Recording Handclaps

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I recorded handclaps, with a SM57 and some room reverb, with me a foot away from the mic and a friend clapping across the room. It sounded pretty thin and more like a rimshot snare hit than a clap. I want some cool sounding hand claps, any suggestions?

― dewey, Friday, 4 November 2005 17:33 (nineteen years ago)

Handclaps do sound like cross-sticks!

Overdubbing more claps would probably help, though.

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 4 November 2005 17:39 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah, you really need either multiple tracks or more people/mics.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 4 November 2005 17:42 (nineteen years ago)

Or, get your friend to stand the same distance from the mic as you, but stand further away, like maybe a few feet, from the mic.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 4 November 2005 17:56 (nineteen years ago)

Would you mind terribly if I excelsiored that post, Nick?

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 4 November 2005 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

(I honestly keep staring at that sentence in total awe.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 4 November 2005 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

USE SAMPLES

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Friday, 4 November 2005 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

I'll try standing equidistance from the mic and then right before the clapping part, i'll take a couple of steps back.

― dewey, Friday, 4 November 2005 19:18 (nineteen years ago)

OH YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. Dude + friend both stand 3-4 feet back from mic. THERE YOU GO.

But now that I reread what I wrote, yes, it is a mite confusing.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 4 November 2005 19:45 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.dunkworld.com/pix-pdfs/claptrap%5B1%5D.jpg

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Friday, 4 November 2005 19:46 (nineteen years ago)

Actually in the past I have recorded real handclaps and then doubled them with the fake handclap sound from my drum machine. It gives them a nice snap.

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 4 November 2005 19:49 (nineteen years ago)

I'd just use a sample too, but if I were going to record real handclaps, the 57 isn't the mic I'd pick... Probably a small diaphragm condenser would get better results.

― martin m. (mushrush), Friday, 4 November 2005 20:03 (nineteen years ago)

Oh wait, Nick, I get it: I actually didn't know what you meant until just now! Kinda disappointing to see it makes sense -- I thought you'd managed to write the greatest mind-bender statement ever. (NB check your gmail.)

― nabisco (nabisco), Friday, 4 November 2005 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

when i've needed to do it i just overdub a shit-ton of claps (and sometimes some random percussion, snaps, sticks, etc) and i get a decent sound

― nervous (cochere), Friday, 4 November 2005 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

Dan, that's amazing! does it sound as awesome as it looks?

― etc, Friday, 4 November 2005 23:01 (nineteen years ago)

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