TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Preface                                     

Chapter 1 - The Drum Kit

    Drum Kit Checklist

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    What Makes A Kit Sound Great?

        Drum Construction

            The Drum Shell

                Shell Size

                Shell Depth

                Shell Thickness

                Shell Material

                Shell Interior

                Bearing Edges

                Hoops

        The Snare

            Snare Construction

            The Snare Unit       

    Tuning The Drums

        Step 1 - New Heads

        Step 2 - Head Configuration

        Step 3 - Tuning The Snare

        Tops To Reduce Snare Buzzing   

    Tips From The Famous “Drum Doctor”

        Big Drums Versus Small Drums

        How Long Does It Take To Tune A Drum Kit?

        Prepping The Drums For New Heads

        New Heads

        The Tuning Technique

        Should The Drums Be Tuned To The Key Of The Song?

        Tuning The Snare Drum

        Snare Drum Tuning Tips

        Tuning The Kick Drum

        Tuning The Toms

    Cymbals

Chapter 2 - The Recording Environment

Room Resonant Frequencies

Cheap Yet Effective Room Treatment

    Soundproofing

    Acoustic Treatment

    The Floor

    Air Conditioning

The Curse Of Low Ceilings

Optimizing Your Room

Placing The Kit

                             

Chapter 3 - The Drummer’s Headphone Mix

Headphone Checklist

Dennis’ Headphone Pick

Most Popular

    Good Substitutes   

What’s In The Mix?

To Click Or Not To Click

Chapter 4 - Phase Cancellation - The Drum Sound Destroyer

Acoustic Phase Cancellation

Electronic Phase Cancellation

Checking Phase The Easy Way

Checking Phase The Slightly More Difficult Way

Times When You Might Want The Phase Reversed

Chapter 5 - Miking The Bass Drum

    Bass Drum Checklist

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    Step 1 - Choosing The Mic

    Step 2 - Bass DrumHead Configuration

    Step 3 - Bass Drum Mic Positioning

    Step 4 - Bass Drum Sound Check

    Step 5 - Bass Drum Compressor Or Limiter   

    Tips and Tricks

    The Subkick   

    Tips and Tricks

                       

Chapter 6 - Miking The Snare Drum

    Snare Drum Equipment Checklist

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    Step 1 - Snare Mic Position

    Step 2 - Snare Mic Sound Check

    Step 3 - Snare Drum Bottom Head Miking

    Step 4 - Snare Mic Compressor Or Limiter

                           

Chapter 7 - Miking The Hi-Hats

    High-Hat Equipment Checklist

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    Step 1 - Hi-Hat Mic Positioning

    Step 2 - Hi-Hat Mic Sound Check

    Tips and Tricks

Chapter 8 - Miking The Tom-Toms   

    Tom Equipment Equipment Checklist

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    Step 1 - Rack Tom Mic Positioning

    Step 2 - Floor tom Mic Positioning

    Step 3 - Tom-Tom Sound Check

    Step 4 – Gating the Tom Mics   

           

Chapter 9 - Overhead Mics   

    Overhead Mic Equipment Checklist

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    Step 1 - Overhead Mic Position #1

        Overhead Mic Position #2

    Step 2 - Overhead Sound Check

Chapter 10 - Room Mics

    Room Mic Equipment Checklist   

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes

    Step 1 - Room Mic Position #1

        Room Mic Position #2

        Room Mic Position #3

    Step 2 - Room Mic Sound Check

    Tips and Tricks

                       

Chapter 11 - Alternative Miking Techniques

    Alternative Miking Equipment Checklist   

    Dennis’ Pick

    Most Popular

        Good Substitutes   

    Single Mic Technique

    Two Mic Technique

    Three Mic Technique

        Option Two

        Option Three

    Four Mic Technique

        Option Two

Chapter 12 - Getting The Drum Mix Together   

    Step 1 – Drum Mic Kit Balance Technique 1

        Balance Technique 2

        Balance Technique 3

    Step 2 – Drum Mix Panning

    Step 3 - Minor Mix Adjustments

Chapter 13 - Final Drum Sound Checklist

Interviews

Bernie Dresel

Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez

Ricky Lawson

Brain McLeod

Dave Weckl   

       

Glossary

Index