One-,Two-,and Three-Mic Setups for a More Natural Sound   by Mark Parsons   Whether you use the term “minimal,” “organic,” “old school,” or “vintage,” there’s definitely a renewed interest in capturing that drumset-in-a-room vibe that was employed on pretty much any recording prior to the late 1960s, when close miking became the norm. Early Motown music, bebop, classic rock, and more recent productions by the Black Keys and the White Stripes all feature a sonic landscape containing the raw power of the drumset considered as a single instrument existing in a real space. In this article we’re going to take a look at a few different ways to capture that sound with a simple setup involving one, two, or three microphones.   THE BASICS There are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to recording, other than if it sounds right for the song, it is right. So take the following […]

May 2013 Issue