a quick poll for all drummers

[getupkid0717]

when recording your snare drum of course it would be best to mic both top and bottom. but if you had to pick just one for the best, loudest sound... which would be your choice?

[DTBlalock]

It seems like the bottom only needs to be mic'd if you are trying to achieve more snare sound. I only use an sm57 on the top. Of course the kid of music I play is a sound where you don't want to much snare. It really depends on the type of music, and how much of that snare sound you want.

[mikeh]

I agree that the bottom is mic'd to allow a mix of snare additional sanre sound, but in most cases mic'ing the top is enough and if you only have an option of one mic then mic the top.

I have tried on occation to mic about a foot from the side of the snare (hoping to capture both heads) but have never reaaly had acceptable results.

[Rod Gervais]

Seeing as we tune drums until we get that "sound" we really want - and then taking into consideration that the sound we (the drummers) always hear - is off the top of the drums........ it seems logical that we would (having ony the one choice or the other) choose the top.

Let logic prevail...........

Rod

[KevinDrummer]

I agree the top is the choice. However, I'm currently only micing the bottom because I can't get good position out of the way on the top with the cheap Samson mic clips I have. Time for the old standby - a boom stand and sm57.

[Farview]

If I can only use 1 mic on the snare, I mic the side, about 1 inch away, pointing directly at the vent hole. (if it has one) You tend to get closer to the sound you hear when you are playing that way.

[Bdrum]

I mic at an angle to try to capture the overall sound.
My question is, what is the best mic? Would micing the bottom require a different mic?

[Davenhurst]

Top.

But use overheads aswell to beef up the snare. Yet again i'll mention Shellac's drum sound. Check it out.

[Bulls Hit]

Yep an overhead will sound better, because it's picking up the room characterics and so is closer to what the drummer hears. The close mic is just to pick up the frequencies that an overhead condensor might not capture

[sarias]

Ditto. With good overheads and a good room you quite often don't even need a snare mic. Nice to have 'em, though.

[Bdrum]

Regarding a good room means live or Ambiant,right?
So in a dead room it would be wise to have one?