How To Record Drums

How To Record Drums is a professional, hands-on course taught by renowned producer and engineer Richie Beretta, whose credits include Beyoncé, Major Lazer, and Dillon Francis. If you're a producer, engineer, or musician looking to capture studio-quality drum recordings, this course gives you the complete roadmap. Across 19 focused lessons, Richie breaks down the mic choices, placement strategies, and audio processing techniques that go into building powerful, polished drum tracks—whether you're working in a high-end studio or a home setup.

The course begins with a comprehensive look at microphones for drum kits, detailing the best mic types and placements for each element—kick, snare, toms, cymbals, overheads, and room mics. Richie explains how each mic interacts with your drum sound and provides options for different genres and recording environments. You'll learn what gear matters most, and how to choose the right tool for the job depending on your drum style and tonal goals.

From there, the course moves into precise mic placement techniques, covering front and back overheads, spot mics, room mic panning, and stereo field tricks. Richie shares advanced tips on compression, delay, and panning that help create space and depth in your drum recordings. You’ll also see the full tracking process, including how to work with a live drummer and create clean, punchy comps using Pro Tools. Whether you're capturing tight funk grooves or explosive rock drums, How To Record Drums provides the technical foundation and creative insight to elevate your recordings to a professional level.