| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by Ciccio | 04/12/01 at 07:46:23
Hi! How can i record my 8 channels miked drum with only a 2 channel comp unit?
I'm recording in digital with a 8 channels audio card so i must stay under 0 dB!
Thanks in advance
ps. Excuse me for my bad English!
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by Maury | 04/12/01 at 08:53:10
Well, you would need to run through the compressor right before the 8 channel souncard in the signal chain. If your comp is only 2 channels, you must use a mixer with 8 inputs to mic the drums, and then pre-mix the 8 drum channels to 2 - then go Stereo L & R out into comp - out of comp in 2 channels of the soundcard. This option doesn't let you make use of the 8 channels in the card. What I would try is just comp the kick & snare. If you have channel inserts on your mixer, patch the comp into the snare & kick drum channels. If I'm way off base- let me know . I just noticed that I'm assuming you have a mixer :)
good luck & come back with more details so we can help more specifically.
Maury
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by pcrecord | 04/12/01 at 09:59:41
I'm not sure I want to do that !
If you are to compress the entire drum, why not wait at mix down ? If you compress before, you cannot undo ! If you really have an urge to compress, do it on what is the most important for the music style (bass drum and snare would be my choice).
And by the way ! If you record in a pc, you should make software compression in the digital domaine and why not each channel is own compressor (just need enough CPU/memory)!!. If you don't have a fast enough PC, you can process one track at the time. (please keep the original for undo later)
You want to stay under 0db ? Lower the gain level ... (most software do peak compression if there's something passing the 0db, that's not the case with adat tho !)
Good luck !!!
;)
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by Steve_S. | 04/12/01 at 11:14:55
[size=2]Yes, I would send all 8 channels to the computer and compress the tracks in the editor you use......[/size]
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by Ciccio | 04/12/01 at 16:26:18
:DThank you very much.
My big problem is the extreme high peaks of the snare in the overheads, how can i resolve the problem?
I mike the drum in xy with 2 akg c3000b with -10dB attenuation and bass rolloff.
The only solution for me is to compress this two tracks before they clips!
is it right?
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by BananaHead | 04/12/01 at 16:58:21
The most direct way is to have the drummer control his/her dynamics when playing. Or just set the level low into the computer. Digital doesn't mind low overall signals. Or if you want compress the overhead on the way to tape. Just use "limit" setting to take off the top.
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by Ciccio | 04/14/01 at 17:32:27
:)Thank you Bananahead
Subject: Re: Drum miking & 2 channel compressor!?!?
by eddie | 04/15/01 at 03:50:24
I'm compressing Bass drum and snare because they have the most power.. If you'll compress overheads, you might have crappy sound of cimbals!!.
I agree with Steve S.. all the other things.. leave
for you editor in comp.
BBUUTT!! you'll have to be carefull with compressing
bass drum and snare..not over-do-it, cause you'll loose frequency responce, probably you'll
loose bass frequencies;D;D