Recording drums

[Darkreign1776]

Hey guys I need some help, I want to try and make some drum recordings of my band so we can get a demo out. What I am asking is whats the best way to record drum tracks? WE have a 16 Track mixer and that would be going into my computer. I am recording drums so it'll be my first time, I am used to making tracks with a drum machine and that shit. But not recording real drums. I want them to sound as good as possible.My Computer Has a soundblaster live 24 bit digital audio sound Card, Recording I will use Nuendo 3
And of course we have all the mics. And we have an additional 8 track mixer on hand, Also my drummer uses triggers on the bass drums, So Whats the best way to track them? The rest of his kit will be mic'd, Whats the best way to make the toms and the snare as sonically full as possible? In nuendo should I have seperate tracks of each individual Instrument EX. Track 1:snare
Track 2: Kick, and so on..... How can I do that with Just one input on my computer? Please Help We have no money for a professional recording so we'll do it ourselfs. Nuendo 3 is a $2,000 dollar program alone, so I have good shit just no interface like pro tools. When we get the money we want to come to legion studios but until then We want this recording to reflect us well and not shitty so Any info Is very Helpful as long as its rational. Thanx in advance:FIREdevil HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[xididthisforyoux]

ok to answer one of your questions..."In nuendo should I have seperate tracks of each individual Instrument EX. Track 1:snare
Track 2: Kick, and so on..... How can I do that with Just one input on my computer?". You can't. Unless you are using a firewire interface or your sound card has an ADAT in and you have a mixer that has an ADAT out then you will only be able to record a stereo track to your computer. That means all the panning,eq, compression, and any other effects you want to use will have to be added through the mixer BEFORE it goes into the computer. Once its in the computer you will only be able to edit the stereo track. As far as mic'ing everything goes read this thread from Andy Sneaps forum, it will show you everything you need to know to get starting with mic placement...http://ultimatemetal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=217656 . That forum is a great help with basics when you are just starting. Also here on colin's forum there is a thread that contains some settings to try for eq and such for all instruments not just drums. As far as the triggers go, go ahead and run them through your drum machine and then run out the drum machine into the mixer. Depending on the size of his kit you will probably need around 8-12 mics. For metal you won't really need room mics but you could use them if you want a more open feel. Read through that link above and search on Andy's forum for more helpful stuff. Hope that was a starting point.

oh yea, if you are using Nuendo 3 you wont need protools, ever. just get yourself a firewire interface and use it with Nuendo and you'll get great results. Protools is over rated, unless you can afford the $30,000 HD systems. Presonus makes a great firewire interface that I use, the Firepod and they run around $600. M-Audio makes a firewire interface that has a control board with it, really similar to Protool's 002 but way less money. Anyway I wouldnt go protools unless you have hte money because there are options that offer the same quality for way less money. Anyway sorry for rambling, hope that was helpful

Jordan

[xididthisforyoux]

here are the links for the two products I mentioned. They really are worth the money for all they can do and they will allow you a lot more options in the long run. It will also allow you to edit each individual track once its recorded on the computer (i.e. snare track, tom tracks, bass drum tracks, etc.)

Presonus Firepod
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Recording/Computer/Hardware?sku=184131

M-Audio ProjectMix i/o
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProjectMixIO

Basically the difference is that the M-Audio one allows you to do a lot of functions through the board instead of using your mouse or hot keys on the keyboard to perform functions. It allows you to stop,start, record, etc. as well as allows you to change eq's and effects through the board. Basically if you are used to using the computer to control that stuff you wont care but if you are coming from using a mixing board then this willl seem more normal to you. The firepod has the same number of inputs (8 mic pres,2 instrument preamps, spdif digital in, and midi) but it doesnt come with a control board. It also doesnt have ADAT wich would allow you to attach ADAT compatable preamps to have up to 8 more individual channels wich could be edited individually just like the firewire ones build in. But I have the firepod and have never need more than 8 channels so it works great for me, but you may need more. also with the firepods you can daisy chain up to 3 for a total of 24 simultaneous inputs. anyway those are a few of the top, economical products that are out today, and they will give you the same results as DigiDesigns cheaper models.

[Darkreign1776]

here are the links for the two products I mentioned. They really are worth the money for all they can do and they will allow you a lot more options in the long run. It will also allow you to edit each individual track once its recorded on the computer (i.e. snare track, tom tracks, bass drum tracks, etc.)

Presonus Firepod
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Recording/Computer/Hardware?sku=184131

M-Audio ProjectMix i/o
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProjectMixIO

Basically the difference is that the M-Audio one allows you to do a lot of functions through the board instead of using your mouse or hot keys on the keyboard to perform functions. It allows you to stop,start, record, etc. as well as allows you to change eq's and effects through the board. Basically if you are used to using the computer to control that stuff you wont care but if you are coming from using a mixing board then this willl seem more normal to you. The firepod has the same number of inputs (8 mic pres,2 instrument preamps, spdif digital in, and midi) but it doesnt come with a control board. It also doesnt have ADAT wich would allow you to attach ADAT compatable preamps to have up to 8 more individual channels wich could be edited individually just like the firewire ones build in. But I have the firepod and have never need more than 8 channels so it works great for me, but you may need more. also with the firepods you can daisy chain up to 3 for a total of 24 simultaneous inputs. anyway those are a few of the top, economical products that are out today, and they will give you the same results as DigiDesigns cheaper models.

Nuendo allows me to edit effects after the track has been recorded, I have a shit load of Vst plugins such as BBE sonic Maximizer lexicon pantheneon and other shit. Maybe thats what you meant? Which means I don't have to add the effects to the mixer, just record the drums then edit

[xididthisforyoux]

no i mean that if you wanted to eq or add compression to say the snare track you would have to do it before it went into the computer because your setup now wont allow multitrack. I know you can apply effects within Nuendo but with your current set-up you would only be able to add effects to the overall drum mix.

[Darkreign1776]

no i mean that if you wanted to eq or add compression to say the snare track you would have to do it before it went into the computer because your setup now wont allow multitrack. I know you can apply effects within Nuendo but with your current set-up you would only be able to add effects to the overall drum mix.


I got it, Well I wanna replace my soundcard so I can do that,Multitrak:FIREdevil

[xididthisforyoux]

dont replace your soundcard, just get a firewire interface like the ones i listed above. actually if u could list what u have now that would be good to know.

on the decrepit birth forum matt said to go protools, there is no reason for u to do that because u already have nuendo wich is a great daw. just get a interface and your set. the presonus firepod is great, i use it and have never had problems. whats your computer situation just to know. good luck man

jordan

[xididthisforyoux]

ok firewire has nothing to do with your soundcard, at all. if u know what USB is, firewire is very similar, its just has a higher rate of data transfer, thats why it can be used for multitracking and why USB cant be used. All you need to do is buy like a 15 dollar firewire pci card to plug into your motherboard (pci, it will plug into the same type of port your soundcard is) once u do taht get a firewire interface (like the firepod or m-audio shit) and plug that in, your comptuer will use taht as the soundcard now.

[Darkreign1776]

ok firewire has nothing to do with your soundcard, at all. if u know what USB is, firewire is very similar, its just has a higher rate of data transfer, thats why it can be used for multitracking and why USB cant be used. All you need to do is buy like a 15 dollar firewire pci card to plug into your motherboard (pci, it will plug into the same type of port your soundcard is) once u do taht get a firewire interface (like the firepod or m-audio shit) and plug that in, your comptuer will use taht as the soundcard now.


K, But is there any cheaper versions, That personus or whatever it was you mentioned before is decent. Is that as cheap as it gets?:FIREdevil

[Darkreign1776]

How much is that drumagog? Or if you could send me some samples that would very aprreciative:FIREdevil

[xididthisforyoux]

no there is cheaper firewire interfaces but the lower in price you go the less scalability your gunna get. what is your budget? that is the first question. then once u have that you can decide on a few things. since your doing drums your going to need at least 8 mic pre's so i think the next cheapest thing is an Alesis board that has a firewire interface in it but its still like 500 bucks and for 100 bucks more u could get the firepod wich is awesome. drumagog is like $200 i think and then like $250 for the upgraded version. You realy dont need sound replacement though unless the drumset u record is a total piece of shit. And usually you can achieve a defined, clicky bass drum without using a sample. Anyway, figure out how much u want to spend then that will make the descision much easier on what interface to get. But you wouldnt be dissapointed with the firepod, i strongly reccomend that.

Jordan

[xididthisforyoux]

now there is this option....http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Recording/Computer/Hardware?sku=700354

but that would only be useful if your current mixer has an output on EACH channel. if it does then u could take a cable from the output of your mixer and plug it into this and you would be able to have 8 channels. This is multitrack as well, it will allow you to have multiple tracks on the computer so u can have your snare, toms, bass drum, etc. all editable on the computer once its recorded. I dont know what type of program it needs but im pretty sure it would work with nuendo. this is the only other option thats worth doing to save some cash, but i still highly recomend the firewire stuff, its just soo easy bc u just plug it in and it works.