Recording Secrets For The Small Studio - Additional Resources

The following audio examples were recorded with drummer Peter Zimre in a large, high-ceilinged converted loft space. The microphones used were Avantone CK1 small-diaphragm condenser mics, preamplified via an Audient ASP008 multi-channel microphone preamp and recorded digitally without any signal processing.

Multimic Setup 1

This microphone setup used five Avantone CK1 microphones with their cardioid capsules to record the angular dispersion of four different cymbals: a nineteen-inch Sabian AAX X-Plosion Crash (‘Crash 1’, shown below); an eighteen-inch Sabian AA Medium Thin Crash (‘Crash 2’); atwenty-inch Zildjian K Custom Ride (‘Ride’); and a nineteen-inch AAXX-Treme Chinese (‘China’).

• Angles In The Vertical Plane: With the cymbal set up on a stand about 1.3m from the floor, the mics were placed on the vertical plane of the player at five different angles to the cymbal: directly above the cymbal; 30 degrees from vertical; 60 degrees from vertical; on the horizontal plane of the cymbal; and 30 degrees below the horizontal plane of the cymbal. All mics were approximately 60cm from the cymbal’s bell in each case.

Multimic Setup 2

This microphone setup used five Avantone CK1 microphones with their cardioid capsules to record different above-cymbal placements for the same four different cymbals: a nineteen-inch Sabian AAX X-Plosion Crash(‘Crash 1’); an eighteen-inch Sabian AA Medium Thin Crash (‘Crash2’); a twenty-inch Zildjian K Custom Ride (‘Ride’, shown below); and a nineteen-inch AAX X-Treme Chinese (‘China’).

• Positions Above The Cymbal: With the cymbal set up on a stand about 1.3m from the floor, the mics were placed on the horizontal line roughly 45cm above the cymbal surface pointing downwards at five different locations on the cymbal: the player’s edge; midway between the player’s edge and the bell; directly on the bell; midway between the bell and the far far edge; and the far edge.