Snare drum micing suggestions

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lukecot

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Hey, I pretty much want some suggestions on mic positions and mics aswell...

I am learning the whole recording profession and I am open to all suggestions. What mics should I use and where should I put them...
How do I get a nice deep strong snare sound? How to I get a tight sound, a ringy sound... I want to know what you know about snare micing :D

If you could all help me out I will read every post and will be soooo helpful! :D
 
I like the shure sm57, Sen. Md421, AKG 414. It all depends on your price range and the drum you are using though.

I usually almost point it at the top rim and have it pulled back about two inches.
With this position I get the top head, shell, and snare wire sound with one mic.
 
the Granelli modded SM57 is well worth the $ and really works well on snare


disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Granelli
 
SM 57 is very popular as a close mic on snare. Midrange presence peak and all that. There are a lot of other possibilities. High SPL is a concern.

Positions can be described as top, bottom and shell. They can also be described as within striking distance or not. A Telefunken U47 out of harms way is a happy Telefunken U47.

Aside from that the snare track should be separate, beyond and complimentary to whatever overall kit microphone pickup strategy you come up with. Mangling it with some kind of compression could be handy if that's the sound you're going for. Parallel compression might be your friend here. Different compressors might sound really good or else not really work for this type of thing.

Getting snares to sound deep, tight or ringy depends a lot more on the player, the room, what snare you have, what heads you have, how you decide to tune the thing and any dampening you might be using, not necessarily in that order. A 6 1/2 inch Black Beauty with a coated ambassador batter tuned fairly low and hit pretty hard will do a certain thing. The head might not last more than 2 or 3 songs before being damaged from this type of setup, but the sound has the potential to rip your face off for the right song. I'm not aware of a mic technique that does this.
 
Aside from the 57 on the top, try at the same time a SDC on the bottom facing straight up at a distance of about 4 to 6 in. or where it sounds good to you.
Your over heads will be helping you out as well!!!







:cool:
 
lukecot said:
I am open to all suggestions.


I want to know what you know about snare micing :D

I will read every post
Click to expand...
This is the place to go, as well as all the advice you'll get in this thread.
Don't be discouraged by what seems like the vast oceans of opinions and stuff to read. You'll be glad one day. You may well add to it.
And try everything you come across. Sometimes, you just never know.
 
My experience indicates that mic selection is less important than preamp selection, which is less important than placement, all of which are waaaaaay less important than the drum itself, the tuning and the playing.

That said, we've gotten great results with an Audix i5 at a 30 degree angle, into an API 512 preamp (on a great, well-tuned, well-played drum).
 
Todzilla said:
My experience indicates that mic selection is less important than preamp selection, which is less important than placement, all of which are waaaaaay less important than the drum itself, the tuning and the playing.

That said, we've gotten great results with an Audix i5 at a 30 degree angle, into an API 512 preamp (on a great, well-tuned, well-played drum).
Click to expand...

One-hundred percent agree. Every snare has its pros and cons. But a well chosen, tuned and played snare makes all the difference. Get the kit sounding right. Put a good matched pair of condensers, AKG C214 or 414's. Get a good sound with those and start mixing in everything else.
 
Todzilla said:
That said, we've gotten great results with an Audix i5 at a 30 degree angle, into an API 512 preamp (on a great, well-tuned, well-played drum).
Click to expand...

Are the Audix i5's any good on a snare... 57 or i5?
 
57 or I5.....

IMHO, that comparison is apples to apples. Do you like Granny Smith or Washington.

Best way I have found to differentiate the two mics, going mostly off of electric guitar, because that is where I notice the difference in the two mics the most, is a 57 gives you more of a familiar vintage tone, where the I5 is more of a modern tone.......(takes deep breath and prepares for the flood of more experienced people to weigh in the subject.)

I have recorded side by side, same amp, same guit, same take, an I5 and a 57.....on guit cabs. They both sound equally good, the 57 had a familiar "flavor", that reminded me of vintage guit tone, where as the I5 had a more modern "flavor".

Either of the two mics will give GREAT results, just decide for yourself what you like best......remember if it sounds good, it is good.
 
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lukecot said:
How do I get a nice deep strong snare sound? How to I get a tight sound, a ringy sound... I want to know what you know about snare micing :D
Click to expand...
These aren't mic issues. They're drum selection and tuning issues. No mic will GIVE you a deep snare or a ringy snare. That's up to the snare. As it so often happens when people are learning about recording, there's this tendency to skip the most important first steps and hope that the next step will magically make up for it.

You're question is 99% about getting as close to the sound you're looking for before even plugging a mic in.
 
Shure SM57 all the way!

Placed on a mic stand pointing at a 30-45 degrees to the center of the snare and about 2 inchs off the head. :D
 
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