Dampening

Reverb.com

Getting that dry 70s drum sound with close miking

Noam Wallenberg and Jessica Burdeaux demonstrate how to achieve a dry 70s drum sound using close miking and dampening techniques, inspired by Fleetwood Mac. By distancing the snare and hi-hat, Wallenberg minimizes crosstalk, while close miking with specific microphones like the AKG 414 on the snare and RE20 on the kick captures a focused, punchy sound. The overheads, captured with AKG 451s, are heavily filtered to emphasize cymbals without adding weight, maintaining clarity and separation. Tape saturation is used for dynamic control instead of compression, adding warmth and character. An EMT 140 plate reverb subtly enhances the overall ambience, excluding the kick drum, to maintain the dry, vintage vibe.