Great Drum Sounds Start Before You Hit Record

This channel is dedicated to recording drums the right way.

Full kits. Real rooms. Real players.

We’ll cover everything from one-mic setups to 16+ mic sessions. Minimalist approaches. Full production setups. When more mics help — and when they just create phase problems.

The core philosophy here:

Source > Drummer > Mic placement / setup > Gear

If the kit sounds bad in the room, the recording will reflect that. Tuning, head choice, damping, cymbal selection, and player dynamics matter more than your mic locker.

We’ll break down:

Drum prep and tuning

Room choice and mic placement strategies

Kick, snare, tom, overhead, and room mic approaches

Phase alignment and polarity

Editing and tightening techniques

Sample reinforcement (not replacement) when needed

Programming isn’t the focus here, but we’ll touch on it if it serves the conversation.

You’ll see comparisons between different mic counts, different rooms, and different philosophies. The goal isn’t complexity. It’s control.

If you can record drums well, everything else gets easier.

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