Tillie Doyle
The Glyn Johns method is a simple and effective drum recording technique that uses only four microphones to achieve a spectacular sound. It was discovered by British recording engineer Glyn Johns while recording Led Zeppelin's debut album. The method involves placing two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic in specific positions, with the overhead microphones facing the drummer on their right side. The microphones are then panned to create a balanced and stereo image of the drum kit. This technique is popular among recording engineers due to its ability to produce professional results on a tight budget.
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What You'll Learn
The Glyn Johns technique uses four microphones
The Glyn Johns technique is a method of recording drums that uses four microphones. It was developed by Glyn Johns, a famous recording engineer who has worked with many well-known musicians, including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Eric Clapton. The technique is a favourite among recording engineers as it can give spectacular results on a tight budget.
The four microphones used in the Glyn Johns technique are two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic. The first step is to position the first overhead microphone 40 to 60 inches directly above the snare, pointing straight down at the kit to capture a complete, balanced image. You should be able to hear a blend of snare, toms, and cymbals in this mic. The second overhead microphone should be placed just to the right of the floor tom, approximately 6 inches above the rim. It should be facing straight across the tom towards the snare and hi-hat. This microphone is capturing the kit from a fresh perspective.
The kick drum mic is usually placed inside the drum itself or outside the passive head. This microphone is typically a dynamic mic as dynamics can handle high sound pressure levels and have natural compression that works well with rock and dance music. The final microphone is the snare drum mic, which is placed a couple of inches above the snare, angled down towards the centre and the drummer.
Once all four microphones are in position, the Glyn Johns technique is complete. This method provides a big, punchy drum sound with just four mics and is a great option if you don't have many microphones available.
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Microphone placement is key
The Glyn Johns method of recording drums is a relatively easy method of mic placement that involves four microphones – two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic. Microphone placement is key to achieving the best sound.
First, position the second overhead microphone to the drummer's right side, with the diaphragm pointing towards the high hat, over the floor tom and snare drum. The diaphragm should be positioned 40 to 60 inches from the centre of the snare.
Next, position the snare and kick mics. This is a matter of personal preference, but the kick and snare mics should be panned to the centre in the final mix.
Now, take your overhead mics. Pan the one above the snare halfway to the right, and the one near the floor tom to the far left. This will give a depth and stereo image to the overall kit.
The Glyn Johns method was discovered by British recording engineer Glyn Johns, who has recorded many well-known musicians, including Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, and The Rolling Stones. The technique is a favourite of recording engineers everywhere, as it can achieve professional results on a tight budget.
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Two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic
The Glyn Johns Method is a classic drum recording technique that uses four microphones: two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic. This technique is favoured by recording engineers trying to achieve professional results on a tight budget.
The first step is to position the first overhead microphone 40 to 60 inches directly above the snare (the middle of the kit). It should be pointing straight down at the kit, capturing a complete, balanced image. You should be able to hear a blend of snare, toms, and cymbals in this mic.
Next, position the second overhead microphone to the drummer's right-hand side, with the microphone diaphragm pointing towards the high-hat, over the tops of the floor tom and snare drum. This microphone should be positioned 40 to 60 inches from the centre of the snare.
Now, you're ready for your spot mics. Panning the microphones in your mix is what makes the Glyn Johns Method work. Pan your kick and snare mics to the centre, as you would on any recording. Then, take your overhead mics and pan the one above the snare halfway to the right. This gives it a little balance without taking it too far to the right. Finally, pan your other overhead mic — the one near the floor tom — to the far left. This gives a depth and stereo image to the overall kit.
For the kick mic, you can go for either a dynamic or a condenser. You can use a standard dynamic like the AKG D112 or Shure 52. For the snare, you can use the SM57.
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Panning the microphones in your mix is essential
The first step in the Glyn Johns method is to position the microphones around the drum kit. This includes two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic. The overhead microphones are crucial to the panning technique. One overhead microphone is positioned on the drummer's right side, facing the high-hat, snare drum, and floor tom. It is placed at a distance of 40 to 60 inches from the center of the snare. The other overhead microphone is placed near the floor tom.
Once the microphones are positioned, panning them correctly is essential to achieving the desired stereo image. The kick and snare mics are panned to the center of the mix. The overhead microphone above the snare is then panned halfway to the right, providing balance without going too far in that direction. The other overhead microphone, near the floor tom, is panned to the far left. This panning technique adds depth and creates a stereo image of the overall drum kit.
The Glyn Johns method is a popular choice among recording engineers as it provides professional-sounding results, even when working with a limited budget or standard studio equipment. It is essential to have a finely tuned drum kit and a skilled drummer to achieve the best results with this technique. Additionally, the quality of the microphones used can impact the overall sound. Some engineers prefer using tube microphones or specific combinations of large-diaphragm, small-diaphragm, and dynamic microphones to capture the drum kit's open and natural sound.
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The Glyn Johns method is a favourite of recording engineers
The Glyn Johns method is characterised by its use of a minimal number of microphones placed strategically to capture the essence of a drum kit with remarkable clarity and depth. This approach eschews the traditional close-miking of individual drum components in favour of a more holistic, ambient-driven sound. The key is to keep both the side mic and the overhead mic at an equal distance from the snare drum, forming a triangular pattern with points at the snare, side mic, and overhead. Most of the sound comes from the overheads, while close-mics can be used to enhance the kick and snare drum pieces.
To set up the microphones using the Glyn Johns method, start by positioning the overhead microphone several feet above the drum kit for a natural perspective. Then, place the second overhead microphone to the drummer's right side, with the diaphragm pointing towards the high-hat and over the tops of the floor tom and snare drum. The microphone diaphragm should be positioned at the same distance as the first overhead microphone (between 40 and 60 inches) from the centre of the snare.
Finally, pan the microphones in your mix. Pan the kick and snare mics to the centre, then pan the overhead mic above the snare halfway to the right. Pan the other overhead mic near the floor tom to the far left to create depth and a stereo image of the overall kit. This technique ensures excellent phase coherence between the overhead microphones, resulting in a cohesive and well-defined drum sound.
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Frequently asked questions
The Glyn Johns method is a drum recording technique that involves the placement of four microphones to achieve a spectacular sound.
The Glyn Johns method uses two overhead microphones, a kick mic, and a snare mic.
The first overhead microphone should be positioned on the drummer's right side, with the diaphragm pointing towards the high-hat and placed 40-60 inches from the centre of the snare. The second overhead microphone should be placed on the opposite side, facing the floor tom. The kick and snare mics can be positioned according to personal preference.
The kick and snare mics should be panned to the centre. The overhead mic above the snare should be panned halfway to the right, and the other overhead mic near the floor tom should be panned to the far left. This gives a depth and stereo image to the overall kit.
