$100k plus mics on drum kit!

$100k plus mics on drum kit!
251 heaven
https://youtu.be/agunxOB8ub4

Here's a classic one:
https://www.discogs.com/Jack-Sperling-Pete-Fountain-Presents-Jack-Sperling-And-His-Fascinatin-Rhythm/release/1862428#images/2848561

OPR said:

$100k plus mics on drum kit!
251 heaven
https://youtu.be/agunxOB8ub4

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great vid! helpful exercises 

And then what we hear is the camera microphone!  ;D
(By the way: I would never use such expensive microphones on a drumkit, you never know what the drummer is going to hit!)

RuudNL said:

And then what we hear is the camera microphone!  ;D

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Nope, this is rough tracking mix, maybe some eq, but this is exactly how these mics sound recorded to the tape with minimal processing. Room mic fader is quite high, what made you think it was camera sound.

Well, that may be so, but it isn't the sound I would expect from a $100K+ setup!

Any idea of the studio?

Looks like AKG 451EB on snare.

And what's the hat mic?

Love the Camco kick pedal!

Hi all,

The studio in the video is/was Schnee Studio in Los Angeles.  The former owner Bill Schnee sold the studio in 2015 to Larrabee Studios, which is also home to mixing engineer Manny Marroquin.  At one point, Bill owned one of the biggest microphone collections around; certainly less than Blackbird, Abbey Road and Ocean Way, but right up there.

Look Bill Schnee up and also look up the Shefield Labs transformerless tube microphones made by Doug Sax - good reads!

At one point, Bill had eight original ELA M 251's that he had no problem using on drums.  In fact, there are YouTube videos of George Massenburg discussing his use of Bill's drum miking techniques. 

Bill's a real treasure and a lover of New York City pizza as well - not that you needed that information.

Best,

Greg

100k in mics on the drums.....combined with a god-aweful DX7 patch. Thats why I love the late 80s.  ;D

80's are perfect example how musicians matter, and not the gear. As Ruud said one would expect 100.000 $ drum sound, but it's just not there.

Sounds like a tracking mix to me, probably the feed from the stereo buss as they were tracking.

Porcaro's class comes smashing through though.

IIRC, Schnee Studio also had 32 Mastering Lab mic preamps!

Hmmmm...... my drum-rack* - (even together with the [trigger]-microphones and effect rack used with it) - was way cheaper and provides everything one needs.  And yes, it never comes to late, it is never drunken and it always keeps the beat.  8)

* 1x Simmons SDS-1000M, 2x Roland R-8M, 1x Roland TR-505, 2x Roland U-110, 2x Roland U-220, 1x Korg DDD-1, 1x Korg DRM-1, 1x Korg DDM-110, 1x Emu Proteus/2 XR, 1x Emu Pro-Cussion, 1 Alesis D4, 2x Alesis DM5, 1x Yamaha RX11,.....

RuudNL said:

(By the way: I would never use such expensive microphones on a drumkit, you never know what the drummer is going to hit!)

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Actually, it's easy to know what they'll hit. You look at the pattern on the batter heads. Unless they were just replaced and nobody's even warmed up, you have a perfect statistical history of where the sticks have hit the drum. This also helps you to position the mike to get the right amount of 'point' - you can aim the mike's HF beam at the magic spot or aim it away as required.

The only time I've had a problem with drummers and microphones was when they repositioned them - got a small grille dent in a pristine TLM 170 used on the floor tom. Jerk! So, my rule is, if I position them, they stay put. Otherwise, you don't get to play the drums LOL!

I repaired many hit by drummers SM57, MD441, MD421, D224, C451 etc. Some were hit so hard, that the coils were ripped off the diaphragm. Putting good mike on the drums always is a risk, good to know the drummer first or use e604 on each drum except the kick 

I used to use an EV 664 on drummers - every time they hit a mic, I hit them with the 664!

I don't think Jeff Porcaro was the kind if drummer who hits things unintentionally.

Btw i am suuuuper satisfied with mxl603 type mics on toms. Kill any dynamic i tried there. And they can hit them all day long for 30$ piece.

mjrippe said:

I used to use an EV 664 on drummers - every time they hit a mic, I hit them with the 664!

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And if you wanted to curse the drummer then you replaced the 664 with the 666 right!?  ;D

OPR said:

$100k plus mics on drum kit!
251 heaven

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Straight from the horse's mouth the answer comes few years later. And some technical info about the particular mics used. Starts at 1:30:57.

Mega cool setup and session. Very "front of the face" drums But if you listen closely to the noise floor while speaking at the end of the Porcaros jam session, you can clearly hear the 251 mics and their high Noise level