6 Key Elements for the Perfect Drum Recording
Photo by Blake Carpenter on Unsplash
A great drum recording is a foundation for a great track. In this blog post, we’ll cover 6 key elements to get you on the fast track to getting the perfect drum recording every time, and save you from those frustrating post-session blues! In today’s article, we will be covering pre-production, acoustics, microphones, mic position, dynamic range compression, and parallel compression. We believe that these six elements are essential for getting great drum tracks every time!
Pre-Production
Even before you get to the studio to start the drum recording, there are some important considerations to make. The first is to decide on the genre of the track you’re recording, and the feel of the song overall. This gives you a good head start on getting the drum sound you’re going for, and will also inform your choice of drum kit and cymbals. For example, if you’re recording a rock track, you’ll want to use a rock-sounding drum kit. If you’re recording a chilled-out, lounge-style track, you’ll want to use a drum kit that is attuned to the style. So, before you even get to the studio, you’ll have a clear idea of what drum kit you want to use, as well as a rough idea of the sound you want to achieve. Another important thing to consider is how you’d like the track to sound. Is it going to be recorded live, in one take? Or will it be a programmed track with lots of different drum parts played separately? Knowing the best way to get the track recorded is essential.
Acoustics
The acoustics of the room you’re recording in will have a huge impact on the drum sound. Different rooms will have different amounts of reverb, and this will have a direct effect on the way the drums sound. For example, if you record in a large, echoey room, the drums will have a lot of reverb on them. This will likely be too much for your track. Conversely, if you record in a small room with too much dampening, the sound will be very “dry”, with no “life” on the drums at all. Depending on the track you’re making, neither of these scenarios would be desirable or usable. This is why it’s important to do some research on the best rooms to record in, so you can pick a room that will give you the suitable sound you’re looking for in your recording. Let’s say, if you’re recording a garage rock track, you’ll want to find a room with a lot of natural reverb, so you can get that authentic garage rock sound.
Microphones
The type of mic you choose will have an effect on the sound of the drums. For instance, if you use a condenser mic to record the drums, they will probably sound very open and clean. If you use a dynamic mic to record the drums, they will sound “in-your-face”, with a lot of thumps and low ends. Knowing what type of drum sound you’re going for is essential when choosing the type of mic you’ll record with. It’s also important to remember that the drum recording will be affected by the placement of the microphones as well. For example, if you place a condenser mic right in front of the snare drum, it will pick up a lot of unpleasant harmonics from the drum head, the snare wires, and the cymbals. This means the signal from the microphone will be very loud and “ringing”.
Mic Positioning
Positioning of the microphones can be very important. For example, placing a mic inside the kick drum can give you the thump you’re looking for, but it will sound very dry and “one-dimensional”. Conversely, placing a mic outside the kick drum will result in a boomy sound with little definition. There are no hard and fast rules as to where you should place the microphones. You can experiment with all different types of positions, and see what sounds best. Some experimentation is often necessary, so don’t be afraid to try different things.
Dynamic Range Compression
As we touched on in the acoustics section, the room you’re in will have a big impact on the reverb of the drums. If you had to record the drums in a room with a lot of reverb, the drums will likely sound too open and cavernous. There are many ways to deal with this, but one of the most common ways is to use dynamic range compression on the drums. This can help to “squash” the drums’ sound, which in turn will reduce the amount of reverb. This will make the drums sound more controlled, and have a much more consistent volume throughout the track. This is particularly helpful when recording in a less-than-ideal room.
Parallel Compression
Parallel compression is similar to dynamic range compression. The main difference is that with parallel compression, you aren’t reducing the volume of the drums. Instead, you are taking the original, uncompressed track, and running a copy of it through a compressor. The compressor for the parallel track will have a lower threshold, and will therefore affect the volume of the drums greatly. This means that the compressed version of the drums will sound similar to the uncompressed version, but will have a consistent volume throughout the track. This has the added benefit of giving the drums a bit more “punch”, or making them sound louder, without actually increasing their volume.
Photo by Caught In Joy on Unsplash
Conclusion
A great drum recording is a foundation for a great track. To get the perfect drum recording every time, it’s important to consider pre-production, acoustics, microphones, mic positioning, compression, and parallel compression. These six elements will help you get the perfect drum sound every time, and save you from those frustrating post-session blues. For more short video tips and tricks on mixing music and other audio-related topics, follow us on Instagram @anadigisoundlab.
3 March 2023