Getting a good kick drum sound - drum and recording tips

[Maccy]

Just been playing about with my new D112 and getting a really dull, dead sound.

I'd like something tighter, Mike Portnoy-like (call me a fanboi). I've tried sticking sheets and pillows in the bass drum, tightening up skins and playing about with EQ and compression.

Any tips/links would be great

[TrevCircleStudios]

You'll need bass trapping in the room. Move it around til you find the best spot. If it still isnt quite there, EQ out the lower mids

[Dave Boulden]

When we use a D112 live, we also find the sound is tightened up by ensuring the mic is pointing directly at the point the beater strikes the drum skin.

[dvdan]

hi maccy
could you post us a quick sound clip? you shouldn't need to use eq or compression to get a good sound - i usually limit to prevent any wayward punches from damaging my gear. In my demo room I have hardly any room treatment at all. I agree that the lower mids can be quite problematic so you should experiment with cutting a little around there.

could you elaborate on what you mean by dull? there are so many ways to mic a kick drum... my tried and tested method is to put the mic in the bass drum (most of the time without a front head) as it seems to yield more tone and punch, with a bit of transient from the beater... but that's my drum. other kits usually sound better mic'd in front.

another good tip is to tune the drum a bit higher than you'd think, it can sound much more energetic. when i do that I've had good results by sticking another bass drum in front tuned sympathetically low and mic'd with a speaker for the sub bass.

tuning really has a lot to do with it, mic placement comes in roughly second.

[terminal3]

"Mic placement is the best form of EQ."

Now which wizened engineer has said that once or twice around here...?

[Maccy]

Thanks Dan - going to set my kit up shortly in a different place in the room and I'll get a few clips later

[TrevCircleStudios]

Hmm. Just noticed my first post on the subject says move 'it' around. I meant the mic not the treatment.

@T3. I don't think there are any wizened engineers on this board. Only us young 'uns!

[Maccy]

Well I've had a little play, and excuse my terrible playing - haven't played for about a year (spent about 20 minutes with the duster!)

http://www.hertsmassive.com/music/test1.mp3

That's without any effects applied. I played around with Ozone and it improved the sound a little.

I used the D112, one Rode M3 (as I currently only have one mic stand) and an SM-57 on the snare.

I don't like how it sounds 'distant' if that makes any sense?

[TrevCircleStudios]

Originally Posted by Maccy

I don't like how it sounds 'distant' if that makes any sense?

It makes a lot of sense. Can you put up a pic of your mic placement? Have you tired moving it around: closer to the beater, a little further away, slightly off to the side, on-axis, off-axis etc? Sounds like is has the low's down. There's some low-mid like I mentioned. If you can't get it iwth mic placement and EQ dosnt do it, consider a second mic. I usually use two mics on kick (when I dont have a fet 47 handy in any case. One in close for the click and one back outside or at the end of a tunnel for the thump. At the moment you are getting much more thump.

[Maccy]

Sorry for the bad pic, the bass drum is up against the radiator. The white thing is a duvet that I've covered the radiator with and I found that the sound improved.

Tomorrow I'll pull the kit further away and get the mic further into the drum and will put the other M3 near the beaters

[TrevCircleStudios]

Can't really tell from that pic.

[Maccy]

Edited it a bit -

[TrevCircleStudios]

Doesnt help. Is the drum to the right? Cant see where the mic is placed or pointing. Is the duvet close up to the bottom of it?

[Maccy]

The drum is to the right of the image, the mic is angled pointing into the drum but not directly into the drum.
The duvet drops right to the floor.

[dvdan]

zoom out a bit maccy! i can't tell what's going on from the picture.

as for trevs advice about a second mic, that is probably the way to go... you can even augment with an sm57 (which i do a lot!) but be very careful to keep it in phase or you may do may harm than good.

judging by what i can see it looks like you may have a bit too much muffling going on? i'll take a picture of my drum setup tonight in my tiny room and show you how i approach it... a little bit of muffling with a drum tunnel to contain the sound and help prevent room phase cancellation.