gamblor wrote:Anybody ever explore how to achieve the drum sound you hear on most recordings from mid to late 60’s? (Early King Crimson, the Beatles, etc.)
The tuning and drum setups of the day have a lot to do with the sound associated with it. Not only are drums, heads and cymbals mostly not made the same as then, but drummers preferences have changed as well.
gamblor wrote:From what I understand, very few microphones were used to capture those kits. What I want to know is how such a concise and dry snare and tom sound was generated on those recordings? Is there any way to mimic that using modern technology?
Very few microphones may have been used, but they were of the highest quality by today's standards.
Yes you can "mimic" those types of recordings, but there isn't any one way to do it, anymore than there was one way of how it was done in the day. As I have mentioned, the drums, cymbals, players and rooms have as much to do with that sound as everything else. This is never what people want to hear, but it is the truth.
I always associate European (especially UK) recordings having a specific drum sound from that period, as opposed to just the '60s having one drum sound. The drums were tuned higher and more open, the rooms were big and lively, and the drummers played with a style that IMO was unique.
Unless you have access to a large enough space that allows the drums to speak well, you will be limited to how close you will get to "that sound". Most of us don't have that kind of space at our regular disposal. Fluid's big room is probably appropriate, although I haven't tracked anything there myself.
The final word is, read about as many things as you can regarding the time period and who was there, and then experiment your butt off with what you have or can get your hands on. If you haven't tried it, you'll be amazed with how full a sound you can get with an appropriate, properly placed single overhead mic, with a second appropriate mic to pick up some bass drum definition. Mic choice and position are crucial.
Too many recordists don't believe that rooms are as important as everything else, but I'll tell you if I tracked a kit with an identical setup in my room at home, and the stage space at Imperial Theatre, you'd be knocked on your butt how big the difference would be. This is of course assuming I wasn't trying to super close mic and isolate the drums in the setup.
Try stuff out, and most importantly, have fun. Of course, if you have any more specific questions, ask away.
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 11:04 am