tips for recording percussion

[Leadfinger]

Hey guys, I am about to record some percussion overdubs (tambourine, cymbals, shakers et) - anyone got any interesting mic placement ideas or tips. I was thinking about doing two stereo overheads (rode NT5) and a large condenser (rode Nt2000) in fig 8 down lower and in front of the player. I guess I'm approaching it similar to recording the drums...should I record in a live sounding space or dead.

[propofol]

NT5's are a great choice I think - particularly when used in overhead situations.
We used some on a live drum session we recorded 2 weeks ago and the drums came out very well (on the O/H's)..
Will give you a nice 'stereo' image of the instrument (if thats wehat you are also after!)
Try using a mic with a different hardness factor (where you are using the NT2000) to give a variety of the tone quality. Will make a nice blend.
Just a suggestion..
Tim..

[propofol]

Funny, I just noticed you are from Sydney too!!

Tim..

[Tuur]

just an sm 58 will do a lot, or a bassdrum mic and the km184, and then in a corner or in the room....outside?

tube pre amps!
put mics on strange places

Tuur

(other side of the world)

[Leadfinger]

just an sm 58 will do a lot, or a bassdrum mic and the km184, and then in a corner or in the room....outside?

tube pre amps!
put mics on strange places

Might try that, mics in strange places could be good and something other than a condenser close in. Might even try a strange room. Good tips guys thanks. DUC rules!!

[albee1952]

Try fewer mics to preserve phase. I would start with the NT5's and nothing else until you find you really need it. Maybe you can get the player to record the cymbals in a seperate pass.

[Leadfinger]

Try fewer mics to preserve phase. I would start with the NT5's and nothing else until you find you really need it. Maybe you can get the player to record the cymbals in a seperate pass.

yeah, good call - phase gives me the [bleep] (to put it bluntly) and I'm sick of nudging files - two overheads it is - now if I can just find my drummer I'll be set!

[propofol]

NT5's make great overheads..
I think you'll be very happy with the result.
SM58's are fine if you like that midrange hump it gives..
Tim..

[bigdoghat]

Watch out for a subtle low frequency thunk sound on the tambourine - if you hear that, the musician's too close to the mic!!

[StudioRat81]

I know I'm a few months late on this post, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents anyway...

For recording tambourine and shakers, I usually just put an omni about 6 feet away and 5-6 feet off the floor in a live sounding room. Watch the levels though, because both of those instruments tend to have massive transients (10-20 dB in the case of the tambourine.)

I've also gotten some interesting sounds using a ribbon mic on a tambourine, then adding some slapback delay to widen it out a bit. It took plenty of high end EQ to make it pop, but the ribbon mic really brought out some interesting tonal characteristics and the delay was just freakin' cool. Ribbon mics also tend to compress the signal quite a bit in a very smooth, natural way, which helps to control the level spikes on percussive instruments, and makes life a little easier at mixdown.