Hi friends, I hope you’re doing marvellously well!
Have you ever wondered how you can achieve big drums sounds in your home studio?
That’s what today’s video is all about!
I’ve been recording drums in major L.A. studios, such as Sunset Sound, United and NRG for many years. However, often budget or time may not permit to go track in these amazing live rooms. And to be honest: You don’t have to! It’s absolutely possible to get great drum recordings in an home studio environment.
In fact, when I did the ‘Fire And Water‘ duet with Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley, we tracked the drums in my tiny 15 x 9 feet home studio. I sent a mixed 2-track of the drums out to engineer/producer Greg Collins (U2, Gwen Stefani, KISS), so he could cut Paul’s vocals to it. Greg instantly called me up and said: ‘Wow these drums sound amazing, where did you cut them?’ – The answer he didn’t expect: In my home studio!
I’m not telling you this story to brag, but to encourage you and show you that it’s absolutely possible to achieve great results in your home studio! In this video, I’m showing you my exact process:
I’m joined by our apprentice Alex from Recording Connection, who has been true a pleasure to work with! I’m walking him through my drum setup, explain miking techniques I’m using and we discuss the differences of recording drums in big live room vs. recording a home studio.
When it comes to recording drums, there is no one right way to do it: Your approach may vary depending on the room you’re working in, the genre of the song, and the drum sound you’re after. This tutorial will show you multiple options to do so, I hope you enjoy it!
- SEE ALSO: Decoding Mid/Side Miking Techniques
I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial! Please leave a bunch of questions and comments below. You CAN capture great drum recordings at home, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!
Soon, we’ll have one of L.A.’s most in-demand session drummers give you a detailed breakdown his of home studio drum recording setup, so keep an eye out. =)
Have a marvellous time recording and mixing,
Warren