So, here’s the deal. You’re in a studio and you’re looking for the perfect sounding drums. You’re looking for something that’s not too in your face, and not too simple as well; something that’s just right. Your looking to record 70’s styled drums.
Truly a great time for music, the 1970’s was sport to many bands that still sound great today. Bands like Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Heart, Super tramp and Electric Light Orchestra just to name a few. These bands seemed to have a pretty big drum sound, so to re-create that is most ideal to bring a snapshot of history into the music of today.
How to Set Up Your Drums
I honestly don’t know how much this matters in the long run, but if you’re going for authentic, maybe this is for you. Apparently when the early 70’s rolled out, the big craze for drummers was to have no bottom skin on the Tom Toms that were being used. A complete pain in the arse for drum companies at the time as the drums made before this craze weren’t made with detachable bottom skins. AN interesting fact I know; where I’m getting at is if you’re looking for a 70’s sound, perhaps removing the bottom skin is for you.
A good way to set up the kit for some 70’s nostalgia, is to set up a kit as normal (told you it wasn’t too important). Kits started getting larger back then so add a couple more toms toms to your kit and your good. Another thing of interest is drum sticks were almost always made of wood, so go with the old reliable as opposed to a nylon tip. Kick drums back then were played with a pedal with a soft wood or hard felt fabric tip, to as to get the punchiest sound possible.
The Microphone Setup
The Kick drum is a large part of the 70’s drum sound. If the front head is either solid or covers 50% of space, remove it. The idea is to remove some of them low frequency resonant frequencies; so throw in some pillows, a doona or some packing foam to soak it up. Microphone wise, it’s advised to use something like an AKG D12 for the Kick; inserted around ¾ the way into the kick (while keeping an ear out for snare bleed). The closer the mic is put to the back skin or Batter Head, the more punch you will pick up in the mic, but also the more of the kick pedal you will pick up as well; so balance is key.
The Snare drum requires a little preparation as well before it can be recorded as well. A 70’s styled snare most of the time is pretty muffled. This effect can be achieved by simply placing a wallet on the top of the snare (the Head). Once this is achieved, you can just use a ShureSM57 on the top, about 2.5 cm’s inside the rim, aimed toward the centre of the top drum skin. The snare bottom is to be then miked with an AKG D1000E or any microphone that has a low-cut function. This is done to add an extra crispness to the snare sound overall. Aiming the mic at the snares, but away from the kick so as to stop that kick bleed.
The Toms requires that preparation from earlier, where you remove the bottom skins. By placing Sennheiser 421’s inside the tom toms (all of them), facing the top skin so as to grab that quick attack. The toms can be tuned however the drummer likes. All that is left is to muffle the toms, with a small piece of cloth, a napkin or some tissues held down by duct tape will do the job.
The overheads are the last to be miked up, with an XY or Spaced Array technique. The mikes that have been recommended to use in such a situation, are a matched pair of Shure SM81’s, so as to grab a perfect high symbol tone. These mikes should be sittin’ pretty in a Shure A27M microphone holder so at to protect those precious overheads. These overheads should be sitting a little lower to the kit, than today’s regular standard distance as that is how it was done back then. Miking the High Hat is an optional thing, as the overheads would surely grab all the crisp hat sound.
And there we are, 70’s drum miking. A little odd I know but sounds great and is a very signature sound. Definitely worth the hastle.
Wyatt Nicholls
Novice Sound Engineer
Student at SAE
References:
Haines, Garrett. (07/03/2013). How to Create Drum Sounds From the 70’s. Accessed at http://drummagazine.com/how-to-recreate-drum-sounds-of-the-1970s/
[Image] http://blurtonline.com/feature/far-fucking-led-zeppelin-reissues-concert-memory/
[Image] https://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-1970s-ludwig-vistalite-drum-set-clear-blue-/321148007518
Wyatt Nicholls 