Comments on: Tracking an 8-Piece Drum Kit for 5.1 Surround http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195 Don't try this at home kids...We're professionals! Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:25:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Penny Larson http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-495 Penny Larson Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:38:05 +0000 http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195#comment-495 Hey Hendrik, This is a great article, and I just figured I'd fill in some of the details drum-wise. The kicks and toms are Ludwig Classic Maples (9-ply 100% Maple shells) circa 1998. The kicks are 16x22, and the toms are (from left-to-right) 8x10; 9x12; 10x13; 11x14; and 14x16. I used Remo Vintage Emperor batter heads and Clear Ambassador resonant heads. Tuning with five toms (especially with less than a two-inch separation) can be an issue, but I just started with the 10" and worked my way down, making sure that each drum sounded resonant and full while still having some articulation and punch. The snare we ended up using for the entire session is a Ludwig Classic Birch (7-ply Birch/Italian Poplar mix) measuring 6.5x14. I used an Evans ST Dry batter head with an Evans Hazy 200 snare-side head. The snares are Blasters by Puresound. I use a fairly tight tuning on both heads on most of my snares. The ST Dry is a two-ply head, which helps to give the drum body even with the head at a higher tension. I also brought a Pearl Joey Jordison Signature Snare (Steel Shell, 6.5x13), a Ludwig 5x14 Hammered Bronze, and a Ludwig 6x13 Classic Maple. We ended up using the Classic Birch for the whole session. As for the cymbals, I used a large set of mostly smaller cymbals to get a more splashy effect for the session. I used 13" Zildjian Avedis Mastersound Hats in the traditional hi-hat placement along with a pair of 12" Zildjian A Custom Mastersound Hats underneath the ride cymbal on a Tama x-hat stand that enabled me to quickly change between a tight and loose closed hat sound. I used a 21" Zildjian K Heavy Ride as the main ride, and also used a 22" Istanbul Agop Alchemy Vezir Flat Ride (that was a custom-order cymbal, and it's beautiful) - that's the one that got its own spot-mic. I also used two sets of Zildjian Prototype stacks, with a Trashformer on the bottom and a Mini China on top in 8" and 10" sizes. I used two China cymbals, a 14" Zildjian China Trash and a 19" Zildjian K Custom Hybrid China. The crashes were Istanbul Agop, and were 14" and 18" Sultans, along with a 15" Vezir. Lastly, I used a few splashes, all Istanbul Agops, a 12" Alchemy Splash, a 6" Pasha Splash, a 9" Traditional Splash, a 6" Traditional Splash, and a 10" Traditional Splash. I used Vater Furio Chirico International Signature Sticks, which are almost as big as a 2B, which helps to really give the drums some weight, but they also have a nice tip and a good balance so they get a really sweet sound on the cymbals as well. Thanks for having me on board with your project Hendrik! It's the nicest room I've ever recorded in too! Hey Hendrik,

This is a great article, and I just figured I’d fill in some of the details drum-wise.

The kicks and toms are Ludwig Classic Maples (9-ply 100% Maple shells) circa 1998. The kicks are 16×22, and the toms are (from left-to-right) 8×10; 9×12; 10×13; 11×14; and 14×16. I used Remo Vintage Emperor batter heads and Clear Ambassador resonant heads. Tuning with five toms (especially with less than a two-inch separation) can be an issue, but I just started with the 10″ and worked my way down, making sure that each drum sounded resonant and full while still having some articulation and punch.

The snare we ended up using for the entire session is a Ludwig Classic Birch (7-ply Birch/Italian Poplar mix) measuring 6.5×14. I used an Evans ST Dry batter head with an Evans Hazy 200 snare-side head. The snares are Blasters by Puresound. I use a fairly tight tuning on both heads on most of my snares. The ST Dry is a two-ply head, which helps to give the drum body even with the head at a higher tension.

I also brought a Pearl Joey Jordison Signature Snare (Steel Shell, 6.5×13), a Ludwig 5×14 Hammered Bronze, and a Ludwig 6×13 Classic Maple. We ended up using the Classic Birch for the whole session.

As for the cymbals, I used a large set of mostly smaller cymbals to get a more splashy effect for the session. I used 13″ Zildjian Avedis Mastersound Hats in the traditional hi-hat placement along with a pair of 12″ Zildjian A Custom Mastersound Hats underneath the ride cymbal on a Tama x-hat stand that enabled me to quickly change between a tight and loose closed hat sound. I used a 21″ Zildjian K Heavy Ride as the main ride, and also used a 22″ Istanbul Agop Alchemy Vezir Flat Ride (that was a custom-order cymbal, and it’s beautiful) – that’s the one that got its own spot-mic. I also used two sets of Zildjian Prototype stacks, with a Trashformer on the bottom and a Mini China on top in 8″ and 10″ sizes. I used two China cymbals, a 14″ Zildjian China Trash and a 19″ Zildjian K Custom Hybrid China. The crashes were Istanbul Agop, and were 14″ and 18″ Sultans, along with a 15″ Vezir. Lastly, I used a few splashes, all Istanbul Agops, a 12″ Alchemy Splash, a 6″ Pasha Splash, a 9″ Traditional Splash, a 6″ Traditional Splash, and a 10″ Traditional Splash.

I used Vater Furio Chirico International Signature Sticks, which are almost as big as a 2B, which helps to really give the drums some weight, but they also have a nice tip and a good balance so they get a really sweet sound on the cymbals as well.

Thanks for having me on board with your project Hendrik! It’s the nicest room I’ve ever recorded in too!

]]> By: Hendrik Gideonse http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-494 Hendrik Gideonse Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:01:31 +0000 http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195#comment-494 We did a 4 hour set up the first day. I got there an hour early to get mics and place them on stands. Penny arrived and set up the kit and tuned for about an hour and half or so. I placed mics and then did some listening. I had already used the TLM103's for another drum recording so I knew that I would be happy with them in the corners. The front 3-mic array is a variation on techniques that I was already familiar with so that was relatively easy too. The second day we did more fine tuning and added the AKG 452 spot mic on the flat ride. We were able to track for a couple of hours and did all the rest of the tracking on the 3rd day which was a full 8 hours of tracking and 2 hours of strike. Whee! We did a 4 hour set up the first day. I got there an hour early to get mics and place them on stands. Penny arrived and set up the kit and tuned for about an hour and half or so. I placed mics and then did some listening. I had already used the TLM103’s for another drum recording so I knew that I would be happy with them in the corners. The front 3-mic array is a variation on techniques that I was already familiar with so that was relatively easy too. The second day we did more fine tuning and added the AKG 452 spot mic on the flat ride. We were able to track for a couple of hours and did all the rest of the tracking on the 3rd day which was a full 8 hours of tracking and 2 hours of strike. Whee!

]]> By: Alex http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195&cpage=1#comment-493 Alex Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:57:03 +0000 http://www.studiy.tv/?p=195#comment-493 So...how long did the set-up actually take? Looks and sounds like you were way careful about placement. Looks like a full day to get sounds to me. Can't wait to hear it. So…how long did the set-up actually take? Looks and sounds like you were way careful about placement. Looks like a full day to get sounds to me.

Can’t wait to hear it.

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