Obtain The Multitracks: https://producelikeapro.lpages.co/kyros-rumour-form/
Recording Drums with A number of Audient Interfaces: One Tune, 5 Setups, Limitless Classes
Hello everyone. Hope you might be doing marvellously properly.
We headed into Smart Music with a easy concept and a barely mad plan. Audient say the mic preamp high quality is constant throughout their vary, from essentially the most inexpensive packing containers proper as much as the highest finish. So reasonably than argue about spec sheets, we determined to do the one take a look at that issues, file an actual music, with an actual drummer, in an actual room, and monitor drums by the entire line.
Right here is the twist. We didn’t simply swap interfaces and maintain all the pieces else an identical. We intentionally used every interface the best way most individuals really would, based mostly on the accessible inputs and options. That meant the drum setup modified every time, going from eight mics, to 4, to 2, to at least one. You get to listen to the distinction between a full multi mic seize and a stripped again, placement pushed seize, whereas additionally getting a really feel for the way every interface matches right into a sensible workflow.
This isn’t about “are you able to file drums at dwelling”, you already can. That is about tips on how to make good selections with the gear you even have.
The Core Thought: The Similar Preamp DNA, Totally different Actual World Constraints
Throughout the vary, the expertise is acquainted. Stable construct, low latency over USB C, simple acquire construction, and an sincere, clear seize that takes processing properly. The place issues begin to separate just isn’t “sound high quality” in a dramatic evening and day manner, it’s workflow.
What number of mics are you able to plug in.
Whether or not you possibly can increase through optical.
Whether or not you possibly can insert outboard on the best way in.
The way you deal with monitoring and headphone mixes.
How rapidly you possibly can transfer from a solo session to monitoring different musicians.
When you’re recording drums, these variations develop into very apparent, in a short time.
The Interfaces and How We Used Every One on Drums
iD48: Eight mics, full management, outboard inserts, correct studio workflow
This was the most important drum seize and essentially the most versatile entrance finish.
Why it issues for drums
You’ve got eight mic pres on faucet, and also you even have correct insert routing through DB25. Which means you possibly can decide to outboard compression or EQ on the best way in, and you too can use that very same outboard for mixing later.
How we tracked the package
We went for a full eight channel strategy. Kick, snare, toms, hats, overheads, plus a mono “glue” mic to seize the package as an entire.
Outboard on the best way in
We leaned into inserts the place it made sense.
Kick acquired a contact of DBX fashion management for punch.
Snare acquired an 1176 fashion chunk, quick, assertive, thrilling.
Overheads acquired valve color from a Chisik Attain, which added heat and smoothed the cymbals in a really musical manner.
That is essentially the most “console like” expertise of the entire lineup, not as a result of it’s attempting to look classic, however as a result of it behaves like a severe studio hub. Interface, monitoring, talkback, headphone sends, outboard entry, the lot.
What you study
When you’ve channels, you could be beneficiant with element. You possibly can mic the hats, give the toms their very own area, and construct the package like a file from the beginning.
Audient ID48: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/VOyNKa
iD24 plus SP8: Eight mics once more, identical finish end result, completely different path to get there
This setup was about proving one thing vital. You do not want the flagship interface to get a full drum seize, when you construct sensibly.
Why it issues for drums
The iD24 offers you core inputs plus insert factors on the analogue channels, and ADAT growth allows you to add an eight channel preamp just like the Audient SP8. All of a sudden you might be in full band territory.
How we used it
We matched the identical eight mic strategy because the iD48 session, and saved the identical plugin workflow later. The purpose was to not chase microscopic variations, it was to point out that you could obtain the identical sensible functionality, eight inputs for drums, with a modular rig.
What you study
Expandability is not only a characteristic, it’s a long run plan. It allows you to keep away from sideways steps. You begin small, then add inputs while you really want them.
Audient ID24: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/jraDb6
Audient Evo SP8: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/3kPE2r
iD44: 4 mics, the basic “reasonable dwelling studio” drum session
4 channels nonetheless feels luxurious when you begin taking mics away.
Why it issues for drums
4 mic drum recording is a candy spot for lots of dwelling setups. You continue to get stereo overheads, and you’ll maintain kick and snare as devoted shut mics.
How we tracked the package
Kick.
Snare.
Overhead left.
Overhead proper.
No hat mic, no tom shut mics, no devoted mono package mic. So it’s a must to make the overheads do extra work, and it’s a must to place them with intent so the toms communicate and the package sounds full.
What you study
With 4 mics, the overheads develop into the package. The kick and snare develop into the main focus. The higher the drummer, the better this will get, and Ray completely delivered.
Audient ID44 MKII: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/5gB5vD
iD14: Two mics, a lesson in priorities, punch plus image
Two channels is the place you cease considering like an engineer with infinite choices and begin considering like a producer with a deadline.
Why it issues for drums
Two channel interfaces are extremely frequent. In case you are working at dwelling, that is typically the fact.
How we tracked the package
Kick mic for punch.
A single mic capturing the entire package for the image.
The logic was easy, protect the “engine” of the monitor with the kick, and let one properly positioned mic present all the pieces else, snare, cymbals, toms, vibe.
What you study
You possibly can completely monitor drums with two inputs. The sound is extra mono, extra direct, and it forces you to make association selections and blend selections with far much less muddle.
Audient ID14 MKII: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xLnmoR
iD4: One mic, full dedication, pure placement, pure angle
That is the one individuals least count on to work, and it’s the one which teaches you essentially the most.
Why it issues for drums
The iD4 is designed for solo creators, vocals, guitars, fast demos, and journey. Nevertheless, one nice preamp plus one properly positioned mic can nonetheless make a file, when you deal with the limitation as a inventive temporary reasonably than an issue.
How we tracked the package
One mono mic on the package, capturing all the pieces.
We ended up being genuinely blown away by how a lot info got here by, particularly as soon as we made positive we weren’t by accident excessive passing the life out of it. The massive shock was how a lot low finish a single mic may seize when positioned correctly and when the package and the drummer are constant.
The fact examine
With one mic, cymbals can take over if placement is fallacious. In case you want extra kick and snare, you progress the mic, you modify the peak, you modify the angle, you goal away from the tough stuff, you chase steadiness.
What you study
One mic drum recording just isn’t a gimmick. It’s a talent. It’s mic placement, tuning, efficiency, and judgement. If you may make one mic sound good, each multi mic session you do afterwards will get higher.
Audient ID4 MKII: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/nLnKbX
The Mic Strategy That Made the Entire Experiment Work
An enormous a part of why this take a look at was helpful is that we didn’t change all the pieces each time. The microphones stayed acquainted and purposeful.
Overheads had been dealt with by a pair of Austrian Audio OC818s.
Kick was captured with an Austrian Audio OC7.
Toms had been on MD421s, the basic for a motive.
Hello hat was the shock, an Electro Voice PL9, initially a lectern mic, discovered within the studio and nonetheless doing an unbelievable job.
The “complete package” mono mic was the Coles 4038, which turned out to be the star of the present, clean high, big mids, and way more low finish than most individuals count on.
The most important takeaway just isn’t “which mic is finest”. It’s {that a} coherent mic alternative plus a constant drummer offers you a steady basis, then the interface and channel depend merely resolve how a lot element you possibly can seize.
Inserts and Outboard: When It Helps, and When You Can Ignore It
Some of the sensible variations throughout the vary is insert functionality.
On interfaces just like the iD24, iD44, and particularly the iD48, inserts allow you to decide to compression on the best way in, which could be sensible for kick and snare. It isn’t obligatory, and you may make nice information with out it, nonetheless it will probably velocity up determination making and assist a drum sound arrive already feeling like a file.
On the smaller interfaces, you skip all of that and deal with seize. Clear, steady acquire, good placement, and also you course of later.
Each approaches are legitimate. The one fallacious transfer is attempting to do all the pieces directly and doing none of it properly.
The Huge Takeaway: Channel Rely Modifications the Drum Sound Extra Than the Interface
In case you hear throughout the variations, essentially the most dramatic variations come from the mic setup, not from some mysterious “low-cost pre vs costly pre” second. Eight mics offers you element and choices. 4 mics offers you punch and readability. Two mics offers you vibe and focus. One mic offers you honesty, and forces you to earn the sound.
For this reason the experiment is so helpful. It meets individuals the place they’re.
When you have an iD4 or iD14, you possibly can nonetheless file drums, and you’ll nonetheless make it thrilling.
When you have an iD24 or iD44, you’ve a really severe dwelling studio entrance finish, and you’ll increase when you’re prepared.
When you have an iD48, you’ve a studio hub, constructed for outboard, full classes, and correct monitoring workflow.
And whichever one you might be utilizing, the identical precept applies.
Limitations power creativity, and creativity forces you to get higher.
Sensible Setups You Can Copy As we speak
One enter
One mic on the package, transfer it till the snare speaks and the kick exists, then modify top and angle to manage cymbals.
Two inputs
Kick mic plus one package mic, deal with the second mic like your complete drum sound and place it accordingly.
4 inputs
Kick, snare, stereo overheads, goal overheads to seize toms and the package image, not simply cymbals.
Eight inputs
Kick, snare, toms, hats, overheads, plus one “complete package” mic for glue, then select what to characteristic within the combine.
