Here's How to Get Huge Drum Sounds in a Small Room
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- Here's how I go about getting huge drum sounds in my small drum studio (room dimensions are 18'x12'x7.5' ceiling). In order of importance: I discuss the playing technique, the drums, tuning, muffling, mic placement, outboard gear, and mixing considerations. Boom!
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Bro. You're gonna be YUUUGE BRO.
yuuuuuuuuuugggggeeeee.
Andrew Masters BRRRUUUHHHH
I'm loving all the youtube love
Ezest follo
To get YUUUUUGE drums to fit in a small room, ya gotta compress 'em ;) Am I right?
"I'm JUST a drummer". But "here's my Neve, DXb , 421s through a BDS 360 distressor...."
lol
But ... but ... but ...
he is just a drummer who happened to engineered led zep
Jake Reed estimated cost of recording gear? 5K ish?
@@drofnoise555 with the vintage kit, all the outboard stuff and the mics im guessing more like 30k :D
Just the fet47 on the kick is around 3k let alone the rest. Nice done like the sound
for not "being an engineer" you sure have some great gear.
Thanks! I’ll always consider myself more of a drummer who engineers than an engineer who plays drums.
No kidding haha
@@MrAdrianloera I thought the same thing, I want to be an engineer and was like i wish I knew my shit this well lmao crazy how much there is to learn to be an engineer
@@TheNinjaGamingHQ learning how to engineer has been like learning a new instrument.
Yowza! No kidding. 😍
You say you're not en engineer but you have some extremely high-end rack gear, excellent plugins, superb mics and you know how to use the stuff. I'd say you're an engineer.
Great drumming and great sounds. Nice work.
I seriously don't know if I've ever heard such an accurate recreation of that hardy Bonham sound.
Wow! Thank you!
Hearty Bonham Beef in a savory seventies stew!
Search Bonhamology and Bonzoleum on YT lol
This is a great representation of Bonhams sound!. Your playing kicks ass too. Love it!
@@paulrye4597 It's not just a soup - it's a meal!
Having that iPhone mic was awesome, now I know how it should feel behind the kit! it was always confusing knowing that whatever tuning i was doing was going to be completely different under the mics. Cheers man, so much knowledge here
Great! Glad I could help ... yeah, it's crazy how the mics pick things up differently right? And then we have to consider how it all sits in a mix!
HiI! i'm a sound engineer, you're making it sound good, on one care what your EQ's look like. mix with your ears ! you just got it man
Thanks dude! That is reassuring!
The whole bit about the build up on the big drums and you cut to you sitting there looking bored before the big crash on the 1 is just comic genius. I think you made a style here. Entertaining and informative.
The sound and the playing is absolute fantastic, Bro!! Not just for a small room, but for every room!
Thank you!
Dude you gotta make a vid about that sick ass marimba back there that has been teasing me this whole time
Great idea!
Thanks for the pointers. Can not wait to try it out. Keep up the good work. Loving the content so far.
You're welcome! Let me know how it goes!
H U G E ! Outstanding show sir. Just starting out on the recording end of drums. Yourself and Andrew Masters are helping us learn. Get to watch again and again and again and no rewind! Thanks.
Thanks! Glad to be of some help!
The finished drums sound great! Based on the final mix, I would never have guessed that the drums were recorded in such a small space. Very well done!
You're an inspiration man. At first I was like "wow, this guy's mic collection and gear alone puts his sound out of range." Nice 500 series preamps BTW. I built the GroupDIY version of the 11 pre rack (and separate power supply). That said you're completely right. It's really your talent and training hitting the drums at specific intensities as well as the tuning that really achieves those excellent tones / sounds. Thanks a lot for sharing. I'll continue to drool over your gear collection and excellent vintage drum specimens. :-)
Thanks so much for the kind words! Glad you’re feeling inspired!
thank you, going to put some of this to us, when we record our next single this weekend!
Best drummer, this side of the entire western hemisphere!
awww shucks ... you guys ...
This is a DAMN FINE video. Suuuper entertaining. Super funny. Really really informative. And just hella fun. Thanks!
You’re really good at “making”. Please keep it up.
I’m showing this video to EVERYbody. ✌🏼
THANK YOU!!!
Dude is your face timed to the end of the ad because I died.
If it is, you are the best youtuber and I love you for making me feel cared for
Thanks! I totally planned that 😎
Not a gear guy? Look at all that gear! You are a bonafide recording engineer, and that drum sound came out amazing
Thanks! I'm not a gear guy though. I only know about my gear and there's sooooo much more gear out there to learn about!
Great drums comes with great quality players and Jake is a balance drummer
Some of the best drum recording information on youtube. Thank You!!
You’re welcome! And thank YOU for the kind words.
THOROUGHLY enjoyed! Jake, you are absolutely doing it RIGHT. You're a heck of a producer/engineer. I've been working on my drum sounds for 2-3 months. I'm not even CLOSE! LOL! :)
Thank you! Just keep chipping away at it and it'll keep getting better!
Holy shit. This was exactly what I needed in a recording and drumming perspective and was a lot fun to watch! Keep it up!
Yay! Happy to help!
😂 I’m really tired and as I’m watching this I start to fall asleep. Then your voice pops in with, you’re not getting bored yet are you? Perfect timing. I’m awake, I’m awake. Ha! But it’s not boredom causing my narcolepsy. Great vid!
HAHA! YES! Thank you.
Great stuff, I appreciate the broad scope of going from playing technique through plugins. Best line: “I don’t have a stairwell”.
Thanks, dude! It's true, I don't have a stairwell.
Where this was recorded was a loft ceiling with stone walls, as I recall seeing...they didn't show steps. Tho I guess there could have been.
I have the Vistalite. I wouldn't track with it unless live, but it's got an insane sound.
That low camera angel that just vibrates with drums are just awsome.
The iphone often sounds SO good. Some of the best drums I have heard are from my iphone in a concrete room (garage) next to a sound controlled room (my studio) with the door open to where the drums are being played. I liked it so much I considered throwing the iphone audio into the mix on my DAW.
Love all your doing. It’s educational it’s inspiring, motivating and it’s funny dude
awww thanks! Happy to help and inspire!
Your comment about how you hit the drums being responsible for most of the sound is spot on. I used to produce music and record bands and the biggest thing that ruins a drum recording (in my limited experience) are players who hit the drums way too hard.
Actually that muppets joke refers to stand up comedians “playing the room” and swapping out bits based on the people in attendance. Ex: a liberal young crowd in LA vs an older crowd in a conservative state. They’d cut religious jokes out for the latter and throw in dirtier jokes in LA. Playing the room in a nutshell.
Dude that was AWESOME. Really liked that you went player-geekery and gear geekery. Gotta get some giant cymbals for hats now....
PJ Doppke thanks! Yeah big, dark cymbals keep the harsh frequencies in check on this kind of stuff
Wow for a guy that isn’t really an engineer you’ve got them slappin pretty hard bro, good job 👍🏽
Thanks!
This is the most entertaining and still super informative audio engineering video on UA-cam. And I have watched waayy to many.
Would love to see some more videos on drumming and engineering from you. Or just anything, make videos about boiling water, I don't care, I will watch them.
Thank you! Happy to help! More videos coming soon!
Drums sound awesome and alive man.... Good job... Keep it up
Thanks dude!
So basically about $30K of gear, very nicely tuned kit, high-end cymbals, and TALENT. Got it! ;)
To be fair, I got this kit for $300 ...
@@JakeReedmusic Doesn't sound like it. ;) Cheers!
This is best drum recording video on youtube, there is no intermediate recording content of this quality. Usually just bottom barrel do it stock, or crazy 8068 with Neumann Jim Scott Eric valentine shit. You should go into your gain staging of preamps into compressors more specifically, and how hard you hit tools etc. Never thought the ULS would sound so open, not bright on toms. Killer
Thanks! That's a good idea ... I'll have to do a video where I get super nerdy and specific with knobs and stuff ... a "die hards" only vid haha
Man, it sounds fantastic, thanks so much, enjoying your videos on this topic particularly the 70's sounds one
Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying them!
just found out your channel thanks to the blessing of The Algorithm ™ and I'm already loving all your videos
haha! Thanks! love it ... all hail The Algorithm!
Wow - impressive video Jake! That kick sounds INSANE!!!! Andy was telling me it's a 50's era and 22'' x 14''' - that's YUUUUGGGGEEEE. You need to sell shirts that say 'I came for the stash but I stayed for the sounds.' Lol.
Thanks! Yes, it's a 3 ply so it's a little thinner and therefore has a lower fundamental tone than newer 6+ ply kicks! Wow ... great shirt idea ... i'll send over the contract :-)
@@JakeReedmusic Well you have 3 sales ready to go in this house (including the kiddo) :D
DaMn that intro sounds so good.
Great vids so far. Keep it up.
Di Lissio thank you!!!
Killer video man! Awesome info and room/equipment. I first found you through Andrew's page.
Thank you! Andrew is the man!
8:39 Real talk. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Awesome sounds Jake. Subscribe button smashed.
Thanks, Brian!
Good stuff bro! Love your drumming. You say your not an engineer but everything sounds pretty well engineered to me!
Ha! Thank you! It's a work in progress.
Just subbed. I hope i can watch you blow up over the the next years (:
Love the humour and your vibe. Cheers from Germany (y)
Thanks!!!
Great job recording, also in the hangover
Amazing. If it sounds good it is good! Good stuff here.
Great video and great sound! Bravo. The real thing. Thanks.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!
I like the big sound of your drums. I’m still learning how to get my drums to sound big. I don’t have all the things you have. I have three mics, one condenser mic above the kit, snare mic, and the kick has a mic. I have it ran through a four channel mixer. If you would like to hear how my kit sounds you can go to my UA-cam channel to let me know what you think and give me some pointers. I make drum covers on my channel.
Hey! Just watched your Maroon Five video ... here are a couple pointers for you ... first, I'd mess around with the tuning of your drums a little bit ... try to get the toms and kick down to the lowest pitch you can before the get papery. Were those Evans hydraulics or G2's or something similar? Since there are no close mics on toms you'll really have to make them project! Again, when you have one overhead mix it's all about balancing yourself at the kit! Consider how loud you're playing the hihat compared to the snare. How hard are you hitting the kick compared to the snare? How hard do you need to hit the toms to balance their volume with the snare? These are all questions you can answer by recording yourself and listening back!
In terms of your OH mic placement, try putting it directly above the snare about 3 feet or so, record it, listen back. Then raise it a few inches, record it, listen back. How does the sound of the kit change? Then try lowering it about 3 inches from its original position and see how that sounds. It's definitely a process but very rewarding when you find something that works.
Please let me know how it goes!
Jake Reed, thank you for the pointers. I’ll give that a try. Thank you for checking it out.
Jake Reed, thank you for taking the time to watch my video and for the pointers. I will try all of those things mentioned. As far as heads, I use Evans black chrome on the toms, Evans emad clear on the kick, and the snare head is a remo emperor x coated. I’m going to try the Evans hybrid coated head on it since I like that head.
@@drummerjoey003 You're very welcome! Let me know how it goes!
If you are limited to only 4 channels, I would do some research on the Glyn Johns method of drum mic'ing. (ps - how did this not get mentioned on a video that makes so many Bonham references?!)
great tips man, and great sound
Thank you!
Killin tones man!
sounds great!! great chops, dude!
a. dausch thanks!
2:05 mad respect broo that sounded phenomenal!
Thank you!
🤣 The editing makes me laugh my ass off! Great video.
For that size room, I love the drum sound.
Thanks! Yeah, obviously there's nothing like being in an actual big room, but there are ways to come close in a tiny space!
AWESOME. small room tip, you don't need the rule of three if you're adding enough predelay to them roooomz- also pointing them away from where the other mics are pointing like the wall or floor will help prevent phase issuezz
Totally! Both of those def help. One of my good engineering friends here in town suggested the "rule of 3", so I tried it and noticed a difference in my room. I tried quadrupling the length and it was too close to the wall, and I also tried doubling and it was not far enough away from the kit. Three seems to be the ticket for the dimensions in this space. I've done the mics pointing at the wall trick and there's definitely a thing to that, too ... got a cool smacky reflection thing from it but the tone was not as full. Again, this is just in my particular room! Thanks for commenting! This is becoming a cool forum for drummers to check out all these little recording tips!
Thx, dude, you are great. Using similar approach to record friends little band. Greetings from Ukraine!
Use your ears. You are doing it right because it sounds great. Just like Headley Grange. And you have no delay like they used.
Sweet, that was fun! Thanks.
Thank YOU!
Thanks for the information. I have liked and subscribed.
Thanks! Happy to help! More to come!
This is an excellent video
Thank you!!!
Makes sense
Super helpful thanks!
Yay! You're welcome!
Great playing and sound ~
Really digging your videos, Jake. Funny & backed up by the sauce. Nice groove on this and great sound. The 70s vid was very cool too. BTW, I saw the KRK V8 in here - I've got a setting being delivered tomorrow - can't wait!
Thanks dude! Hope you dig the KRK V8s!
Great! Another 3% for bigger room might be taking SPL Transient Designer, lowering Attack and increasing Sustain.
YES! I love using my TD for that, too! Will explain how I do it in a later video!
Sounds great, and great feel/playing!!
Thank you!
A great trick is to convert all kick, snare and tom hits into MIDI and send it to a drum plugin like Superior or Steven Slate and export just the room mics. That way you get the huge room sound from the shells without having to compete with the overheads, allowing you to push the hell out of the top end without fear of washy cymbals everywhere.
Yep! I know some people that do that.
@@JakeReedmusic It all comes down to whatever works. Loving your tones my guy!
So true! If it sounds good, it sounds good!
Loved it mdude. Wanna 2nd the request for a drum tuning video. Now it’s back to the endless effort of trying to play the cymbals quieter.
Great vid bro, you're being modest. Very nice and expensive mics and pre's. +50 points for using UA plugs 👌🏼✨
haha thanks!
Awesome, it sounds huge ! It's kind of comforting people like me that having a small room is not the biggest issue ;)
Thanks! Totally, we just have to learn how to use our spaces most effectively!
I can’t believe you don’t have a million subscribers!
Your studio looks like mine when I get one! 👍
Haha! Please spread the word!
@@JakeReedmusic of course!!
Man those drums sound unrealll!!!! Try control option click on the top left plugin to bypass them all at once - that hack has saved me a surprising about of time!
Thank you and thanks for the tip!
@@JakeReedmusic Loving your channel man, had to sub immediately! Keep it up
Yaaaay! Thanks! I’m on a bit of a hiatus right now but will be back with some more videos soon enough!
Yeah, this is great
Thanks!
This SUPER inspired me. I'm getting off youtube right now to work on my own drum space. Thank you!
YAAAY!!! Happy to help out and SUPER inspire!
Drums sound gooooooooooood...
Thank yooooooooooou!
you're such a great drummer wow
Thank you!
Love this channel! Thank you 🙏
Thank You for this valuble information. I'll add a room mic to my setup next and try to mess around with it. My room is quite small, dry (carpeted walls) and has a low ceiling. So lets see what happens.
Loved this! I covet the Coles 4038 🤤 I think I need a pair :)
It was helpful insofar as it was funny. I'm right at the beginning of learning studio stuff and I mostly though "lots of hardware outboard, nice variety of mics, great playing, hilarious editing". Yuuuuuuuge, huge, big, huge sounding, big drums. #huge
Thanks!
Waouh great sound !!!! and great drummer !!!
Thanks!
The Best i'v ever seen!!
Thanks!
Heard about you through the great podcast you did with Tim Buell and this video was great! I’m definitely going to try the x3 room rule and see how that works in my room! Thanks for all the tips and info to how you do it! Cheers! 🤘🏼
Thanks! Yes, it was fun talking with Tim. Glad you enjoyed this video. Hopefully it will help you in some way!
Great drum sound .... I can dig it ...I'm an Albini kind of guy...
Thanks dude!
It wasn't the stairwell at Headley Grange that made John Bonham's drums sound like that, it was a Binson Echorec. Andy Johns set up a couple of Beyer M 160s in the stairwell and ran them to the Binson through a couple of compressors, a Helios F760 and a Q2 Audio 765 500.
There you go! Shows you what I know! But still, I only have 1 M160 and none of those other pieces of gear and still have a tiny room, so this is just that sound filtered through my imagination.
... and I still don't have a stairwell!
Wowie! Killer sounds dude.
Thanks man!
Sounds great!
Thanks!
you sure nailed it
Thanks!
Killer sound!!!
Dude, Jake, thank you for this video!!m I got some room mics this week and gonna give some tries thanks to your insights and sharing knowledge.
Thanks man! Have fun!
So good man!
Thanks!
The intro hit me so hard i heard there goes my hero
oh sick! love those classic Foo's albums.
Amazing... and when I saw all the gear you have, surprise! haha
Thanks!
sounds really great man!
Thanks dude!
man.. Yea. Thank you very much for sharing that!
this is gold! thanks you so much Jake.
Thanks man!
Try this. A 2 or 3 mic set up. Keep it simple. Kick and overhead. In a seriously dry room. Then find a BIG pole barn. If you live in farm country like I do, that’s not hard to find. Or just a garage or a big open basement. Whatever just big room. Set up the PA. Or your monitors. Mic the barn left right and front if you want but don’t have to. Now play the tracks. Hit record. Blend and season to taste. Easy and cheap.
Yes, that is super fun to do! A couple engineer/producers I work for here in LA have done that on some rock sessions I’ve been on with them. Indeed, it sounds huge. I wish I had a giant barn nearby 😭😭😭
Love the editing... Huge/big/huge/b/b/b/big/huge... LOL... OK - Seriously - I know there is a lot to what is going on here (tuning/mic-ing/efx/etc) ... But the SD sound (especially at 0:00 - 0:14 / 4:10 / 4:16 - that final mix sound)... has a "slapback" effect (for lack of the right term) to it that is awesome... Sounds like a bit of delay - or naturally like the snare bed is actually releasing from the head and re-hitting the head just after the attack of the stick..."Dat-ah"... Like they may be kind of loose enough to rebound/spring back against the head - but of course that's not it - cuz if they were too loose - they would just buzzzzz.... When you play through just the room mics - the snares actually sound almost too tight... So how are you getting that 2ndary effect? ... (if I explained this in any kind of understandable way - or if you even know what the hell I am trying to say) --- It is very Bonhamesque... Great Sounding SD!! ...Oh - and Love the "experimental HH's too - I do the same! Try messing with different sizes as well... get some cool fx... Thanks for the BD mic-ing technique... I have a sealed reso head on my vintage kit, and will try that method....
Thanks! The echo effect you're hearing is coming from a guitar pedal called an Echorec ... I basically timed it to be at a 16th note-ish and then tucked it into the mix. Glad you dug it!
great video!
Linen Rib thank you!
Man, you have some nice gear
Thanks dude! Been building up the home studio set-up for quite a few years now.
valhalla are not just cheap(there is even a free version that does most of what youll ever need!)
.. they are also the best.. great video.
Love Valhalla. Thanks!