Best way to track a kit with 3 Sm57s and a Beta 52?

[Mjespo125]

I am going to start recording again and I have 4 mics at my disposal, 3 sm57s and a Beta 52. What would be the best way to mic a kit with just these four mics? The beta 52 would obviously be used to mic the kick, and I was thinking one of the Sm57s on the top of the snare, what would I then need to do with the others to best capture the kit? Suggestions?

[Lo-Fi Mike]

Originally Posted by Mjespo125

I am going to start recording again and I have 4 mics at my disposal, 3 sm57s and a Beta 52. What would be the best way to mic a kit with just these four mics? The beta 52 would obviously be used to mic the kick, and I was thinking one of the Sm57s on the top of the snare, what would I then need to do with the others to best capture the kit? Suggestions?

1st answer : go get some nt5's


serious answer : i would have to say overheads, but i have never used dynamic mics for overheads before, but i cant see recording a kit with out overheads.

my approach to a kit is that it is a big stereo instrument, and the overhead are the main importance, then kick & snare mic are for accenting.
in saying this i do a lot of XY overhead miking.

you might find that you might need to eq some sparkle into the over heads

[Russtopher]

How many toms?

No brainers - 52 in kick, 1 57 on snare

If you've just got one rack tom and one floor, you're golden. Just put a 57 on each.

2 racks and 1 floor, put 1 57 on the floor and put the other 57 between the two rack toms.

You can always copy the tom tracks to a separate track, then do some serious low end rolling off and high end boosting with EQ to try and bring out the cymbals.

I'll warn you though, it won't sound too pretty. It won't be unlistenable, but the 57s won't do much for the cymbals.

I've tried 57s as overheads and hated the sound, of course that shouldn't stop you from at least trying it it out. Maybe put a 57 pointed at the toms from the front, and one one the side pointed at the floor. Experiment if you can.

[mikeyhasnobones]

just use them as overheads and position them a little closer to the kit than you normally would (just as long as they are out of the way ) you may have to boost the high end a little bit but it should be fine.

[Mjespo125]

If anyones interested, I tried the configurations suggested out, heres what I got: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PU0ATQYC
Check it out and tell me what I should change next time, disregard any mistakes this was merely a test. The song is actually for a progressive hardcore band.

[Tim Brown]

My personal suggestion is use them as what some of us call "Underheads".

Which means they are below the cymbals, but not right on the toms. They will still pick up the cymbals as long as you don't gate them.



Tim

[Elton Bear]

I was about to suggest that, I've heard good results live with that configuration.

[tbone36109]

one on snare and 2 as overheads. 57s can actually be pretty usable overheads depending on the music.