3 microphones for drums

[vivien]

Hi everyebody!
I 'd like to record drums but I don't have a big budget. Last week, a salesman said me that I could succeed with only 2 16AM shure microphones and one E602 senheiser. Is he true? He said me that they were multi purpose microphones and I could use them for other instruments(this is good for my purse!).
What do you think about that? Do I buy them?
Thanks for your answers.

 

[Harvey Gerst]

That's a smart salesman. Yes, you can mic a drum set with 3 mics 0 in mono or stereo, and in some ways, it's way more accurate than micing everything separately. You have less problems with phasing and a better chance at getting a "real" drum sound.

It's important that the drums are really well tuned, the drummer must be even handed, and it really helps to have a good room.

For stereo, one mic on the kick and the other two mics behind the drummer's head, aimed slightly outward and towards the top of the toms. Another placement is one on the kick, and the other two mics out about 3 to 6 feet in front of the set, about 6 to 8 feet apart.

For more control, try mono; one on the kick, one on the snare, and one above, and slightly behind the drummer's head. The room, drums, and the drummer's technique will determine the exact placement of the mics so you'll need to experiment a little more, but you can get a really big drum sound when you finally get it right.

 

[sonusman]

Great post Harvey! I second all of that.

Ed

 

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Also, check out: http://www.mercenary.com/3micdrumstuf.html for more 3 mic drum info than you ever needed to know

-travis