everyones mic set up on drums!

[Nick The Man]

EVERYONE lets hear what you got for mics on drums all the way from snare mics to room mics i wanna hear about all of em (any mic that you use for drums)

[mikecoleman]

I've tryed alessis grove tube for overhead, it work fine.
i had a akg 550 on snare and a 58 on bass drumit did the job.
three mic
and I monitor in mono to be able to spot the phase problem easyer.

[Nick The Man]

well thats different then what you normally hear about around here

[Warhead]

Some recent setups:

Overheads:

AT4041 for cleaner, tighter stuff
CAD M179 for beefier, full kit sound
Earthworks SR77 for more cymbals and less drums

Hi Hat:

Shure KSM32
AT3031

Snare Top:

SM57

Snare Bottom:

AT4033

Toms: E/V ND468

Kick:

E/V ND868
SM57 w/ Earthworks Kickpad

Of course there are many alternatives but this is generally the stuff I keep around for drums.

War

[Nick The Man]

that sounds cool my plans are :



Overheads: SP B1s
Snare (on the side near one of the holes): SM 57
Kick: AKG D112


and in the future upgrade the overheads and use the SP B1s on toms

not sure what the upgrade should be yet ...... all about the money

[cavedog101]

All-righty...
It could be a variety of things given the need..

overheads : ADK SC1,Royer R122 stereo,Neumann KM184,others...

snare:1970's Shure Unidyne III,Audic D2,Audix D1,Beyer 201,Neumann KM184

Kik:ATM25,AKG D112,Shure Beta 52,SP B3,ADK A51(upgraded DocTech),Sennheiser MD421,Sennheiser MD409,Shure SM57,Audix D4

Individual toms(if needed) Audix D1,D2,D4,Shure Sm57,ATM63,Beyer 201,ATM Pro37...

like I said its dependant on the needs.I've been known to throw up a couple of U87's for overheads and mic toms with SM81's.

[DigitMus]

I try to get most of the drum sound from OHs and use other mics to fill in the weak spots. Depending on the song/drummer/phase of the moon, I'll use:

...on OH - Royer SF12, MicrotechGefell M295s (pair), Josephson e22s (pair), Neumann M149s (single or pair)

...on Kick - EV PL20 (RE20), Sennheiser E609, Fostex M11rp (ribbon), Soundelux E47

...on snare - Sennheiser 421, 441, Beyerdynamic M130, M260, Audix OM3xb

usually 1 or 2 OHs, Kick and snare mics are enough (sometimes I don't even use a snare mic). When I need tom mics the 421, 441, AKG C414BULS, or EV 408s are my choices. Occasionally an AEA R84 as a 'front of kit' mic about 8 feet out is needed to pull the whole thing together.

Scott

[Warhead]

You know I forgot about room mics which 99% of the time are AEA R84 ribbon or CAD VX2.

Nick the Man, you may want to be careful if you're mic'ing up an air hole on a snare drum. You might get some pretty nasty stuff there!

War

[timboZ]

4- Beta 56 toms and snare
2- Kel HM-1 Overheads
1- Superlux PRA 218B Kick
sometimes I use an Oktava MK-319 outside the kick head
1 Oktava MK-012 Hi-Hat

[dudge]

O/H - Groove Tubes GT-44s or ADK TLs
Kick - AKG D112 or ATM25
Snare - M201 or SM57 or e604 or SP C1 or GT-44
Toms - e604 and MD421, or SP B1 and SP B3 (one rack, one floor)
Hat - GT-44 or ADK TL hypercard or SM7 (don't usually mic them)
Room - ADK TL omni mono or pair

I would like to add a pair of Peluso CEMC6 (O/H, hats, bottom of snare, guitar and etc.)

[Light]

What's the budget? What kind of music? What does the room sound like?


Cheap and fast rock and roll:

Single LD overhead, if the room sounds good, use an omni
SM 57 snare
Beta 52 kick
If the room sounds good, a couple of hyper accurate SDs for the room, and kill the compressor.


Cheap and fast Jazz:

Single LD overhead, omni
Tell the drummer to lay into the kick.
If the room is really good, I'll put a LD out in front of the kit, about 6-8 feet

Yeah, that's right, one mic. You got a problem with that?



Expensive Rock and Roll

A great room
Either a single Neumann M50 or a pair of Earthworks TC30K for overheads
A Beyer 201 on snare top
An AKG 414 on Snare top (get those diaphragms lined up)
A Beyer 201 on snare bottom
Beta 52 kick (inside)
LD kick outside (what ever is there and sounds good)
Sennheiser 421 or Beyer 201 on toms
AKG 450, 460, or 480 on Hi Hats, if you must
A pair of DPA 4006 room mics, kill the compressor please



Expensive Jazz

A great room

A Neumann M50 overhead
Tell the drummer to lay into the kick.

No need for room mics. The horn, piano, and bass mics are all in the same room, so they can get the room sound.


AND NO HEADPHONES. I want them to HEAR each other.



Just a few possibilities.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

[TravisK]

Samson CO2s for overheads with an M-Audio Luna placed as a room ambience mic for picking up odd sounds that are missed by the samsons.

SM 57 on bottom of snare with a samson qsnare on top. Samson qtoms on toms and qkick for bass drum. I also place a 57 on top of the snare when it needs it instead.

Works pretty well for a cheap setup. It will be replaced in time for sure.

[mshilarious]

Beyer M201 snare, normally I have two snares set up, but if it's somebody else's kit, I'll used the second M201 on bottom snare or toms if necessary.

Senn MD421 on toms, I just have one so I make it work. I'd like to get a couple more M201s for that.

B52 on kick, sometimes beater side.

Shure KSM141 or SM81s for overheads. I have a pair of each, so I can go crazy if I want, but that hasn't happened yet. The KSM141s are still pretty new to me, so I'm not sure which I like better, but generally I really like the 141s. Sometimes I'll XY, sometimes A-B depending on if I want more of an overhead sound or a focus on hat/cymbals.

My overall approach depends on whether I'm going to process the drums a lot, '80s style , or go with a more natural sound. The processed style pulls all the toms mics and A-B overheads, natural is bottom side snare, kick, and two overheads in XY.

[mixsit]

A basic setup that hasn't varied too much for rather boring/practical limitations in my home studio;
A pair of QTC-1's down on either side about elbow height, generally panned in around 70-50%, 57 with shield on snare, RE20 on kick, LDC (4047) (or an old ribbon ) about a foot out in front of the kit, and a pair of AT SDC over the cymbals for a wide-top as needed.
Basically a gathering of tone options as a starting point..
Wayne

[JuliánFernández]

SM57 on snare...
D112 for a great bass drum tone...
2 NT1s (old ones) as OH...
Classic but effective setup...

[DefenderOfRock]

sm57s overhead
sm37 snare/hh
sm57 kick
sm57 room

Tried this setup once just to see... ummm... I wouldnt reccomend it!

However... Using ONE sm57 on the whole set going through a guitar multifx box with filters and flange and I dunno what else.... very unique!

Carl

[Dogbreath]

snare...SM57
Kick...Beta 52
OH's...KSM109's
not sure about room mics yet. I have a CAD E200, a Marshall V67G, and an AT3035. Still playin around with those to find the best one.

[foreverain4]

sennheiser e602 on bass drum
shure sm57 on snare
sennheiser e604 on toms
oktava mc-012 overheads (spaced pair)
custom made large diaphrams for room (xy on stereo bar)

[improwise]

Sennheiser e903 on snare
sennheiser e904 on toms
Sennheiser e914 overheads (spaced pair)
Sennheiser e901 or 902(for jazz kick) or both

[darnold]

This list definately alternates for just about every session. It really depends on my mood.

Kick
Sennheiser e602 - Main go to mic for kick. Sometimes a little to big of a low end.
Sennheiser MD421 - Only like this on a few kick drums. Only when i need it to be a little tighter and less boomy.
ElectroVoice RE20 - Only when I want a really natural sound. Not a big fan of it.

Snare Top
Shure SM57 - Usually always use this on top.
Sennheiser MD421 - If theres room and I have a spare one sitting around ill try it out. Doesnt always work sound wise though.
Sennheiser e604 - If im just not liking the Snare sound or it need to be a little phatter (picollo) ill try this.

Snare Bottom
Audiotechnica AT4050 - I use this when i cant use an AKG C414.
AKG C414 - Works great because of hypercardiod. But i usually have these on my overheads.
AudioTechnica AT4033 - Very bright on the bottom. Sometimes works.
Sennheiser MD421 - Works pretty well, just not a fave.

Rack Toms
Sennheiser e604s - Love these here. Small and convenient. Sound great.
AKG C418 - These are cool too, i broke one though. They are more open than the e604s.
Sennheiser MD421 - Rarely use these on rack toms. Way to long to fit under cymbals usually and just a pain to adjust. They work well when i can use them though.
AudioTechnica AT4033 - For soft players. Open sound. Easy to place.
Studio Projects B3 - Same as AT4033, just less brighter. Works well.

Floor Toms
Sennheiser MD421 - Usually use this because i cant stand the ride in floor tom. Good low end too.
Sennheiser e602 - Sounds huge on floor tom. Maybe a little much. But ill use it if i dont have MD421 available.
Sennheiser e604 - These work well here but floor toms are just different animals.

Overheads
AKG C414 EBs - Usually what i use.
AudioTechnica AT4050 - I think these are a little more open sounding. I will use these on country and jazz overheads and use the AKG C414s for other things. Though cymbals can get a bit too much 1Khz from them.
Audiotechnica AT4033 - These are great overheads if your going for bright drums. Especially bright cymbals.
Studio Projects B3s - These work great as a capture entire set overhead mic. Loved it on a live jazz recording i did. Very very natural and full.

Room - Whatever i have left. Usually Royer R122. and At4033, AT4050, Studio Projects C1. Whatever really.

danny

[Yareek]

I'm a broke post-college student (now), so here's my mini-collection:

Overheads: Studio Projects C4's, generally in cardioid mode a few feet above and behind the kit in ORTF.

Snare: Beyer M201, in about an inch, above the head a few inches, pointed more or less at the center.

Toms: Sennheiser e604's clipped on to the tom rims (until I get some more stands) pointed about 1/4 to 1/3 in on the tom, up about 2-3 inches.

Floor Toms: AT PRO 25 / DR-2500 (same mic) about the same position as other tom mics.

Kick: AKG D112 in the hole in the front head pointed at the beater, sometimes it's inside, sometimes it's outside "looking in."

Occasionally, I'll use a Rode NT2 a foot or two in front of the kick drum or under the snare, phase reversed.

They work, but I'd like some MD-421's and maybe a different kick microphone.

I haven't recorded drums with my EMU card yet, but the overheads will go to the pre's and the rest will either route through a Carvin mixer to the 1/4" ins or when I get the cash an M-Audio Octane. It gets the job done and sounds pretty nice, not pro, but nice. Mainly because I've played for 15+ years and own a pro kit with nice heads tuned well.

- Jarick

Edit:
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED my NT2 on overhead, I really want another one to try for more of a natural sound. The C4's are either slightly bright or slightly dark depending on the capsule. The NT2's were just so beefy...in a great room I know they'd shine. I'd do a pair of NT2's with or without a kick mic any day of the week on a good set with a good drummer. Also, I hated AKG C3000's and AKG C418's FWIW.

[boingoman]

I have somehow become a Beta man.

Beta 57 snare

Beta 52, Beta 91, EV 868, ATM25 kick

Beta 98/ EV 408/ Beta 56 toms

SM81 overheads

Peavey PVM 480 hihats

[TheMajorMiller]

Overheads:
AKG C460s

Kick:
Shure PG 57 (don't laugh, it sound pretty nice compressed and eq'd...I'll eventually break down and get a D112)

Snare:
Shure SM57 (need an alternative...suggestions??)

Room:
Rode NT1 (rarely used because my wife's always in the living room)

Symetrix 425 Compressor/Limiter on kick and snare.

Plan on buying a couple of Sennheiser E604s in the coming weeks.

[DuoToneBand]

Dream Setup


Live:
Beta 52 and 91 on kick
Sm57 on snare top
414 on snare bottom
Beat 98 on 10", 13" and 16" toms
md421 on 18" tom
Ksm 32 overheads
SM81 on Hi Hats
VP88 between rides

Studio.
Beta 52 right at the hole in kick
M 149 infront of kick
414 on snare top and bottom
U87 on each tom, top and bottom
U87 overheads
M 149 Mono Overhead
SM81 on Hi Hats and one on each ride
414 room mics

[Track Rat]

Overheads; either a KM-184 or a pair of Earthworks SR-71's. A single Octava MK-012 with the omni cap can sound cool.
Toms; either C-1000's or SM-57's. Floor tom either a C-3000 or C-1000 or even a 57.
Snare; either an MD-441 or C-1000 or a 57. Everytime I've miked the bottom I've never ended up using it so I don't bother anymore.
Kick; a D-112 along with a Groove Tubes AM-52.