{"id":25,"date":"2011-01-04T15:20:05","date_gmt":"2011-01-04T23:20:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/recordingengineerschool.com\/?p=25"},"modified":"2011-01-06T10:55:38","modified_gmt":"2011-01-06T18:55:38","slug":"21-why-do-my-drums-and-bass-sound-weak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/recordingengineerschool.com\/blog\/2011\/01\/21-why-do-my-drums-and-bass-sound-weak\/","title":{"rendered":"21. \u201cWhy do my drums and bass sound weak?\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is more likely to be a problem when you are recording live instruments rather than using drum loops of prerecorded drums and bass.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you are recording live drums, a weak sound may be due to using the wrong microphones. It could also be that you have not positioned each mic correctly in relation to each of the drums.<\/p>\n

The same problems can apply to the mic on the electric bass’s speaker cabinet. Wrong mic + wrong position = bad sound.<\/p>\n

The quick fix? It’s all about EQ. (Equalization) Adding or subtracting different amounts at different frequencies.<\/p>\n

Frequencies are measured in Hertz (Hz) The human ear can hear frequencies as low as 16Hz to the high of 16,000Hz<\/p>\n

Each drum has a particular frequency area in the low range which, if boosted, makes that drum sound bigger and fatter. For example in the case of a bass drum that magic frequency is around 80 Hz.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>If you boost that frequency just a little bit with your equalizer, you’ll hear a marked difference in the sound. It’ll sound much bigger and fatter.<\/p>\n

Most bass guitar tracks are recorded with the bass plugged directly into the recording system. The sound from the instrument’s pick-up doesn’t go through an amp and speaker as it does on stage. Fatness is obtained by careful use of the equalizer in the recording program.
\nAn amp modeling plug-in is also a good way to fatten your sound.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Line6 amp modeler<\/p><\/div>\n

Amp modeling can mimic very closely the sound of real amps and speakers. But once again, modeling sometimes produces a lightweight sound so equalization has to be applied.<\/p>\n

But you could improve that sound by sending the modeled signal into an amp and speaker and put a mic on the speaker.<\/p>\n

Mic it from a distance of 3-4 feet so that you also pick up some of the reflected sound from the walls. It all adds up to a fatter sound.<\/p>\n

You could use this sound alone, or you could even mix it in with the original modeled signal.<\/p>\n

So you see – there are many was to fatten the beast! Once again, experimentation is the name of the game. (There are 28 pages in your course devoted to drums and bass recording).<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is more likely to be a problem when you are recording live instruments rather than using drum loops of prerecorded drums and bass. If you are recording live drums, a weak sound may be due to using the wrong […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n

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