MrMiltonBanana Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 I have a mac with garage band, two mics, no stands or anything. What's a profcient way for me to record my drums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Trommler Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 (edited) QUOTE (MrMiltonBanana @ Jun 6 2006, 09:19 PM) I have a mac with garage band, two mics, no stands or anything. What's a profcient way for me to record my drums. record from above a little away & maybe behind....you have to play around (sound check!!) once you have that, you can check it with the rest of the band....The best for for one mic with my drums was above about 3 feet in front & 5 feet above...It wasn't much but it worked! Edited June 7, 2006 by Der Trommler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 (edited) You may want to get a couple mic stands and a small mixer (you may be able to get these for less than $100). Your Mac can take a stereo mini input. Set the mics up about 5 feet apart (maybe a bit more, give or take) and about 3 or 4 feet in front of your kit. Set the height at just above your tom height. Run the mics to a mixer and pan one hard left and the other hard right. Take the output of the mixer and run it to the line in on the Mac. This should give you an adequate sound to record. Just be aware of the levels and make sure they are even and aren't overloading. Edited June 7, 2006 by CygnusX-1Bk2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Trommler Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 01:39 AM) You may want to get a couple mic stands and a small mixer (you may be able to get these for less than $100). Your Mac can take a stereo mini input. Set the mics up about 5 feet apart (maybe a bit more, give or take) and about 3 or 4 feet in front of your kit. Set the height at just above your tom height. Run the mics to a mixer and pan one hard left and the other hard right. Take the output of the mixer and run it to the line in on the Mac. This should give you an adequate sound to record. Just be aware of the levels and make sure they are even and aren't overloading. Are you a drummer or record? Obviously, you've done this before... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 QUOTE (Der Trommler @ Jun 7 2006, 02:44 PM) QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 01:39 AM) You may want to get a couple mic stands and a small mixer (you may be able to get these for less than $100). Your Mac can take a stereo mini input. Set the mics up about 5 feet apart (maybe a bit more, give or take) and about 3 or 4 feet in front of your kit. Set the height at just above your tom height. Run the mics to a mixer and pan one hard left and the other hard right. Take the output of the mixer and run it to the line in on the Mac. This should give you an adequate sound to record. Just be aware of the levels and make sure they are even and aren't overloading. Are you a drummer or record? Obviously, you've done this before... He's a drummer, AND does a great Geddy Lee (bass, keyboards, vocals)! Add to that the fact that he's a gear hound, and that's why his name is on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMiltonBanana Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 (edited) QUOTE (Der Trommler @ Jun 6 2006, 11:11 PM) QUOTE (MrMiltonBanana @ Jun 6 2006, 09:19 PM) I have a mac with garage band, two mics, no stands or anything. What's a profcient way for me to record my drums. record from above a little away & maybe behind....you have to play around (sound check!!) once you have that, you can check it with the rest of the band....The best for for one mic with my drums was above about 3 feet in front & 5 feet above...It wasn't much but it worked! This definately improved the quality, it's just dont very loud. It kinda sounds like theres are blanket over my speakers. Im gonna keep experimenting with this one mic for now. Thanks! Edited June 7, 2006 by MrMiltonBanana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (MrMiltonBanana @ Jun 7 2006, 03:15 PM) This definately improved the quality, it's just dont very loud. It kinda sounds like theres are blanket over my speakers. Im gonna keep experimenting with this one mic for now. Thanks! You will get more fidelity with two mics panned stereo. What is your signal path? If you have some EQ in Garage Band (I don't have it on my Macs) try adjusting in small doses, no more than 1.5 db at a time in either direction. You'd be surprised how much you can clean up a drum sound by "notching" or dipping frequencies around 250 Hz. The "mud" or blanket you are hearing is more than likely in this frequency range. Sometimes an EQ reduction is more powerful and useful than a boost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostGirl Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Jun 7 2006, 03:01 PM) QUOTE (Der Trommler @ Jun 7 2006, 02:44 PM) QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 01:39 AM) You may want to get a couple mic stands and a small mixer (you may be able to get these for less than $100). Your Mac can take a stereo mini input. Set the mics up about 5 feet apart (maybe a bit more, give or take) and about 3 or 4 feet in front of your kit. Set the height at just above your tom height. Run the mics to a mixer and pan one hard left and the other hard right. Take the output of the mixer and run it to the line in on the Mac. This should give you an adequate sound to record. Just be aware of the levels and make sure they are even and aren't overloading. Are you a drummer or record? Obviously, you've done this before... He's a drummer, AND does a great Geddy Lee (bass, keyboards, vocals)! Add to that the fact that he's a gear hound, and that's why his name is on this forum. He's much cuter than Geddy, too. (Sorry, Ged gals ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (Der Trommler @ Jun 7 2006, 11:44 AM) Are you a drummer or record? Obviously, you've done this before... Take a listen to Jacob's Ladder in my signature. I played all of the parts myself! Â Aside from all of that I am video game sound designer so I engineer some sort of audio everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 08:19 PM) He's much cuter than Geddy, too. I don't think that's much of a stretch, but thank you anyway. You're not so bad yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostGirl Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 10:22 PM) QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 08:19 PM) He's much cuter than Geddy, too. I don't think that's much of a stretch, but thank you anyway. You're not so bad yourself! I said MUCH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumnut Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 07:23 PM)QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 10:22 PM) QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 08:19 PM) He's much cuter than Geddy, too. I don't think that's much of a stretch, but thank you anyway. You're not so bad yourself! I said MUCH! Get a room you two! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostGirl Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (Drumnut @ Jun 7 2006, 10:29 PM) QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 07:23 PM)QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 10:22 PM) QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 08:19 PM) He's much cuter than Geddy, too. I don't think that's much of a stretch, but thank you anyway. You're not so bad yourself! I said MUCH! Get a room you two! Oh, puhleeze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Trommler Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ Jun 7 2006, 04:01 PM) QUOTE (Der Trommler @ Jun 7 2006, 02:44 PM) QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 01:39 AM) You may want to get a couple mic stands and a small mixer (you may be able to get these for less than $100). Your Mac can take a stereo mini input. Set the mics up about 5 feet apart (maybe a bit more, give or take) and about 3 or 4 feet in front of your kit. Set the height at just above your tom height. Run the mics to a mixer and pan one hard left and the other hard right. Take the output of the mixer and run it to the line in on the Mac. This should give you an adequate sound to record. Just be aware of the levels and make sure they are even and aren't overloading. Are you a drummer or record? Obviously, you've done this before... He's a drummer, AND does a great Geddy Lee (bass, keyboards, vocals)! Add to that the fact that he's a gear hound, and that's why his name is on this forum. Cool...Luckily, I have no $$$ cause I'd be a gear junky too  I used to sell musical equipment so I had to know the latest. But lately, I haven't been on the cutting edge....Been away from it for a year now.  Shhhh, don't tell anyone but I sold a PRS guitar to Jodi Messina. LSM gets so annoyed when I say that...hehehehe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (Drumnut @ Jun 7 2006, 08:29 PM) QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 07:23 PM)QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 10:22 PM) QUOTE (GhostGirl @ Jun 7 2006, 08:19 PM) He's much cuter than Geddy, too. I don't think that's much of a stretch, but thank you anyway. You're not so bad yourself! I said MUCH! Get a room you two! Gladly!  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMiltonBanana Posted June 8, 2006 Author Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 7 2006, 11:16 PM) QUOTE (MrMiltonBanana @ Jun 7 2006, 03:15 PM) This definately improved the quality, it's just dont very loud. It kinda sounds like theres are blanket over my speakers. Im gonna keep experimenting with this one mic for now. Thanks! You will get more fidelity with two mics panned stereo. What is your signal path? If you have some EQ in Garage Band (I don't have it on my Macs) try adjusting in small doses, no more than 1.5 db at a time in either direction. You'd be surprised how much you can clean up a drum sound by "notching" or dipping frequencies around 250 Hz. The "mud" or blanket you are hearing is more than likely in this frequency range. Sometimes an EQ reduction is more powerful and useful than a boost. Yeah, i've been fidling with the positioning of the mic and the eq. What do you mean by signal path?  Im a n00b. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Signal path is from the source sound (your drums) to everything in the signal chain to the recorder; mics, mixer, effects, recorder, etc. Basically I'm asking what mics you are using and how you are getting the sound into Garage Band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Trommler Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 8 2006, 05:55 PM) Signal path is from the source sound (your drums) to everything in the signal chain to the recorder; mics, mixer, effects, recorder, etc. Basically I'm asking what mics you are using and how you are getting the sound into Garage Band. You good with words! Â Â I was trying to remember what signal path realy meant...It's been awhile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMiltonBanana Posted June 8, 2006 Author Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 8 2006, 05:55 PM) Signal path is from the source sound (your drums) to everything in the signal chain to the recorder; mics, mixer, effects, recorder, etc. Basically I'm asking what mics you are using and how you are getting the sound into Garage Band. Well, the computer has an audio imput. It's small, so i have an adapter (made for macs) that makes it a 1/4 inch jack. Then, I plug my microphone in to that. Here's what the microphone says  TEV Uni-Directional Dynamic Microphone. YOu may know what that is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 (edited) Ok. That's part of your problem right there. You are taking a mono signal (a single mic) and inserting it into a stereo input. You said you have two mics. If you can find a Y adaptor that will take two 1/4 inch inputs then you should do that with the two mics (if no 1/4 inch Y to mini stereo is available get an RCA to mini stereo cable and two 1/4 inch female to RCA female adaptors for the same functionality).  Another problem is the mic outputs at one level and the input for the computer is another level. A small mixer will do two things. It will convert the mic level to a line level and give you better overall control of the mic input gain. Also two mics panned stereo, even if they are different will give you a better sound than just the one. The mic seems to be quite cheap, not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation. I used to record my kit with a RadioShack omni directional $10 job that did me well until I knew better. Sure, it never sounded like a $4000 Neumann microphone but it worked in a pinch. Edited June 8, 2006 by CygnusX-1Bk2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Trommler Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Jun 8 2006, 07:37 PM) Ok. That's part of your problem right there. You are taking a mono signal (a single mic) and inserting it into a stereo input. You said you have two mics. If you can find a Y adaptor that will take two 1/4 inch inputs then you should do that with the two mics (if no 1/4 inch Y to mini stereo is available get an RCA to mini stereo cable and two 1/4 inch female to RCA female adaptors for the same functionality). Another problem is the mic outputs at one level and the input for the computer is another level. A small mixer will do two things. It will convert the mic level to a line level and give you better overall control of the mic input gain. Also two mics panned stereo, even if they are different will give you a better sound than just the one. The mic seems to be quite cheap, not necessarily a bad thing, just an observation. I used to record my kit with a RadioShack omni directional $10 job that did me well until I knew better. Sure, it never sounded like a $4000 Neumann microphone but it worked in a pinch. You can use a Behringer mixer. They're cheap but work very well. I have a slightly larger one that cost me about $70....The small ones go for about $30-$40.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Didact Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 My recomendation is to visit your local el-cheapo electronics and hardware store (NOT radio shack) and pick up two more mics. My brothers and I got four identical no-name mics for $12.99 each (the name was something like 2000 Audio, don't laugh, the bodies were aluminum and they sound pretty amazing for the money) and set them up around my drumset. Two hanging from the ceiling above it, one mounted just off the top of the snare (gives a great snare sound, but it can be a little hard to control hi-hat volume,) and one just poking in the opening of my bass drum head. The downside is that that many mics make a mixer a requirement, not an option, but the result is pretty professional sounding for the investment. If I had somewhere to host an mp3 I'd give you a sample of a song we recorded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
launchpad67a Posted June 19, 2006 Share Posted June 19, 2006 QUOTE (Rush Didact @ Jun 19 2006, 10:31 AM) If I had somewhere to host an mp3 I'd give you a sample of a song we recorded. RD, go to my site (in my signature mikekreidel.com), you can upload your files there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rush Didact Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 Done. It's uploaded as Numatic Lemur - East By Northwest.mp3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
launchpad67a Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 QUOTE (Rush Didact @ Jun 21 2006, 08:19 PM) Done. It's uploaded as Numatic Lemur - East By Northwest.mp3 Ok, here is the link to your song: http://www.mikekreidel.com/e107_files/publ...y_northwest.mp3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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