4-mic drum setup suggestion

[joeshiner]

I'm keen on a particular 4-mic drum setup; what do you think? I like an Audix D6 on the kick, an SM57 or better (e.g., an AT4033) above the snare but out of the way, and a stereo mic for overheads, each of the four mics on a separate track (and, obviously, with a good room, esp. with bass traps). For overheads, I dream about the AEA stereo ribbon. I can't yet afford this setup (at least the AEA, which is around $2K), but I'm dreaming, of course. I have Summit preamps and parametric to run through, plus some of those small ARTs and even the little mono JoeMeek. Any thoughts, suggestions?

 

[DJL]

Yeah, a kick, snare, and two O.H.'s mics... with a good kit in a nice room and a good drummer works great.

 

[Innovations]

Well, yes the four mics as you describe on a drum set is a standard configuration, though you might find equal opinions about using a spaced pair rather than a stereo pair overhead.

So what do you want 'suggestions' about? A less expensive set of mics? If so how much less? Because there are certainly a lot of good drum tracks being recorded on less than a 2k stereo ribbon.

 

[thispleasesme]

I've been using the 4 mic technique for quite some time. For a while there I only had four pre's and had no choice, but now I'm finding that even with 8 pre's, I still tend to lean towards the basic 4.

In the past, my setup has been AKG D112 on Kick, SM57 on Snare, and Oktava MK-012s on overheads. I generally found myself recording real nice sets, a DW custom here, Yamaha studio there... You know... Those really sounded great. Now, I'm running some higher end focusrite pre's and still some of my mackie's so I've got quite the room for experimentation. Lately, I've been messing around with a 58beta under the snare to really get some *CRACK* out of my group's drummer's deeper snares. So far so good.

Also, I highly recommend the "recorderman overhead technique" which I've also seen called the "Modified Spaced Pair technique".

Just search for Recorderman, and the title of the thread is something like "Great drum sound with four mics!"

See ya.

 

[spankenstein]

I've been using the 4 mic technique for quite some time. For a while there I only had four pre's and had no choice, but now I'm finding that even with 8 pre's, I still tend to lean towards the basic 4.

In the past, my setup has been AKG D112 on Kick, SM57 on Snare, and Oktava MK-012s on overheads. I generally found myself recording real nice sets, a DW custom here, Yamaha studio there... You know... Those really sounded great. Now, I'm running some higher end focusrite pre's and still some of my mackie's so I've got quite the room for experimentation. Lately, I've been messing around with a 58beta under the snare to really get some *CRACK* out of my group's drummer's deeper snares. So far so good.

Also, I highly recommend the "recorderman overhead technique" which I've also seen called the "Modified Spaced Pair technique".

Just search for Recorderman, and the title of the thread is something like "Great drum sound with four mics!"

See ya.

http://www.danalexanderaudio.com/glynjohns.htm

I like that one a lot too. I usualyl use on of those methods. MC-012s for overheads (sometimes MK-319s) usually ATM25 in the kick and a 57 on the snare.