Try fewer microphones

Something really basic that I remembered today:

When you're recording a drum kit, you DO NOT NEED to put a microphone on every drum and cymbal. Many of rock's classic rhythm tracks ever recorded were done with 4 microphones, or less. I like to start with a stereo pair, or just a single mic if I'm strapped for time or tracks.

The key is to experiment a little. Spend some time tuning the heads. Make the drums sound nice in the space before you put up your mics. Start with one or two mics, and move them wherever they sound best. If they don't sound good anywhere in the room, adding close-up microphones probably isn't going to help you. You will always get a more realistic recording 6 feet from the drums than 1 inch from the skin. Think about it. Do you listen to your friend play guitar with your head right in front of the sound hole? No, you're on the couch a few feet away. Same goes for drums. Get the bigger, wider, picture before you get in there with the SM57's on the snare, etc. I promise your recordings will feel more alive, and you won't need to perform plugin surgery later on. Limit your track count and get creative.

Oh yeah, and it's cheaper. Fewer microphones, fewer mic preamps, fewer cables, less hard drive space, less time = mo' money in yo' pocket!

Rock on.
Adam