EQ'ing drums


maestro shaz
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Joined: 08/20/06
Posts: 245
maestro shaz
Registered User
Joined: 08/20/06
Posts: 245
02/05/2007 7:07 am
Anyone got tips for EQing drums???

Kick
Snare
Hat
2 crashes
Ride
Hi, Mid, Floor tom

Just to get some starters....

And also another thing, I've been experimenting with Compression on drums...

It's seems to work well with the snare, but with the kick it doesnt really sound good no matter how much i tweak the settings....

Well basically, I wanna know, what to compress? Do I have to do it or does it depend on the actually sample of the kit???

When and where should I use compression on drums and how to EQ them is basically all im asking :p Hope u understand
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# 1
da_ardvark
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Joined: 07/11/06
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da_ardvark
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Joined: 07/11/06
Posts: 407
02/07/2007 8:50 pm
Are you going to mic each drum and have two overhead condensers?

If so then you'll need to gate each mic to prevent bleed over. For compression I take each a use an eq on the sidchain and tweak till satisfied.
# 2
PlatonicShred
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Joined: 01/27/07
Posts: 93
PlatonicShred
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Joined: 01/27/07
Posts: 93
02/16/2007 4:51 am
Originally Posted by: maestro shazAnyone got tips for EQing drums???

Kick
Snare
Hat
2 crashes
Ride
Hi, Mid, Floor tom

Just to get some starters....

And also another thing, I've been experimenting with Compression on drums...

It's seems to work well with the snare, but with the kick it doesnt really sound good no matter how much i tweak the settings....

Well basically, I wanna know, what to compress? Do I have to do it or does it depend on the actually sample of the kit???

When and where should I use compression on drums and how to EQ them is basically all im asking :p Hope u understand



Ah, quite the common problem. The drum is just too loud, too percussive, and too much for most recording mics to capture well. First of all, you need to make sure each mic you use corresponds to the tonal soundscape it is set to record.

Example: I wouldn't mic the bass drum with an SM-57, because the SM-57 has its best response in the mid-range of frequencies, with a peak at the point bewteen mid and high.

Assuming you've got the right setup and gear, continue down the line to your EQ.

The problem here is that different styles of drumming require different sets of EQ--you may want a really wet snap to the snare, or perhaps you want it to sound dry for a clean march beat...each of these require different EQ.

So, first, you should picture what sound you want.

As far as just a general rock sound, I'd say roll down the bass decibels just a hair, and turn up the mids a bit. That will give that snare-and-hi-hat-in-your-face punchy sound.
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# 3
Superhuman
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Joined: 04/18/05
Posts: 1,334
Superhuman
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Joined: 04/18/05
Posts: 1,334
02/19/2007 12:37 pm
Drums are particularly difficult to get right, especially if you are not using an studio engineer. One solution is to use a refill software package such as Drumagog. You record your drums with each drum and cymbal tracked separately, then you run it through Drumagog which triggers professional mixed and engineered samples at various velocities depending on the frequencies of the various hits. A lot of bands and engineers use this type of software even on one drum in the mix if not on the whole kit. Great solution if you don't have expensive mics, preamps, compressors and plugs and even better if you have a drummer and are no good at programming midi (more direct alternative to DFHS). Could be worth the investment...
# 4

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