[linux-audio-user] Need help - hardware recommendations

[Jan "Evil Twin" Depner]

Thanks.  I have to admit, I got the mic idea from a recording magazine. 
An engineer was saying that he only ever uses two overhead condenser
mics on drums and occasionally a mic on the kick.  His point was that
drums are *an* instrument, not a collection of instruments and that you
should hear them that way.  I thought that sounded pretty reasonable
(plus I only have the two condenser mics;).  I guess if your drummer is
bad enough that you need to mic every drum/cymbal and try to fix it in
the mix you need to get a better drummer.  I did have the mics set at
45.  I had heard that somewhere as well.  I can't recall where though.

Jan

On Tue, 2003-02-25 at 12:34, linuxmedia4 at netscape.net wrote:
> "Darren Landrum" <consul at studioconsul.net> wrote:
> 
> > I would like to reiterate how much I like the sound you got form the
> > drums. It sounds so natural, and quite perfect for the type of music
> > you're doing.
> >
> >-- Darren
> 
> >> Jan \Evil Twin\ Depner
> >> Anthony,
> >>
> >> I used two cheap (Marshall) overhead condenser mics for the
> >> drums (about 2 meters up and slighty back of the
> >> drummer) and a Shure SM57 on the kick.
> 
> One thing I wanted to point out (that they taught us in the recording
> classes I took) was that in the (above) setup, it's important to put
> the mics in a "cross pattern" (like an X). The heads of the mics need
> to be 45 degrees apart from each other. If you don't then you can get
> "phase cancellations". It has to do with the the amount of time it
> takes sound to hit one mic and then the other. If the mics are _not_ at
> a 45 degree position, then they can be close enough to cause one mic
> to pick up the sound source and the other one to pick up the _same_
> sound source (just milliseconds later). And when you have the same exact
> sound being offsetted by only milliseconds, you get "phasing". In fact,
> that exactly how you get the (guitar) effect they call "phasing".... by taking a sound and offsetting the same sound by just a few milliseconds.
> 
> I think (if my memory serves me well) that the 45 degree angle isolates each mic to the point were it can't pick up the same sound in each mic.
> 
> Actually, Jan may have some kind of knack for this thing, because we were taught that (the tecnique jan used) was the way to go if you only have 3 mics - (two overhead and one for the kick drum). In fact, I think Jan's choice to use condencers for overhead and sm57 on the kick is a good choice. But please trust me. If you don't do the cross pattern you (could) hear unwanted sounds (and/or dropouts).
> 
> 
> While I'm at it... that whole recording sounds great.
> 
> Rocco
> 
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