by Chez Marrone

 

I have been recording analog drums and live instruments for 8 years now.

There is a lot to learn and cannot be taught overnight, so individuals wanting to learn how to record drums from their home should expect a fine learning curve.

Here are some basic useful drum recording tips:

Use Proper Mics
 It may seem obvious, but many newcomers believe they can use standard microphones to record drums to get a polished quality. That is NOT the case. Drum specific microphones have compression features specifically made to capture the proper tone and clarity of the instrument. I myself attempted to use a Behringer D100 accompanied by microphone to avoid spending money on a proper kick drum mic, and always received poor quality sound. Avoid trying to find cheaper alternatives, there is no way around it. Research whats avaliable in your price range, and always consider purchasing a full drum mic kit (combo pack, generally 4-7 micophones) as you will save money in the long term.
Positioning is KEY

The positioning of the microphones is extremely important to obtain a specific sound.

Snare & Toms: The closer the mic is to the center of the skin, the more 'pop' you will receive. The further away, you will capture more feedback and atomsphere/surrounding.

Overhead: This is all preference. If you want to capture more cymbal, you place over or parallel to the crash. I find a good position is between the cymbal & ride, elevated to catch all the sounds that push upwards. However, it's all up to you and what your prefer.

KICK
 The kick drum is the most important and most difficult part of the kit to record properly. Some producers use a microphone where the foot pedal rests and on the opposite side of the kick drum. If you want to capture the direct 'punch' from the kick, having a second mic beside the pedal works well (i've tested it myself). However, you can get a good sound with a single kick drum microphone (facing the drummer on the opposite side, where the kick pushs out). The closer you're to the opposite of the skin (where the pedal makes contact), the more 'punch' you will receive. The further away, less punch but more reverb. Also, playing around with the EQ levels is a must (explained more in Mixer/Soundcard). You cannot rush to achieve the sound you want, so it's important you take time to get what you want.
Mixer/Soundcard
 It is very important to invest in a good mixer & soundcard. With a Mixer, you can adjust your EQ's to the levels desired. If you're not familiar with recording or mixers and have the determination to learn, pick up a small 4-6 Channel mixer to learn the basics...and when you're ready, then graduate yourself to something more professional. I myself use a Yamaha MG124FX, but I learned on a Behnringer 6 Channel mixer. As for soundcards, they are also essential to quality. They come in either PCI card (Desktops) or Mobile (Laptop). I myself use a Delta 1010LT (M-Audio) but there are many companies that provide high quality cards to get the job done well. Research to develop an understanding and gain more knowledge on them.
Time, Time, Time
The drummer can have many roles in a band. He can be the backdrop that adds ambience to a track. He can be the force, on level with everyone and advertising his power. He can even be the lead instrument (like myself), where majority of focus is on him. But in all those instances, the drummer is always the foundation and timing to keep structure in order. Timing is the most important part of being a drummer, no matter how you look at it. Make sure your timing is always 100%! I personally use a meternome throughout my whole track to make sure the drums are never off-time. If you find it extremely difficult to keep proper timing (many failed attempts leading to stressful moments), I recommend as much practice as possible; I cannot stress it enough!

Do not forget that a lot of these adjustments are preference. You will want to test all the levels and positioning to what best suits your needs.

There are just a few basic tips, I hope they have been useful.

Chez Marrone