When I was researching tips and advice about recording drums, I read over and over that the most difficult aspect of recording music is recording the drums. I tasted snaps of drumming frustration a few weeks ago as I tackled the first steps of putting together a few songs with a friend. Although there are various breakdowns and outlines to follow for recording drums, a structured plan may be quickly abandoned due to the tremendous number of variables.
Step One: Rehearse
Before you even think about recording, rehearse your songs – and rehearse with a metronome. Recording time is not the time to be writing songs or finishing up that chorus to bridge transition. In addition to this, timing and fills must be planned and perfect before you record. Creating good music requires more than just good drumming. There are crescendos, accents, and builds that form different pieces of each song – plan ahead.
Step Two: Set the Environment
Every recording space will be different and if it is the first time that you are recording, you will not be able to predict just how the different angles and surfaces will affect drum recording. You will want to find some throw rugs or grab some extra furniture to dampen sound if you will be recording in a large or wide open space.
Step Three: Tune the Drums
Although a good drummer can make a bad drum set sound good... help your band out and get the drums sounding as best they can. Be patient and tune each drum to not only sound full and in tune, but in harmony with the whole kit.
Step Four: Hook up the Mics
Just clip each mic in the place you want and plug in…easier said then done. For starters, you can record drums with everything from a computer chat mic and headset to a full collection of drum specific microphones and area mics. A basic setup will include two area mics place above the set to grab the overall sound of the entire kit, a snare drum mic, and a bass drum mic. With patience, plug in, test each mic to ensure they are working properly, bang around for a bit to ensure you are comfortable, record a small drum solo, listen to how it sounds, change everything, and start over. It’s that simple…with patience.
Step Five: Record
The preparation pays off as soon as the first 4-count drops in the drummer’s headphones. A great sounding song needs to be in good timing and so the smartest tool you can have on hand is a metronome. Whether you have a prepared click track, a manual metronome, or use your recording software’s built in click, you need something to keep you on time. If you have rehearsed and practiced your songs well enough, your drum patterns will be memorized and you can track through an entire song very quickly. The convenient reality of recording with a metronome also allows you to stop in certain sections and start back up in perfect time.
Just a few simple steps…right? Although my first hand experience allowed me to see the benefits of having a simple outline and the payoff of preparation, time and money are often obstacles. Work with what you have and keep your spirits up. Our plan was simple, one weekend, 4 songs. Early Saturday morning we began to set up the drums and after 6 hours, we had the mics aligned and were ready to hit that intimidating red circle to record. By 4pm the following day, we were packing up our equipment with a far better understanding of the trials and challenges of starting a band. The satisfaction of nailing down some tracks came with irritated calluses and numerous frustrations.
What is the key to recording drums? Research, rehearses, prepare, and exercise creativity with patience. |
