Are clip on drum mics really better?

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Stigmatic92

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Are clip on drum mics really better than regular mics? Do they tend to sound any better or give any better sound quality? Or does it just depend on what mics you buy? I'm soon going to be buying a 11-piece drum set and i'm wondering if it would really be worth it to buy the clip on mics.
 
I never heard that they where any better?
If you want to mic a whole set close miked live all the time it might be nice.
I have some AKG clip on mikes that work pretty well. The clip on mic's will be less isolated from the drums (bad thing), they cost more (bad thing).

Bang for buck I think you're way better off with regular mic's


F.S.
 
Clip-on mics may or may not suck just like standalone mics may or may not suck....

Personally, I use mounts with standard mics on my kit, but it's not because they sound better. I use them because there's no room to put five extra mic stands in my living room just to mic the kit. It's bad enough with two overheads and a low-profile mini-boom for the kick....

There shouldn't be much difference in sound as long as the clip has a decent rubber pad to help dampen the direct vibrations. Buy a mic that sounds good, and mount it in whatever way is most convenient for you, whether that's a clip mount or a stand.
 
If you are going for an 11 piece drum kit.. Clip-ons where possible would make sense or you're gonna have mic stands everywhere!! But as said above there are good and bad clipons just as there are good and bad standalones.

EDIT:
Actually, if you're going standalones just get some good mic clamps to avoid the stands issue..
 
ok... so lets just say if i was to get clip on mics..... what would be some good quality mics to get?
 
Clip on mics

Some brands have drums without the needed "lip" to clip securely (like my Premier drums) so check your hoops carefully. My Pearl snare drums holds well with its hoop design. I have a "cheap" set of Samson mics (out of budget necessity) but they are "adequate" for now. Would be fine for live gig but there are a lot better mics. The clips certainly save a lot of floor space and addition stands cluttering my small room.

dennyc765
 
Stigmatic92 said:
ok... so lets just say if i was to get clip on mics..... what would be some good quality mics to get?
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AkG makes pretty nice ones, but as mentioned not all drums like clip ons. You may want to try before buying. You can also buy mounting brackets that work with normal mic's. Shure makes some heavy duty ones that can take a hit and won't come off. Here they are http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Shure-A56D-Microphone-Drum-Mount?sku=425100&src=3SOSWXXA

The akg clip on mic's tht I have expieriance with are the D409. They sound nice but the clips are hard to deal with. I have to clip them to the drum mount butterfly bolts for a good sturdy hold. They want to pop off the rims.
Here they are. http://www.frontendaudio.com/AKG_D409_Hypercardiod_Dynamic_Instrument_Microphon_p/1047.htm

I would recomend against the style of clip on this akg mic.

You could buy a shure 57 and the Shure clamp for much less too.
The sure clamp is rock steady and you can also spin around the clamp section and clamp it to a mic stand too. The internal dampening on the sm-57 works pretty well for isolating against vibrations, but I can not speak for how well another mic would work with this clamp.

There is a kit available for from sure that comes with a kick mic, 3 57's, and 3 clamps. it would save you some money on your first 3 mic's & clips or you could buy a bunch of kits and sell of the beta-52's:) since you basicaly get the kick mic for free if I recall the price correctly.
Good luck.

F.S.
 
before I had my own drum mics, I would hope that the drummer that I was recording had his own... In one case, The drummer I was working with had a set of Peavey drum mics....they looked pretty cool..and had these cool mounts and all but when we listened to what he recorded, you could hear the viberations from him hitting each drum...it would go into other mics...they mounts were a hard plastic or maybe even metal....I cant remember for sure...but I know it didnt sound good at all...but now I use Sennheiser e604's...I have 4 of those and 2 MD504's which are just older versions of the 604's....these mics have plyable rubber mounts and I love them....guess thats why I have 6....
 
thajeremy said:
...but now I use Sennheiser e604's...I have 4 of those and 2 MD504's which are just older versions of the 604's....these mics have plyable rubber mounts and I love them....guess thats why I have 6....
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Word. We just got a few of the e904's for the studio, I love em, and haven't noticed any problems with vibration.
 
+1 for the 604's, I use them by choice, not because it's the only thing I have. They are great.
 
Farview said:
+1 for the 604's, I use them by choice, not because it's the only thing I have. They are great.
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Hmmmm? Now I have to go check out 604's. This is libal to cost me some money:mad::D

F.S.
 
thajeremy

Do you notice any/much audible difference between the e604s and the MD504s? I have a collection of the 504s that I've been using forever.

I'd love to find clips for these for when I'm screwing around and want something quick.
 
I don't hear any real difference, I've got both. I think they just went to a new numbering system (md to e) and that was it.
 
I would recommend using the 609s on the toms, but using something different on the snare.
 
I gotta say this but sorry. An 11 peice Kit? Are you joking?

IF you cant do it with a 5 or 6 peice kit I would think about maybe another instrument.

And as far as microphones and the clips if you are talking live then you better get clip on mics cause unless you are going to be playing on some pretty big stages you wont have room for abunch of microphone stands or want to carry all of them and set them up after setting up a 11 peice kit. And just wait till you tear down at the end of a gig.

All that shit to carry to a gig and set up and tear down can ruin a great gig.
It doesnt inpress anyone but maybe a drummer or 2 that might show up.

Huge kits are made for pros that have a boy or two to carry all that shit and set it up for them. Dont think that the guitar player or the keyboard player is going to help at the end of the night cause they are going to be trying to put their nose up some chics butt after they get done.:rolleyes:
 
89gtsleeper said:
I would recommend using the 609s on the toms, but using something different on the snare.
Click to expand...

I feel the opposite about this...I like my 609 on snare better than any mic that I own...and I ALWAYS use the 604's on toms....though i have used my beta52 or SM7 on the low toms on occasion...
 
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