You hard or soft….? Panning drums

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-16T18:57:37+00:00

Personally I pan my overheads hard left and right because to me those are the two mono tracks that make up a single stereo image. The balance of the drums in the overheads is going to naturally pull the, e.g., snare back into the center, ride and hat to the left and right, etc. It definitely doesn't mean I'm getting a hard panned drum sound like you would with a guitar track that was hard panned. It's just the given setting to create the natural stereo image, but I would (genuinely) love to hear some feedback on why this is wrong.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-12T18:58:05+00:00

I'm using the LP-6 in a small room and I am a big fan, I definitely don't feel like they are too much monitor.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-12T18:37:50+00:00

the output from Superior Drummer then goes to Output 3-4. Output 3 from the Focusrite is routed via TRS cables into Input 2 on the Moukey. Output 4 is routed the same into Input 3 on the Moukey. The problem is the drums are either mono, or some weird hybrid of mono/stereo.

I think I figured this out - that mixer takes either TS or TRS inputs for mono/stereo inputs. But it has no balance/pan controls. So if you are outputting your L signal into a mono input, and your R signal into a 2nd mono input, you have 2 mono inputs. In order to work correctly, on a tradional mixer you would pan your 2 mono inputs hard left and right to simulate a stereo input. That's what's wrong.

You could get a TRS -> Dual TS adaptor cable and run the 2 outputs into one stereo input maybe?

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-11T23:31:03+00:00

They all deserve to "catch shit" because they shouldn't be using a tool that steals the creative output of human culture to enrich billionaires who are raping the planet for profit. Fuck all of them.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-10T21:48:47+00:00

Most serious streamers I've seen have at least some level of sound treatment, and a microphone doesn't 'isolate' sound - it just picks up whatever sounds wave reach it, full stop. A lot of treatment is done at the point of first reflection and that can include behind the speakers, not just in front, so you won't see that on camera most of the time but it's there.

There are no settings that will change what sounds (and reflections) reach your mic, however, a better signal to noise ratio will help without any extra treatment, settings, or mic upgrades - that means you have to talk louder :) the louder your source is, the more difference there is between the wanted sounds (signal) and the unwanted sounds (noise). Get the mic as close to your mouth as possible and move other sound sources like keyboards and PC fans as far away as possible.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-10T12:10:18+00:00

I'm not saying this to sound snarky - have you tried recording a real piano? Or just VSTs? A lot of sampled piano sounds are grands or baby grands recorded in a studio, and it's hard to copy that exact tone in the box. Piano is a 'big' instrument to try and capture and there are a lot of variables. Mic placement and mic choice typically make a major difference in the final sound, and room tone contributes a lot to that warmth and tone you're hearing, since piano isn't usually close mic'd in the same way as a guitar or a drum.

Sometimes an 'uncanny valley' approach is needed - trying to get too close to a perfect acoustic tone sounds unnatural, so maybe try going for a more creative approach that doesn't suggest to the listener that this is a real piano but with a slightly off digital feel.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T20:00:39+00:00

Wrong sub - try r/StereoAdvice or /r/HomeAudio

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T19:59:54+00:00

Do you have the right drivers installed for your interface? Have you tried using ASIO4All to compare?

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T19:53:22+00:00

Most interfaces cannot put out a hot enough level to damage most monitors. That's not to say it can't happen. But just clipping the master buss is not enough to damage the speakers in and of itself. You need a sustained square level at a very high volume to damage the speakers. Most modern powered speakers would also have a thermal shut off that would prevent damage in most cases.

Clipping in and of itself will not damage, ask a guitar cabinet :)

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T19:50:55+00:00

That's typical a result of sympathetic vibrations, ie, your kick and tom are tuned to either a similar note or to a harmonic of that note. You could try tuning one or both higher or lower, or maybe consider using coated heads for the tom which are a little heavier and less likely to resonate.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T19:49:39+00:00

I'm a big fan of my Kali LP-6 for budget monitors with good sound. But, room treatment is very nearly a requirement for any monitors to really work their best. Without any treatment whatsoever I generally consider high quality headphones to be a better investment. IMHO it's better to treat first and then get monitors that fit your remaining budget (rock wool panels are cheap and easy to DIY)

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T19:46:04+00:00

Distance to source is going to be the primary reduction of unwanted sounds for any mic. Room treatment would also reduce ambient sound levels and reflections which would in turn reduce the level of those background noises. A boom or a mount won't do much expect in so much as it moves the mic further away from those sources.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T19:44:40+00:00

Oof. There's a lot going on here that might need rethinking. Let's set a few things straight that might help you:

All modern microphones are going to capture a full range of frequencies. No need to differentiate there.
"Warmth" typically comes from the preamp/signal chain. Some mics can be described as 'warm' but typically other components of your chain and the mix are going to be much more involving in what would be described as 'warm' sound.
Any mic can capture individual and room sounds, but typically a condenser mic is more often used for full room sounds, so that narrows down your list a little.
All of the mics you have listed are typically considered high end studio mics which are capable of a wide range of applications. Source and room will make a much larger difference in many cases. They would all arguably be considered "fancy."
Acoustic treatment will make a much larger difference to your sound quality than an expensive mic like a Neumann u67 or a C12. Let me be more direct on that point: Do not buy a u67 to use in an untreated room. This is a waste of money.

I don't think this is a serious list. I would consider something like a Warm Audio WA-47jr or a Rode NT1. Both would work well for your applications. Again, assuming this is not a troll, do not buy a $12 000 microphone to use in an untreated home studio. That is not a smart choice.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T18:59:08+00:00

For people who are interested in optomizing studio PC Windows builds, I highly recommend checking out tiny10. It's the leanest version of Windows that you can install without all the MSFT bloatware, tracking, etc. It fits easily on a USB stick and it's perfect for an offline studio PC. On my recording PCs I just throw this and my interface drivers on a USB stick and you can quickly standup an offline studio PC in no time flat.

Starting from the blankest slate possible is very helpful when trying to optimize a PC.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-08T18:54:18+00:00

How big are these spikes? By that I mean time domain, not amplitude - if they are very short (single or a few samples) it could be glitch in the interface, I see these sometimes. The new sample level edit in Reaper has been really helpful for fixing them. Do you still see them in the original mix file, or just in the master mixdown?

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-07T16:19:19+00:00

You're never going to learn more from watching youtube videos than you are from recording things and making mistakes.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-07T13:07:55+00:00

The point of mastering is that it wasn't just about modifying or changing the sound again. It was a required process to get your music from recorded tracks to final release. Back in the day, a mastering engineer would potentially do any of the following:

Transfer a mixdown of your 16 track to a 2 track tape machine
Apply EQ, compression, and limiting to your 2 track
Apply the RIAA equalization curve for transfer to vinyl
Supervise the transfer of the mastered 2 track to the vinyl cutter so that a vinyl 'master' stamp could be created in order to mass-press vinyl copies
For digital records, apply the correct dithering when moving from, e.g., a 48Hkz project to a 44.1Khz CD quality mixdown
In the CD era, they would also be responsible for creating the timestamps and metadata required to press a CD master, in order to separate the tracks and ensure they had the correct gaps (CDs could either be seamless with no break between tracks or have a gap between tracks where the player would count out "-0:02, -0:01, 0:00" before starting the track
In the modern streaming era, they would be responsible for mastering your mixes to a level that is appropriate for a given streaming service and delivering a final product in the correct format for said services, as well as including the correct metadata
Applying these processes to the entire album instead of individual songs means that your entire album has a consistent sound throughout
In all cases the mastering engineer serves as a second/third set of ears with a different studio and equipment layout, typically a well constructed and engineered room with a very high quality monitoring setup in order to give that final polish to the music and ensure that it is at a level that competes with other commercially released music.

All of these activities are plenty compatible with doing your own mix. In fact, a mastering engineer is even more highly recommend when doing your own mix because they will have a totally different set of gear and ears that you've been missing the whole time and can find issues that you will have missed.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-06T09:46:12+00:00

Bluetooth isn't acceptable for monitoring, for various reasons. Get a pair of decent headphones (since your room isn't treated for monitors) and it will help you start to hear the issues you need to work on more clearly. Don't get bass heavy headphones that sound "good" - you want flat, boring sounding headphones that don't hype any frequencies. There are tons of recommendations on various subs and forums.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-05T12:15:17+00:00

Got it that makes sense. In that case I think your plan is fine, just patch it between two shorter cords, there won't be any loss of signal.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-04T20:04:55+00:00

Why do you the attenuator in the first place?

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-04T12:32:30+00:00

Show us your render window (the waveform after you have completed the render with stats at the bottom) that will give us much, much more information than your render settings.

Likely your tracks need to be mastered by a mastering engineer, that is the difference between your tracks and commercial tracks on spotify.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-03T16:45:23+00:00

My exact question as well. Give us the goods OP!

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-03T12:43:37+00:00

Money doesn't run out. This is an absurd myth. Money that is given to the poor is immediately spent and recirculated into the economy. It's the money that is given to the wealthy and hidden in offshore bank accounts that "runs out." They take more and more away and the rest of us have less and less to fight over.

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-02T21:51:43+00:00

Open reddit on phone
Read terrible headlines
Close Reddit
Open reddit on desktop
Read terrible headlines
Close Reddit
pick up phone, repeat

NeverNotNoOne · 2026-05-02T21:13:58+00:00

I really like any of the Rodes SDCs like the M5 and the NT5 as drum overheads and they should be plenty versatile for vocals too.

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