Typical mics used for bottom snare and kick beater?

D

diskobox

New member
HELLO,

i usually record drums like this:

two overheads - Oktava MC-012 (coincident pair)
top snare - SM57
outside kick - D112

my mixes usually lack top end on the snare, i tried once using a small condensor on the bottom (in conjunction with the SM57 on top)with great results, except I no longer have access to an extra small condensor,

i do have access to the following:

AKG C2000B
Audio Technica 3060
More SM57s

i am also going to mic up the kick beater to make the kick more punchier

what mikes are typically used on the bottom snare and kick beater in modern rock/indie music

CHEERS EVERYONE, Ian x
 
What you use on the bottom head is rather a matter of taste. An sm57 works fine. Remember to reverse the phase of the mic. Same thing if you mic the beater from the opposite side.

I find that I don't need to mic the bottom head so long as the drums are over a hard surface and the sound gets reflected back to the overheads.
 
diskobox said:
What mics are typically used on the bottom snare and kick beater in modern rock/indie music
Click to expand...

C414 ULS under/side of snare, pad & bass roll off come in handy. A little harsh maybe though.
 
You could buy a couple of Naiant mics. They're so inexpensive that even if they don't work out you're only out a few bucks, and you can probably use them elsewhere anyways.

If you're going to be micing the kick beater from the outside (by the drummer's foot), I recommend ducking this track off the snare so that the snare doesn't overwhelm things.
 
diskobox said:
du think i could get away with using a large condensor for the kick drum beater?
Click to expand...

Are you planning to mic from inside the kick, or actually on the beater side?

When available to me, I like to use a D112 a few inches from the batter head (inside) and then an RE20 just inside the reso head.

Placing a mic on the beater side can be a bit hit or miss. You have to make sure that the pedal is silent - and that you get no squeaks.

If it's a more clicky sound you're after, you can stick a penny to the beater, or if the drummer will let you, push a metal thumb tack into the beater.
 
If I were you -

3060 on undersnare.

use the D112 an inch from the batter head(inside) and about two inches to the left of where the beater strikes.

Try the AKG as a room mic, compress heavily and mix to taste.
 
There are a lot of things you can do. Maybe the 112 inside the kick near the beater and the 3060 outside the drum. Maybe a 57 or the C2000 on the bottom of the snare too. Perhaps only the 3060 on the shell of the snare. Maybe the 112 and a 57 in the kick (112 for boom, 57 for smack) and blend to taste. Play around and see what you can come up with. Whatever you do, tune the drums first. ;) Also, make gates your friend. Nothing cleans up drum tracks better than good use of compression and gating especially when dealing with drums recorded in a less than ideal room.
 
Of the mics you listed, I would try the 3060 under the snare pointing staight up at the snare and at a right angle to the snares (so you are as far from them as possible) and I would actually put an sm57 on the batter head of the kick since you will also have the D112 on the ported side.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top