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ecording theroomTECHNOLOGY FOCUSDrums: Overheads And AmbienceNormally dynamic mics are used throughout the kit because of the high SPL – apart from overheads,which need condensers or ribbons to pick up the high frequencies of cymbals. Overheadmics can be positioned in a variety of ways and placements depending on if you want morecymbals than toms, but an X-Y set-up is a good start – that’s two cardioid mics placed facingeach other at right angles, so the heads are nearly toughing each other. This keeps phase problemsdown and is simple to adjust on one stereo mic stand for trying different heights. Don’tforget a room mic or two, these can be any type of mic, I’ve even used talk back mics(really nice as it can have some kind of hard compression built in) dynamics, condensers,ribbons, different distances from the kit and positioning in different directions. I often put lotsup and delete the ones I don’t like later. With some nice EQ and compression the room micscan add extreme power to your drum sound.Alan Branch, Producer/Engineer and Audio Media ContributorChannel Strip OptionsRecord the direct out of the mic pre before processing AND the output after processing. If you don’thave the sound dialled in the way you want it, but have the perfect take, you can still go back tothe unprocessed track.Joel Silverman, MD, Millennia Music & Media SystemsNeumann’s KH 120 studio monitor isdesigned for useas a near-fieldloudspeaker or rearloudspeaker in largermulti-channel systems.It has a MathematicallyModeled Dispersionwaveguide that provides asmoother off-axis responseand is more forgivingof diverse acousticalenvironments.A subwoofer, such asthe Neumann KH 810, withits 7.1 High Definition BassManager, can be added todeepen the low-frequency response to 18 Hz andincrease the system’s maximum output level. The 7.1High Definition Bass Manager is compatible with allstandard consumer formats from mono through tothe latest 7.1 HD systems. Eight channels of analogueensures flexible interconnectivity for modern studios.www.neumann.comHold On To AnalogueA new line of business has appeared in recording voice prompts, the annoying but perhapsnecessary instructions on helplines and the like, which have to be good quality to begin withbefore the go through all the processing in phone networks. Silk has stuck with old analoguetechnology to get good sounds on voices, with a range of SSL compressors and Focusrite micamps. “These are the things to hang on to if they really do add something to what’s going on,”Weston says.Robbie Weston, founder of Silk SoundAudio Media, December 2009AUDIO MEDIA AUGUST 20117