Recording Drums & Desktop (audio) - Post Recording Editing

[Steve Humphries]

I am a drummer in a cover band and also post originals and covers on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@drum_n_aries3310).

I was a ProTools user and switched to Cakewalk because I'm cheap. I am still somewhat of a beginner at audio engineering. I have watched a lot of videos, and even taken courses online. I have been using  a DAW with my Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 to record my drums. I am using 8 microphones (1 BD, 1 Snare, 2 Overheads, 4 toms). When it comes to recording just my drums, it is easy. Where it has become more complex is when I am also recording against a track. 

I am stumped with something right now in Cakewalk and I am going to do my best to explain it. 

Here is how I was recording In Cakewalk. I created audio templates with my desired EQ settings, etc. I have eight input channels for my drum mics and one input loop channel for my desktop audio (Input=Focusrite USB ASIO Loop 1). I then have all 9 channels selected to record. When I play it back, I am able to adjust each drum input with my desired EQs, FX, etc. A few months ago, I was hearing that my cymbals were making a weird “pinging” sound. I did some research and the topic of “phasing” came up. So, I looked at all of my channels and all phasing at set at normal. So, I start changing some to inverted phase to see if anything changed. Not so much. 

On accident (cause I won’t forget), I had my loop track set as solo for playback. I sat there for a second and thought, how come I hear the drums and the desktop audio? I was thinking that channel was only recording desktop audio and not my drums. What I did notice about that channel being on solo is that the cymbals did not have that pinging sound. So, I played around and listened to all channels and got that weird sound again. 

Here is my struggle. I want to be able to edit my drum input EQs, FX, post-recording. I can’t do it if I am only using the loop channel as my final one to export. What i am saying is, to get the best sound, I have to only export the loop channel. The issue is I have to set all my EQs, FXs, before recording. Also, I noticed that the drum inputs are more quite on this channel.

There has got to be a way to record my drums and desktop audio and then post recording, edit my drum EQs, FXs. 

Please tell me there is someone out there who understands my dilemma and can provide solutions/guidance.

[Bapu]

What exactly is the content of loop channel/desktop audio? Is it the song you want to record your drums to?

Assuming it is, why not just import that recording of the song into a track in Cakewalk and 'monitor' it while recording your 8 tracks of drums?

 

[Supa Reels]

I have the 18i20 3rd gen and as said you should just import the loop (or record) to the chosen stereo I/p' then allocate and use the 8 inputs from you drum recording to your DAW ( making 10 tracks )

In this way you can manipulate individual as necessary to create a final mix.

Other than that you would have to invest in a something like an Scarlett OctoPre Dynamic (or similar)  to give you a total of the full 18 inputs to the DAW .. not cheap. This would give track it's own individual processing (depending on mike position etc)

But as said .. not really sure of the problem you want to overcome

SRM