Recording Acoustic Drums

Recording acoustic drums presents unique challenges involving loud sound pressure levels, wide frequency ranges, and multiple sound sources in close proximity. Success requires balancing individual drum capture with cohesive kit sound while managing the substantial influence of room acoustics.

Drum Preparation and Tuning

Drum tuning directly impacts recording quality. Toms should ring clearly without excessive overtones, with top and bottom heads tuned relative to each other to control sustain and pitch. Snare tuning varies by genre, with tighter tuning producing more crack and attack while looser tuning offers fuller body.

New drumheads provide consistent tone and controlled sustain. Worn heads develop dents and inconsistent response that create tuning difficulties and uneven sound across the head surface. Budget allowing, fresh heads before important recording sessions improve results noticeably.

Dampening controls sustain and overtones. Small adhesive moon gels or tape strips on drum heads reduce ring without eliminating tone. Pillows or blankets inside bass drums control boomy sustain while maintaining fundamental punch. The goal involves controlling unwanted resonance without deadening the drums completely.

Room Acoustics and Drum Sound

The recording room significantly shapes drum sound. Live, reflective rooms add natural ambience and power to drum recordings. Dead rooms produce controlled, punchy sounds that suit heavy music and allow maximum flexibility in mixing.

Room size affects the character of natural reverb. Large rooms with high ceilings create spacious, dimensional drum sounds. Small rooms produce tighter, more focused sounds with shorter decay times. Professional studios often feature multiple drum rooms with different acoustic characteristics.

Bass frequencies in small rooms create problematic standing waves and room modes. Corner bass traps address the most severe low-frequency issues. Understanding the room’s acoustic behavior helps in positioning the drum kit and microphones advantageously.

Microphone Selection Overview

Different drum components require different microphone characteristics. Dynamic microphones handle the high sound pressure levels of close-miked drums while providing focused pickup. Condensers offer detail and extended frequency response for overheads and room capture.

Kick drum microphones need extended low-frequency response and high SPL handling. Dedicated kick microphones like the AKG D112, Shure Beta 52A, and Audix D6 feature tuned frequency responses that complement bass drum characteristics.

Snare microphones benefit from presence peaks that emphasize crack and attack. The Shure SM57 remains the standard choice, though alternatives like the Audix i5 and Sennheiser MD 441 provide different tonal options. Condenser microphones can capture snare detail but require careful level management.

Close Microphone Techniques

Close miking isolates individual drums for independent level and tonal control during mixing. Microphones positioned two to four inches from the drumhead capture primarily direct sound with minimal bleed from other kit pieces.

Kick drum microphones placed inside the shell through the resonant head port capture attack and beater definition. Positioning near the beater produces more click and attack, while placement closer to the shell center yields more body and fundamental.

Tom microphones angle toward the center of the head from a few inches above the rim. Dynamic microphones like the Sennheiser MD 421 or clip-on options like the Sennheiser e604 provide flexibility in positioning around hardware and cymbals.

Overhead and Room Microphones

Overhead microphones capture the complete kit picture including cymbals, drums, and their interaction. Matched pairs of small-diaphragm condensers like the Rode NT5 or Neumann KM184 provide detailed, accurate imaging. Large-diaphragm condensers offer warmer alternatives.

Stereo overhead configurations include spaced pair, XY, ORTF, and the Recorderman technique. Each approach creates different stereo width and center image characteristics. Experimentation reveals which technique suits the room, kit, and musical style.

Room microphones capture the drum kit from a distance, including substantial room ambience. Heavy compression on room microphones creates aggressive, explosive drum sounds that blend with close mics for impact. Room mic selection and positioning dramatically affects the ambient character.