3-mic drum technique

[Tomm Williams]

I think I've told you guys that my main thing is live sound, not recording. I enjoy this forum as mics get discussed in greater detail than other forums. As such, I'm really becoming sold on using only 3-4 mics on a drum kit. I've had the chance to do it a number of times in the last year and am stating to think this may be how I do it from now on. Heil PR40 or EV868 on kick, a pair of Michael Joly 603's or AKG 391's on OH and perhaps a Beyer M201 splitting the HH and snare. I thought initially that finding a sweetspot would be a real challenge-----------not so.

Most of my work is with a symphony who do a Jazz/Swing band performance annually. Haven't tried it on a pop-rock act yet but see no reason it wouldn't work. I still keep my collection of tom mics for riders but I'm really getting sold on this. Isolation is not quite as good bit that hasn't been an issue as of yet.

 

[bassbrad]

There are so many variables that decide what mic set up I choose for drums. Drummer, kit, size of kit, space, style of music, equipment and tracks available for use and the expectation of the drummer, producer or other client.

My preference is to go as simple as possible which often is bass drum mic, a pair of overheads & most often a snare drum mic but not always.

 

[Bobbsy]

I do a fair bit of live work in a musical theatre setting and tend to agree with you. I very often mic a kit in the pit (I'm a poet and didn't know it!) with just three or 4 mics in almost exactly the way you do: A couple of overheads (AKG 391s or 451s) plus something for the kick--it used to be an aging AKGD202 but that died and I'm now using an Audix D6. Often this is enough but, if I add a fourth mic, it tends to be just the snare--I tend to get enough from the High Hat with the overheads.

It's worth saying that this isn't giving the big rock sound--but that's not wanted for most of the stuff I do. Instead, the kit has to fit in with a small orchestra and amplification levels aren't at rock concert volume either. Three or four mics is fine.

 

[moresound]

Hey Tomm I'm in the same boat here.
Live sound is the bread and butter of my companies and support the studio.

I've gone as far as only using two microphones on a kit live (if the system is set up in mono)
Kick drum and one overhead - Sennheiser e602 II on kick and the Shure KSM 137 or KSM 141 on overhead, either centered on the kit lower than normal or from behind over the drummers head. I get a great sound reproduction of the drums this way and get tons and tons of compliments.
Only if I know by asking if the drummer is to use brushes or is a light tapper will I employ a snare microphone.

And yes I travel with a full 11 drum microphone set up just in case.

As for isolation a finely tuned gate on the overhead helps immensely. But you have to be right on top of that situation on a song by song bases.

 

[Tomm Williams]

I have an associate who just made the jump to Earthworks mics and He may never go back to fully miking a kit. He's so impressed with a PR40 on kick and two EW's OH he just can't say enough.

 

[moresound]

I have an associate who just made the jump to Earthworks mics and He may never go back to fully miking a kit. He's so impressed with a PR40 on kick and two EW's OH he just can't say enough.

Ha! I live 10 minutes from the EarthWorks factory and make a bimonthly stop to see what they have for unclaimed, or so called B stock (they really don't sell many-has to be like a small scratch in the finish type thing).
We have several models by pairs in the studio and they only come out on the road for the elegant high class gigs like national barber shop quartet competitions, world traveling chorus and the like.

Yeah don't get me started on EarthWorks microphones.