If you’re a drummer, you know what dedication is. Setting up and tearing down your entire drum kit alone should earn you an award. When it comes to recording, drums pose a similar challenge. How do you record the entire drum kit? Where should you place the mics? How do you ensure a clear sound without bleed?

Recording drums can be tricky. But there are things you can do to ensure you get the best sound possible. And because drums are often considered to be the backbone of any band, it’s crucial that you get it right.

At Fire K Studios, it’s our mission to provide you with the best experience possible, and that includes recording drums. Our world-class Pittsburgh recording studio is not only conducive to capturing amazing sound, but it’s perfect for recording drums. And we have found ways to get it right.

The Basic Concepts of Recording an Acoustic Drum Kit

There are many ways to record an acoustic drum kit and the technical aspects of the recording process can get pretty in-depth. However, for the purposes of this article, we’ll start with some basics.

Microphone Setup

Typically, our microphone placement for most acoustic drum kits goes as follows:

2 (Stereo) Overheads
1-2 Room microphones
1-2 Snare microphones (top/bottom)
1-2 Kick Drum microphones (Inside/outside)
1 microphone on each tom drum
1 microphone on the high hat

We have had success with setups that had less microphones and some with more, but in our experience, this method provides a nice balance without getting overly complicated. Usually the genre and the drummer dictate where we ultimately end up.

Microphone Placement & Aim

Microphone placement and where to aim them varies with each new project and can alter the sound of each drum. We listen to each drum individually and decide several aspects on where to aim them:

Aiming towards the center (or wherever the stick/beater/hand hits) gains you more impact whereas aiming down and towards the rim or edge gains more of the drum body sound and less impact. Each has benefits and the approach is dependent on taste.
Bleed is another concern when aiming a microphone. For example, aiming a snare microphone that’s a cardoid pattern towards the high hat might pick up way too much high hat in the snare track. Changing the location of the microphone to the opposite side can help lessen the high hat bleed.
Phasing issues from multiple microphones recording the same source is another factor to consider. Sound hitting each microphone at different time can cause frequencies to offset and reduce and enhance at different intervals which often causes sonic issues, if not intentional.
Different techniques require specific directions to getting great results. Simply aiming and recording doesn’t always work with every setup. Examples are Blumlein pair, xy, spaced pair, etc.

Why You Should Record Drums in a Professional Recording Studio

The benefit of recording in a professional setting is that the staff is experienced and knowledgeable, they have a larger selection of quality microphones for the job, and they have the space to accommodate the entire kit/band. Additionally, the setting is usually better isolated from outside noises and distractions that can ruin takes and cause unnecessary stress.

Typically, professional studios design specific rooms to have consistent, predictable interaction with the sonics. What this means is a recording studio often has a “live” room (space that houses the instrument being recorded). This room is usually designed with a combination of reflective and absorbing materials. These surfaces are meticulously placed throughout the live room to ensure the acoustics of the room are optimal for capturing the audio source, in this case drums.

Home Recording Studio Limitations

When it comes to home recording, it’s rarely feasible to fabricate a space with this level of quality. When figuring out how to fit an entire drum kit in one room, space logistics can be a huge challenge for the home recording studio. Additionally, the costs associated with high-end acoustic design are often overwhelming for the DIY recording artist.

That’s one reason why a professional recording studio really is the first choice when it comes to capturing the best sound. But room acoustics and size of the space are only a part of the equation. The setup of recording an entire drumkit requires a fair amount of gear.

In a straightforward setup it may require microphones for two overheads, a snare, a kick, 3 toms, and a room. This requires 8 microphones, 8 microphone preamps to bring up to listening volume, and a mixing board or digital audio workstation (DAW) with analog/digital convertor. This basic setup doesn’t consider audio signal processors (equalization, compressors, etc.), audio cables, microphone stands, patch bays & cables, and so on.

As you can see this can become a very costly endeavor and would take some time to accrue the knowledge and equipment to get professional results. All these factors are why a professional studio is a great option and wise investment.

Recording Drums at Fire K Studios

It’s important to note that not all professional recording studios are created equal.

As one of the highest-rated recording studios in Pittsburgh, we love what we do. And we especially love to record drums. At Fire K studios, we have worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the recording process meets the highest standard.

Comfortable Space and Great Isolation

Our live room is very spacious and fits a full drum kit quite comfortably. It also offers plenty of space to play alongside your bandmates. But where we really excel is our studio’s exceptional isolating capability. For example, two guitarists and a bassist can all play together in the live room, but we can isolate each of their tracks individually. In other words, you can play as you would at a live show, but with the great isolation of a high-end recording.

This gives the drummer the option to play with a looser vibe approach. Some drummers prefer this over tracking drums just to a metronome. Of course, you can do a hybrid approach as well and get the benefits of both.

The key takeaway is that when you record drums with us, you have flexible options that home recording setups, and even some professional studios, just don’t have.

Fire K Studios - Amazing Acoustic Design

Our recording studio rooms were designed from the ground up by renowned acoustical engineer Gregg Vizza. Instead of repurposing or renovating an existing space, we started from scratch to create our dream recording studio. With Gregg’s guidance, and a lot of hard work, we established a world-class recording studio with amazing acoustical design. And our acoustics make all the difference, especially when it comes to drums.

Our Friendly Staff of Engineers

Another important incalculable factor is the value we place on customer service. Our professional mentality is one where we work with you, answering your questions and hearing your concerns. We work to make sure you are satisfied throughout the process. Our engineers are experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated, and though we are proud of the work we do, none of it matters to us if you aren’t happy with the results.

Not every professional recording studio employs the same client-centered approach that we do. And our customer-oriented style is a major reason for our many repeat customers.

Large Selection of Gear

We also provide numerous options for microphones, which provides a large palette to work with on your project. This gives the ability to have multiple setups and variations without having to settle. Some of our more widely used drum microphones are:

For Overhead/Ambient/Cymbals/Hi-Hats

Earthworks QTC30 Omnidirectional Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone (stereo pair) - Accurate, clean, flat response small-diaphragm microphones. They offer a stunning life-like sound. The detail and realism make them ideal for drum overheads or ambient applications. They have a beautiful sound that feels like you are in the room with the drummer.
sE Electronics sE4400a Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone (stereo pair) - These microphones have a more colorful response to the drum kit. The frequency response is geared toward enhancing the drums and creating a fun vibe. They are very versatile and just plain sound great.
Audix ADX51 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone (stereo pair) - These microphones have a smooth consistent sound, which makes them great for overheads, cymbals, and high-hats.
Rode NT5 Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphone (stereo pair) – Crisp and clear and great for getting details on cymbals and high-hats.

For Snares

Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone – the ultimate workhorse microphone. Used on numerous sources. More specifically, it has great presence frequency boost which highlights the snap of the snare, bringing out the its character.
Audix i5 Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone – A great sounding microphone that has a little more thickness or weight to it. Great for getting a fatter snare sound versus a crisp, snappy snare.

For the Bass Drum

AKG D112 MKII Cardioid Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone – This microphone has an amazing bass response and a nice presence boost, giving a nice beefy kick sound. A very well-rounded sound that makes it a staple for any studio.
Audix D6 Cardioid Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone – A solid microphone that has the right boosts to capture the bass drum. It has a tighter, focused sound.

For Toms

Sennheiser MD 421-II Cardioid Dynamic Microphone – Great bass response and clear articulate sound. Captures all the nuance of the tom drum.
Audix D2 Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone - A big, punchy microphone. It has a nice natural reduction in the muddy frequency of the tom.
Audix D4 Hypercardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone – This microphone has a great low frequency response, clear and focused. It's great for the floor toms (as well the bass drum).

These are just a few of the more traditional microphones used in our drum applications. We pride ourselves on trying new and different setups that don't always follow traditional methods. (FYI: This list is not exhaustive - visit our equipment page for a complete list.)

Our Incredible Acoustic Drum Kits

At Fire K Studios, we have plenty of room for your acoustic drum kit. But for drummers who want options, we have two full house kits, two additional snares, and a large selection of cymbals available:

ddrum Dominion Maple Custom:

10x8 (dia x depth) rack tom
12x8 rack tom
14x14 floor
16x14 floor
20x20 kick
13x6.5 snare

ddrum Hybrid Birch Kit

10x7 Rack tom
12x8 Rack tom
14x12 floor tom
16x14 floor tom
22x18 kick
14x6 snare

Additional Snares

14x3 GMS Custom Maple snare
12x3.5 Tama steel snare

Cymbals

Sabian AAX Series
20 stage ride
18 stage crash (x2)
17 stage crash
14 rock hats (AA series x2)
12 splash
10 china splash
16 china
18 china
10 splash/14 china trash hats
7 LP ice bell
9.5 Zildjian Zilbel
Zildjian 14” A Custom Mastersound Hats
Sabian HHX Evolution 16” Crash
Paiste 18” Rude China

Fire K Studios Drum Tech

In addition to all of the above, we offer something truly special at Fire K Studios – our experienced drum technician.

A studio is only as good as the staff behind the gear and at Fire K Studios, we are privileged to have one of Pittsburgh's best drummers, Kurt Liebmann, on hand as our drum tech & studio engineer. With 30+ years of drumming experience, both live and session drumming, Kurt is a major asset to our studio. Our clients have the option to employ Kurt’s expertise, and even his personal drum collections, into their recording process. Kurt’s expert-level knowledge and laid-back, approachable style makes him a dream to work with.

Work With Us

As you can see, there are lots of reasons to record drums at Fire K Studios. Not only do we have the space, gear, staff, and knowledge, but we have the attitude and dedication to make your next project a success.

For more info about what we offer, check out our services page, or go here to book a recording session now.

At Fire K Studios, we love what we do, and we think you will, too.

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