General Recording

[TonyBar3]

Okay, I've got a TASCAM 4 Track portastudio that does the 4 simultaneous track recordings at one time. I have a decent mic, for guitar and I've been giving it one track.

Bass has a XLR output from the amp to the portastudio and been giving it one track.

What can I do with the drums with the other 2 tracks? Suggest mics, mixers, whatever, but keep it cheap ($200). I know that doesn't give you much to work with.

Also, the recording is done with everyone in one room (12 ft X 15 ft). How can I isolate the sound coming from the different instruments from appearing too heavily on the other tracks.

Current problems:

Guitar sounds thin
Guitar track is always heard on the drum track.
Bass sounds dull. Has bass, but very loose, not like it sounds live at all.
I'm an idiot for drum micing. Never done it. the best sound we got was actually placing a mic 6 inches from the floor, positioned and 5 inches back from the space between the floor tom and bass drum, and right there I get a pretty even volume on all the drums. I've tried hanging that same mic between the crashes, but about a foot up from them and I get too much cymbal and no bass.

Like I said, I'm a complete novice. I know how to bounce tracks, but that's about it. And I hate bouncing b/c once you've used the tape in any one spot, the sound is always there, really faint, but always there.

I would also like advice for tracking everything seperately, but with a drum program (I don't have my own set and would still like to do 'band' recordings). Free programs only though. Or ones I can d/l off of the internet and hide from the Feds :fing2:

Thanks.:headbang:

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: General Recording

To PROPERLY mic drums, you need at least 6 mics IMO, but I doubt that's a realistic option for you

If you've only got two, my advice would be to put one near the kick drum about a foot or so back, and hang the second from the ceiling about 2 feet above the height of the highest cymbal. Tweak the mic placement by recording a few seconds of drums, listening back, moving one of the mics a couple of inches, repeat until you're satisfied. Even the best engineers mic drums through trial and error, so don't get too discouraged if it sounds like crap at first.

For isolation, one of the best cheap solutions is an old mattress. Put it between your drums and your amps. It is also a good idea to deaden the acoustics of your rehearsal space, not only to help isolate instruments but also to keep the volume down to a reasonable level. The cheapest and easiest way to do this is with old blankets or carpet hanging on the walls and ceiling. Call up a carpet layer and ask them to give you the old carpet and foam they pull out from their next job (they're just going to throw it out anyway). You will be amazed at what a difference this makes.