is the ultimate solution for low budget home studio drum recording haha. just listen to the quality!

this is the mic set-up. with pillows and a pile of A4-sized papers + my maid haha.

the recording rig, audacity, podxt live and a shitty computer

okie here's the mp3 file.

http://localhostr.com/files/15b379/melvin is a little bitch.mp3


or to view the whole thing easily, just go to http://twentys-ix.blogspot.com on the latest entry.

gear specs are all on my blog

and if u have anything to ask just let me know. i want to spread the word to all drummers that recording with one mic is possible and your recording don't necessarily have to sound bad.

and i apologise for the choppy chops, haha!

 

[plainsman]

nice!

yes it really does trickle down to details like mic placement, drum tuning, setting of mic gain levels, etc. but i thought the whole thing was decent really because you have good ears.

i guess if u keep exploring, eventually u will want to try multiple mics, EQ, panning etc. keep it going and do share it :mrgreen:

cheers

 

[melvin]

haha thnx for the kind words, plainsman.

actually the first few recordings was quite shitty cause the mic keeps capturing alot of the ride cymbal sound, and i have to keep changing the position of the mic.

in the end i changed position of the ride cymbal to where my right crash was. then it sounded much better (balanced).

the thing which totally wow-ed me is the depth of the toms and bass drum. i amplified a little bit on the frequencies (50 hz i think? cant really remember) on audacity.

shiok. i think im gonna record every practice session i have now haha!

 

[xenOgenesis]

woah, cool stuffs. nice idea dood!

 

[chewy]

Hey! Not shoddy at all! This is worth checking out cos it's great how with just simple equipment and 1 mic, you get such a full sound!

I'm curious, what's the podxt for? Looks quite sophisticated... what do you use it for for this particular recording?

 

[fad_crusty90]

Heyheyhey

did u do record for some band before??

 

[melvin]

@chewy oh i play a little electric guitar also, so i invested in a multi efx pedal, which is the podxt live. actually u dont have to use a podxt, all u need is a mic to a DI box (u can get one for less than a 100) then connect it to ur USB. haha. so i used the podXT as a DI box or so to speak.

@fad_crusty90 yeah i record for my own bands. haha but not at home. cause the equipment at my place not good enough.

oh for ur info, because im using only one mic, the sound is very flat and not lively (got no air la.) haha so one thing i did was to put 30% reverb on my podxt live. you can add reverb to the sound in audacity also to have a more authentic or professional sounding drums sound. and dont forget to bass boost haha.

 

[chewy]

Hmmm... good idea there. You did have some expensive equipment to help here actually... But still it was very well done.

Please post more here as you continue to try other mic positions and ED-ing. Don't stop just here. Alternatively, Yamaha, Edirol and Sony do have mp3 recorders too with great mics. You should check that out. Might be bit more expensive but it's not shoddy too. Records up to CD-quality format.

 

[vx02]

i like!

but melvin, why you make shanshan make your bed. cannot make yourself ah. can record dunno how to make bed. haha. l4d.

 

[melvin]

@chewy oh crap. haha true. this thread shouldnt be called "budget" drums recording.

it just happens that i have the right equipment at the right time. so its considered "budget" for me la.

anyways for drummers just steal ur guitarist's multi-efx or something and find a shitty mic. haha. its just an idea for anyone who's thinking of experimenting.

@vx02 lol. i'll get a boomer to vomit on u, i tell u...

 

[chewy]

@chewy oh crap. haha true. this thread shouldnt be called "budget" drums recording.

it just happens that i have the right equipment at the right time. so its considered "budget" for me la.
...

Ok. You can get more equipment and start another thread next month. Will be on the lookout for it! heh...

 

[evident]

it may be clear but it's not good.

it will never be as good as a professional drum recording imo. but it's good enough for a DEMO or just for messing around. maybe to record stuff to test certain ideas out. but ultimately if you want quality you can't settle for less..

 

[xenOgenesis]

[QUOTE=evident

haha well but it sure is a budget way and its pretty good also!

 

[bboy2388]

melvin sucks, WHOSE MIKE IS IT

 

[melvin]

@evident haha well, i dunno.. i have heard real shitty recordings of drummers doing their demos for their band at home, and i think that its easy for them to get/borrow these equipment from their friends or band members, so that they can make a better recording for themselves and not spend a hell lot of money in a studio. especially for those musicians just starting out. and its definitely a great way to practice first before heading to the studio, so the musicians know where they tend to rush, or where they need to practice more. and better still, for a musician (not just a drummer) to record and playback to listen to how shitty he/she is and practice more to improve for himself and everyone else in the band.

@bboy2388 the mike belongs to a loser. so noob in L4D any 4yr old that cant play guitar, can own ur pathetic butt HAHA.

 

[bboy2388]

i let you win because it was your birthday,

 

[chewy]

it may be clear but it's not good.

it will never be as good as a professional drum recording imo. but it's good enough for a DEMO or just for messing around. maybe to record stuff to test certain ideas out. but ultimately if you want quality you can't settle for less..

That's right. Agree with you. That's why entry level equipment will just be that, entry level. Tone is all crappy, too bright for the cymbals and "floppy" for the toms. Not sounding good enough for a good demo even.