*Beginning
It might seem hard to record drums with just one mic, but you can get a great drum sound without spending a lot of money. You can get a smooth and lively drum sound if you pay attention to where you stand and how you play. How to get the most out of recording drums with just one mic and not spend a lot of money.
- Pick the right microphone
- Dynamic vs. Condenser: Many people choose to record drums with a dynamic mic like the Shure SM57 because it is durable and can handle high SPL (Sound Pressure Levels). Also, condenser mics can work well, especially if they are made to record drums.
- Opposite of Cardioid and Omni: Omnidirectional mics pick up sound from all sides, which can help you record the whole drum kit. Cardioid microphones pick up sound from the front, which helps separate the drum kit from background noise. TIP: To handle the loud drums without distorting the sound, use a mic with a high SPL value if you can.
- Place the microphone in a smart way.
- Overhead Position: Put the mic above the drum kit, in the middle, with the pointing down. This spot records the sound of the whole kit, which includes the drums and cymbals.
- Kit Front: Put the mic in front of the drum kit about two to three feet, so it faces the kick drum. The drums and cymbals sound good together when recorded this way. Pro Tip: Try putting the mic at different heights and angles to hear what sounds best. The level of the drummer’s head or just above it is a good place to start.
- Make the most of how your drum kit is set up
- Tune Your Drums Make sure your drums are tuned correctly so the sound is clear and even. If you tune your drums correctly, they will have less annoying vibration and sound better when you record them.
- Control Reflections: Cover the kit with blankets or sound screens to cut down on echoes and noise in the room. This makes it easier to get a better recording with less bleed. If you want to get rid of echoes and make the sound more focused, use drum silencing tools like muffling rings or foam pads.
- Make the most of the space you have.
- Room Acoustics: The way the room sounds can have a big effect on the recording. Pick a room with good natural soundproofing, or use furniture and other things to make the space more controllable.
- How far away from walls… Keep the drum kit away from walls to keep sound from reflecting and building up too much. Pro Tip To get a clean video, make sure you record in a room with little background noise and steady sound quality.
- Keep an eye on and make changes
- Level Setting: Carefully set the levels on your mic preamp or audio device to keep the sound from clipping. Make sure the mic is getting up a good amount of sound without any distortion.
- [Listen Back] Playback should be listened to often to check the sound quality and make changes as needed. Pay close attention to how the drums and cymbals fit together. Pro Tip: Put on headphones to hear the recording as it happens, so you can make changes right away.
- Techniques for Post-Processing
- EQ and Compression: EQ lets you improve the sound of your recording by getting rid of unwanted bands or adding low-end. To even out the rhythms and give the drums more punch, use compression.
- Effects and Reverb: Add a little delay to the clip to make it sound like it has room and depth. Don’t make the natural beat sound too loud; instead, be understated. Pro Tip: To focus on the important drum sounds and get rid of the extra low-frequency rumble, use high-pass filters.
Final Thoughts
If you know what to do and don’t spend too much money, you can record drums with just one mic. You can make a professional-sounding drum recording without spending a lot of money if you pick the right mic, place it correctly, set up your drums correctly, make the most of the room, and use post-processing methods. Don’t be afraid to try new things and be creative to get the best sound from your drum kit.