miking up drums will never be the same

next to nothing · Post by **next to nothing** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:47 am

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4637203.stm

Post by **hubird** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 6:26 am

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:05 am

Despite the interesting new technology they display, you can be sure engineers will continue to record with microphones in their studios for years… the reason being their knowledge and the sound, which can be varied greatly through this old technique. Anyway, there are already extremely professional sets of microphones made exclusively for percussive instruments.

There are still a few important disadvantages to this new technology: being the first one, the “natural distance” created through the take of a microphone, against the always close and attached pick-up; second, the quality of the drum to be amplified, as this will bring up the characteristics of the materials and construction, very much so, against the possibility to change it through mikin, that allows you to “search” for frequencies “you” want to record, and use them. I have witnessed excellent drum sound recording through unviable bad drums kits.

Perhaps for Rock music they are more suitable, but not for every style. I think they will be used sparingly, or even better, they will be used “with” microphones, creating more responsive, define drum sounds, but not much by themselves.

bassdude · Post by **bassdude** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:26 pm

I'm a bit skeptical about this. A similarity for me would be miking an acoustic guitar or using the electronic pickup in an acoustic guitar. IMO a miced acoustic guitar sounds better.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:35 pm

Exactly, this is the way I think about it too Bassdude...

Post by **hubird** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 7:21 pm

not me...every new approach leads to new sounds, if not the same as the old way in this case

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 8:52 pm

Well, this is way to obvious, nobody said don't kiling new technology, of course we like it, great, but the point is "better" sound, or let say, "sounds" that please your ears more than others... This is the point I think.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 6:53 pm

Hmmm this could be used for a lot of other instruments.

Microphones are great (some are great and some suck) but they are also artificial and expensive. It all depends on how this new technology sounds and the cost of it.

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 7:02 pm

A friend got an acoustic bass guitar recently with these bubble-filled pickups in it - sounded pretty good plugged in, a tight & defined sound.

Post by **hubird** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:24 am

ah...

if studio engineers realize the time they win with this, they will use it.
Otherwise the neighbour studio will get their clients by offering lower price settings

Soon we will have typical mike emulating software, just like with amb cabinets, or do we have that already

Me$$iah · Post by **Me$$iah** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:55 am

I think using these instead of direct mics whilst still using overheads and room mics, maybe a 57 on the snare, would improve the definition of each drum. And could lead to much cleaner drum tracks and better drum mixes.
Also the time saved in setting up such a kit would be immeasurable

-
Me$$iah

wayne · Post by **wayne** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 7:30 am

If you're after clean, that is....

_________________

- I say this because I play with a filthy drummer

This would not work for him

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: wayne on 2005-07-15 08:35 ]</font>

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 8:57 am

They might be designed more for playing live than for recording because that is a major problem.