In this video, Eric breaks down a live acoustic drum recording session.
How to Record Live Drums in Studio One
In this video, Eric demonstrates how to record real drums in a live session using Studio One. He shows how to set up mics, configure your session, and capture a full drum performance cleanly and efficiently inside the DAW. This guide is especially useful if you’re tracking acoustic drums and want a professional-sounding result.
Preparing Your Drum Session
What It Is:
Eric starts by explaining how to set up a new song session in Studio One specifically for recording live drums.
Key Steps:
- Create tracks for each drum mic
- Choose appropriate input sources for each channel
- Organize tracks so you can monitor and record efficiently
Why It Matters:
A well-prepared session ensures that your recording takes go smoothly and that you don’t have to adjust routing later while the drummer is ready to play.
Setting Up Microphones
What It Is:
Eric walks through how to place and configure multiple microphones for each part of the drum kit — typically kick, snare, toms, overheads, and room mics.
Key Techniques:
- Assign each mic to its own track
- Adjust gain so signals stay clean and avoid clipping
- Check phase alignment between close and overhead mics
Why It Matters:
Correct mic placement and phase alignment help you capture a balanced and natural drum sound with good stereo imaging.
Monitoring and Recording
What It Is:
Once tracks are set up and mics are configured, Eric shows how to monitor audio and arm tracks for recording so you can hear everything clearly as the drummer plays.
Key Practices:
- Use low-latency monitoring so the drummer hears a stable track
- Adjust click tracks or backing tracks if used during recording
- Arm all drum tracks before hitting record
Why It Matters:
Good monitoring helps the drummer perform confidently and keeps your recordings tight and well-timed.
Capturing the Performance
What It Is:
Eric captures a full live drum take and explains what to listen for during playback — balance between drums, noise issues, and whether any tracks need re-takes.
Key Focus:
- Review each track individually after the take
- Identify timing or tuning issues that may need fixing later
- Save multiple takes for flexibility in editing
Why It Matters:
Capturing clean takes gives you the best foundation for editing, mixing, and producing the final drum sound.
Conclusion
Recording live drums can be one of the most challenging parts of tracking, but Eric’s walkthrough of Studio One setup, mic routing, and real-time recording techniques makes it approachable. Following his steps will help you get better drum recordings with fewer technical headaches and more focus on musical performance.
Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/gpTfLlPsNjY
Want to take your home recordings to the next level? Download my Free 5-Step Guide to Recording Pro Music from Your Home Studio and start producing high-quality tracks today 