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Djembe Microphone Techniques

Topics: Equipment Usage, mixing drums, Mixing Skills, technical By: Chris Huff October 16, 2008

The djembe (a type of drum) is a great musical instrument that blends well into the church worship setting.  However, microphone placement for the djembe is not a hard and fast rule.  Here are the guidelines you can use for providing the best amplification.

Djembes are either mic’d with a single microphone from above or with two microphones.  The difference in techniques is primarily about the amount of low end signal.  Mic’ing the top of a djembe gives plenty of the slap sound associated with the drum.  However, there isn’t much in the way of the bass.

Some songs don’t lend themselves to the low bass of the djembe.  In this case, the single top microphone is used.

Using the two microphone method, use a condenser microphone for the top microphone.  Place it 1-2 inches from the drum head.  You can pick up a drum mic clip that will hold it on the djembe.  Next, using a microphone like the Sennheiser 421 or an AKG D112 (dynamic microphones, place it near the bottom of the djembe.  I’m dealing here with a djembe on a stand.  Don’t place the microphone up and inside the djembe. Place it near the bottom and angle it in a bit.  This part requires trial and error until you get the bass sound the way you like.

Using the two microphone method, you can now brighten your slaps via the top microphone and adjust your bass sounds using the lower microphone.  Take out a lot of the midrange and highs from the bottom microphone.  When you listen to just the bottom microphone, you’ll hear a muddy sound.  Once you add in that top microphone, you’ll get the crisp, fat drum sound you want.

I’ve used both methods.  I prefer the two microphone method.  It sounds much fuller.  The difference is surprising.

 
 

Filed Under: Gear, Mixing Tagged With: Equipment Usage, mixing drums, Mixing Skills, technical

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Comments

  1. Brent Hathaway says

    June 26, 2018 at 4:27 am

    Thanks for this. I just purchased a djembe.

    Reply
  2. Yaku Cheryl Bennett says

    March 1, 2017 at 8:11 am

    Hey Greetings..

    What would you recommend for recording frog and bird calls to make samples for hip hop and percussive collaborations?

    Thanks for your advice..Ive thought about indigenous and deep forest field recordings, just never invested in the equipment and made it happen, I’m ready.

    sister Yaku Cheryl

    Reply
    • Chris Huff says

      March 2, 2017 at 4:55 pm

      Something like a Tascam recorder.

      Reply

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