Table of Contents
- 1 How do you record drumming?
- 2 How are drums recorded in a studio?
- 3 How many inputs do I need to record drums?
- 4 What equipment is needed for drumming?
- 5 What is standard drum tuning?
- 6 How tight should the bottom drum head be?
- 7 How much does a session drummer cost?
- 8 What’s the best way to record a drum kit?
- 9 How to record a kick drum with a mic?
- 10 Do you need a DAW to record drums?
How do you record drumming?
6 Steps for Recording Drums
- Tune your drum kit. Any recording engineer will tell you that the most important element to a great-sounding recording is a great-sounding instrument.
- Mic the kick drum.
- Mic the snare drum.
- Set up overhead microphones.
- Mic more individual drums (optional).
- Set a preamp and compression sound.
How are drums recorded in a studio?
Drums are often recorded first, so the drummer usually needs to be the most prepared out of the whole band. Draw up drum charts or makes notes for each track. Even if you’ve got everything cemented in your memory, charts and notes can help you think of the drum parts in a different way.
Which drums should be tuned before a recording session?
That being said, tune your drumheads. The snare drum is going to be the most important to get right, since it’s usually the most prominent instrument on a record. You also want to double check that your tom toms sound good, with a low-end girth that won’t muddy up your final track.
How many inputs do I need to record drums?
- Drum Microphones (Preferably 8 or More)
- Mic Stands and Cables.
- An 8 Input (or More) Audio Interface.
- Bonus: A Tuning Key.
- Bonus: A Good Room.
- Bonus: Acoustic Treatment.
- A WARNING.
What equipment is needed for drumming?
Equipment Used For Recording Drums Right before we go into the drum set up and tuning let’s talk about gear. In addition to a drum set, you’re going to need a computer, microphones, stands, XLR cables, and an audio interface with enough microphone inputs.
Can you record drums with one mic?
Believe it or not, you can totally get away with recording drums with one microphone! Even though we’re accustomed to close miking each piece of the kit in order to get the biggest, punchiest sound we can, that isn’t always the result.
What is standard drum tuning?
There are three ways to tune a drum: resonant (bottom) head higher than the batter (top) head, resonant head lower than the batter head, and both heads tuned to the same pitch.
How tight should the bottom drum head be?
Through experimentation and the advice of some other experienced drummers, I have come to the conclusion that the snare-side (bottom) head of a snare drum should be tensioned extremely tight. Don’t be bashful about this. Crank that puppy up very tight.
How much does it cost to record drums?
I’ve been doing $100 a day, or $20-$25 a song, whichever is higher for studio work. I usually charge 30$ an hour or $100 flat for the day. I could probably be charging more since I show up with nice gear and charts prepared for all the songs, but it’s good to be flexible.
How much does a session drummer cost?
Although it may vary among states, the standard rate for a session musician is about $100 per hour. There is a minimum three-hour call, which means that even if you are only needed for 15 minutes, you are still entitled to $300.
What’s the best way to record a drum kit?
Overhead mics record the whole range of your drum kit. If you only have enough money for 1 mic, start with a condenser mic. Try placing it on a stand over the drummer’s shoulder, pointing down towards the kick drum. Raising the mic causes your drums to sound somewhat distant.
Is it possible to record drums on a computer?
Recording drums with Logic, Pro Tools, Cubase (or similar DAW) on a computer removes the necessity for an enormous multi-million-pound recording studio. If you don’t know where to start with a digital audio workstation (DAW), check out this helpful guide that details all the best DAWs available currently.
How to record a kick drum with a mic?
Place a dynamic microphone inside the kick drum to record it. 1 You may also leave the mic outside the drum. Keep the mic on a stand, pointed down, near the center of the outside head. 2 Add mics for individual drums as needed to capture the sound you desire. There is no obligation to mic all of them. You… More
Do you need a DAW to record drums?
A DAW removes the need for expensive studio equipment such as microphone preamps and analog equipment such as EQs and compressors to process the signal with. Expensive analog equipment will certainly enhance the sound of the drums from a recording session, but for a beginner, they are not essential and are therefore a luxury.