Recording snare

[INCINERATE]

My band is going to be doing some pre-production recordings here in the next month or so just for ourselves to check out our material before going into the studio to record our second full length.

What is the best way to record the snare drum to get the most consistant sound other than the obvious - hit consistantly - which is not easy to do in death metal with slower beats, blast beats, gravity blasts, etc. What is the best mic to use? Is an Shure SM57 ok to use? How should we mic the snare? What sort of compression or gating should be done? Is there anything else that I'm missing? We are of course on a budget and don't want to have to buy more gear than we currently have. As I've said, this is just a pre-production recording for our own listening, but we'd like it to be the best it can be.

[severefragmentation]

yeah compression and gating is really important here so u can get that consistan sound ur talking about. im pretty new at it but if u want ur snare to be always at the same level compression is perfect for that. I use noise gates to stop the bleeding from other drums getting into the mics.

[vile_ator]

Yeah. try 3 or 4 to 1 ratio and set the threshold to compress about 1-2 db on soft blasts and maybe 5-6 on harder hits. Adjust gate carefully or dont use gate and then cut out the noise in the computer. Sm57 is the best mic for snare anyway. Aim at center of the drum and placed about an inch above the rim. Aim away from hi hat if possible.

Colin

[INCINERATE]

Yeah. try 3 or 4 to 1 ratio and set the threshold to compress about 1-2 db on soft blasts and maybe 5-6 on harder hits. Adjust gate carefully or dont use gate and then cut out the noise in the computer. Sm57 is the best mic for snare anyway. Aim at center of the drum and placed about an inch above the rim. Aim away from hi hat if possible.

Colin

Awesome man, these are the sort of details I was looking for. I'll give these settings a shot.

[Excrementor]

All these things are good, I'd also recommend that if possible you use a second SM57 on the bottom of the snare and treat it the same way. That way you get a lot more tone in the snare.

[vile_ator]

Oh yeah, forgot that. You do need a bottom snare mic. 57, 58 or a condenser like an SM81 or an Oktava or other pencil condenser.

Colin

[Robbe K]

I used an MD 441 U mic on the snare with the new Disavowed recordings! A really nice and bright mic! Unfortunately Sennheiser isn't producing them anymore...
http://www.sennheiser.com/nl/icm_nl.nsf/root/00762

[Giulio - Hourofpenan]

Definitely love that sound robbe! isn't it also half triggered?

[Robbe K]

Wassup! No, it's not triggered at all! It's just the Sennheiser combined with a Rode S1 mic and an Earthworks mic under the snare, but the main sound come's from the 441! I applied a bit of compression on the snare, though! It helps that Romain hit's very constant!

[Giulio - Hourofpenan]

Holy crap! So Romain he's a great drummer! it's difficult to find a fast drummer with a good hit!

[Robbe K]

Check out this video from Romain, recording "Collateral Causality" in the studio!
http://screugneugneu.free.fr/infernaldrums/collateral_causality.wmv

[Giulio - Hourofpenan]

He's a pro without any fucking doubt!!
I'm really curious to see you guys here in Rome ! (probably i'm gonna play with Hour of Penance as support )
Amazing Job

[Robbe K]

Cool Cool!!! I have never been in Rome, before, so I am looking forward to it!!! I am going to check out your band!!

[Giulio - Hourofpenan]

Man Rome it's one of the most beautyful city on the earth! when you will be here , if you have time drop me a message , and i'm gonna bring you guys around the city!

[Robbe K]

Thanx, Bro!

[vile_ator]

Robbe, hoe gaat het? Yeah that drummer is really, good man! Glad to see you guys are back in business. Im a little late on this thread....

Colin

[Robbe K]

HEEE Colin!!! Thanx!!! Hoe gaat het met jou? Working on a new CD with Vile? Hope to see you in Europe in the future!

Robbe

[vile_ator]

Cant wait to get back man. :)

Im gonna visit your pages. See what you have going on these days. Actually, maybe I can talk to you about video work soon.

Colin

[Robbe K]

AIAIAAIA: I am still working on my website hehe takes so long..
That would be cool! Send me an email if you want to! robbek@paekt.com
I got some videos here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaBX664dQHg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSjX73V_SKo
Besides video: I have been mastering and mixing a lot lately!
How is your studio doing?

[this_is_my_reality]

For snare recording, I always use a Shure SM57 on the top, about half an inch away from the skin.
I then use an AKG C1000 on the bottom, about 6 inches away, pointing at the snares.
Make sure to phase invert the bottom mic.

I then gate both snares to get rid of spill and tighten up the sound, and usually compress at a 3 or 4 to 1 ratio.

[stabwound]

Don't forget the i5, that can sound nice on snare. Right now I'm only using one 57, but after I get some nice preamps I can mic top and bottom. How many mics/which mics do you guys use on toms?

[vile_ator]

Whoops, sorry Robbe. I never came back to the forum. Ill check out your vids now hehe.

Colin

[this_is_my_reality]

Don't forget the i5, that can sound nice on snare. Right now I'm only using one 57, but after I get some nice preamps I can mic top and bottom. How many mics/which mics do you guys use on toms?

I usually use Sennheiser e604 clip-on mics

[vile_ator]

I use an SM57 through a Neve or similar preamp. Then a second pencil condenser like an Oktava MC 012 and run that one through a lot of compression. For bottom its a Beta 57. Or a normal 57 is fine. Sometimes people use a condenser on the bottom like a Shure SM 81. The main thing about snare tone is getting a good snare, keeping the heads in tune and keeping that drummer hitting in the middle of the head.

Colin