Drum recording can be challenging, even if you’re working in a professional tracking studio. Recording drums DIY at home or in a rehearsal space, though, and getting good results can become even harder. Space limitations and less-than-ideal acoustics, for example, can really hamper your efforts.

This month, editors Paul White and Hugh Robjohns tackle the thorny issue of drum recording in small rooms. By recording Paul’s drums in his home studio, the pair outline a process for getting usable results without using drum replacement tools.

Along the way, they cover acoustics, drum tuning, microphone techniques, making small kicks sound bigger, and how to fake a room when yours doesn't sound great.

You can also download the audio from the session to hear the (abominable) room mic and the unprocessed audio tracks on the SOS website.

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Chapters

ACOUSTICS

00:00 - Introduction
00:45 - Acoustics Of A Small Space
01:21 - Reflections From A Low Ceiling
03:10 - Wall Reflections

DRUM SETUP

04:36 - Drum Kit Tuning And Damping
05:31 - Tuning Toms With A Tension Pressure Gauge
06:36 - Damping Heads With Moon Gel, Tape, Or Towel
07:46 - Cymbals

MICROPHONE SETUP

09:01 - Microphone Setup
09:42 - Glyn Johns Technique
10:26 - Microphone Selection
11:53 - Kick Drum Microphone
13:06 - Overheads
15:15 - Effects Of Out Of Phase Microphones Explained

16:01 - DRUM TRACKING

PROCESSING & MIXING

16:30 - Kick Drum Processing Techniques
18:31 - Tom Processing Techniques
19:55 - Snare Drum Processing
20:40 - Overhead Mic Processing
21:28 - Overall Mix Bus Compression
22:24 - Convolution Reverb
23:15 - Listening To The Full Mix
24:08 - Summary Of The Basic Principles

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