Recording a Drum Set?

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

How would you efficiently record a drumset with an mp3 player?

[EchozAurora]

do you want to sample each sound, or record some playing?

[Khuskan]

At 1/2/07 02:25 AM, CapnCrunchTehPimp wrote: How would you efficiently record a drumset with an mp3 player?

How do you paint an accurate copy of the Mona Lisa with wax crayons?

[dj-padman1]

At 1/2/07 07:03 AM, SadSpoon wrote:

At 1/2/07 06:55 AM, Khuskan wrote: How do you paint an accurate copy of the Mona Lisa with wax crayons?

Go out and buy some oil paints.

Then I could finally say that my songs are 100% original :D, unless of course I use Amen samples. Which nobody cares about anymore.

D

Woah, hold up...I thought you were the drummer who played the original loop in the 60's..

[vonDark]

If it's only one mic, then it's pretty much impossible to get a decent sounding recording, sorry.

However, if you have some cash to spend, you could allways get yourself a mixer with four or more microphone inputs and connect it to your mp3-player. Then get a microphone package for recording drum-kits, but beware, a lot of these packages has extremly poor frequency response. But I guess everything would be a lot better than the mp3-player.

Here is the best way to mic up drums. However, you could pull it off with less mics, everything could be done decently with only the overhead and the mic for the bassdrum.

[Khuskan]

At 1/2/07 07:23 AM, vonDark wrote: Here is the best way to mic up drums. However, you could pull it off with less mics, everything could be done decently with only the overhead and the mic for the bassdrum.

WHAT IS THIS FAGGOTRY :O

There is no 'best' way to mic anything, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. How you should mic any instrument, drumkit to theramin, depends on how you want it to sound, not how people tell you to do it.

Also, that setup is for studio recording - something which I doubt somebody whos asking 'how do I record drums on an mp3 player has.

[Rucklo]

Listen to reason, listen to Khuskan.... And if you really want the samples to "sound" low bitrate, an mp3 player is the way to go... In my ears, and if you asked me, I´d say "no no", shed a tear and then fly backwards in time. But again, if you´re after the sound go for it...

And do NEVER underestimate the power of SM58 >:(

[Ithe-enforcerI]

Get a mixer, hook it up to your mp3, and get a decent overhead mic and one for your kick drum and hook that up to your mixer.

[vonDark]

At 1/2/07 09:33 AM, Khuskan wrote: Also, that setup is for studio recording - something which I doubt somebody whos asking 'how do I record drums on an mp3 player has.

Uhm, no.
If you read my whole reply you would see I reccomended getting a cheap small mixer to connect into the mp3-player so he could connect some real mics.

[vonDark]

And also, if I you've ever heard CapnCrunch's music you'll hear it's rock. I doubt he wants his drums to sound lo-fi.

A mixer, a condenser mic and a dynamic mic is what I would reccomend for this task. And this would be a clever investment for later as well, this kit could be used to mic up pretty much anything one man can play.

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

At 1/2/07 09:33 AM, Khuskan wrote:

At 1/2/07 07:23 AM, vonDark wrote:

There is no 'best' way to mic anything, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. How you should mic any instrument, drumkit to theramin, depends on how you want it to sound, not how people tell you to do it.

I really wasn't asking for the best way to mic them, just the best way to mic it with an mp3, because I knew it would be difficult. Would it work, if I just put a lot of stuff to barracade it (like my guitar recordings) and do it from there, or will that sound crappy? Btw, it's rock, but a lot of metal as well, so the drums will be flurrying and whatnot

[Rucklo]

to be honest, i thinik it´s gonna sound crappy if you record with an mp3player.

I guesss you mean you will put hte drums further back in the mix when you said "barricade"? say you record drums in 128kbps, and then try to mix it... how many mics do you have access to anyway? if you intend on recording a full drumset with only one mic, it most likley will sound like shite... unless you sample each drum and sequence them to get it right. Howeer, that´s gonna get a synthetic sound insetead (even if you multisample each drum with different velocities etc....).

Some more info of what you´ve got would be good tho.

Also, your room will be a factor you have to count with.

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

I know it'll sound shitty but it's my only option for a year or so. I have access to about 2 or 3 microphones, if that'll help. Also, I just put these tub things around the set like I do with my guitar amp.

[Rucklo]

if u can connect all mics and record them on separate channels, i think you should give it a go. set one mic at the bassdrum, one at the snare and one over... try it.
what mp3 quality can you record with at most?

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

At 1/4/07 06:00 PM, Rucklo wrote: if u can connect all mics and record them on separate channels, i think you should give it a go. set one mic at the bassdrum, one at the snare and one over... try it.
what mp3 quality can you record with at most?

Would I connect the mics to an amp? My mp3 player doesn't have a setting, but it records at 1800 Khz.

[Rucklo]

im not sure what options you have since i dont know the hardware you´ve got access to.....

best would be to get a soundcard to your computer tho... you can get a decent soundcard for around 1-200USD and then connect all mics into them...

what samplerate do you get with the mp3player? im telling ya, if it´s less then 128, i wouldnt even concider recording ofr any other purpose then "just to listen to", if you wanna know how you play the drums (if ur tight or not).

[vonDark]

Does your mp3 player have an audio-input?
If so, jyou should go for the mixer (the Behringer Xenyx series is nice and cheap) solution, and get a cable that is either RCA to minijack or two jacks *(on one cable) to minijack. Then you can just hook the mixer into your mp3-player.

[JonH2O]

If anyone is interested in some comparitive listening, Black Top Demon also uses 1 microphone connected into an mp3 player. It doesn't sound that bad. But damn, you're mostly stuck with that live performance. Not a whole lot you to work with.

I'm not quite sure how they had the speakers positioned, but it must have been nicely thought out. Take a couple practice takes with your mp3 player and keep working at getting all the Amps at good volumes and at good level with the drums.

[JonH2O]

Sorry, "Black Top Demon Anthem" and "Motor City Madman" are the songs recorded with one mic.

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

At 1/7/07 02:49 AM, JonH2O wrote: If anyone is interested in some comparitive listening, Black Top Demon also uses 1 microphone connected into an mp3 player. It doesn't sound that bad. But damn, you're mostly stuck with that live performance. Not a whole lot you to work with.

Ok, but where will the microphone connect to the mp3 player?

[Laiderdaiv]

The 1/8" mic input?

[CapnCrunchDaPimp]

At 1/10/07 05:20 AM, Laiderdaiv wrote: The 1/8" mic input?

There's a mic input on an mp3? Is it where the headphones go?

[EchozAurora]

...you mean using just a regular MP3 player? like with a USB on one side and a headphone output on the other?
That would be pretty much impossible, at least without some special equipment.