Best of the cheapest Drum Mic Kits?

[NRS]

Ive been looking into several drum mic kits in the $200-$300 price range but have found limited reviews on any of them. From what I've read so far, most do a respectable job at micing toms but often the kick, snare, or condensers can pose a weak link. So far I've looked at the Nady's, CAD's, Samsons, Peaveys and a lesser known company called RED5 (which actually looks the most promising) but am still yet to decide. I've also considered peicemealing a kit by focusing on just finding a good kick and condenser pair then filling out the rest with GLS-57's (great SM-57 knockoffs). Although the kit will mainly be used for live sound reinforcement, the condenser pair is of particular importance to me as I would like them to be capable enough to easily handle a 3 mic drum set up as well as double for general recording purposes. (A large diaphram condenser may also be an option on the kick for that matter). I know this is a tall order on my budget and probably even laughable for some of you highend recording gurus, but I also know I can end up with something fairly decent that meets all my needs if I select carefully. (Yes, sometimes you CAN actually get more than you pay for). Thanks for your reccomendations in advance.

Oh yeah, heres the link to the RED5 stuff and a comparative review. I think the MP3 comparison to the more expensive AKG set (downloadable at the end of the review) speaks for itself.

RED5: http://www.red5audiousa.com/acatalog/Drum_Microphones.html

REVIEW: http://www.dancetech.com/aa_dt_new/hardware/item.cfm?threadid=2640&lang=0

 

[PhilGood]

I've seen those Red-5 mics under a different name before. I think it was Superlux. I use the GLS mics and like them.

 

[jkokura]

I like the AT drum mics...at least for toms - the only place I'd use them. A 57 on snare is cheap enough and I'd have to say get a good kick mic like the D112.I've never found a good 'kit' mic for kick or snare.

Jacob

 

[dgatwood]

I like the AT drum mics...at least for toms - the only place I'd use them. A 57 on snare is cheap enough and I'd have to say get a good kick mic like the D112.I've never found a good 'kit' mic for kick or snare.

Jacob

Agreed on the D112. My advice would be to build your own kit. I'm going to assume for the purposes of price that you have 2 rack toms, a floor tom, a kick, and a snare, plus some arbitrary number of cymbals and toys (wood blocks, cowbell, etc.).

For your snare and each tom, buy a CAD DSM-1. Whatever mics you buy, this is the best way to attach it, IMHO. They're about $20 apiece.

Definitely a D112 for a kick mic. Only way to fly. Well, that or a Beta 52.

I've had good luck with the AKG D2300S for toms/snare, and they're fairly inexpensive. Retail is $99 apiece. I paid about $10-15 apiece when I got mine (I own 6), but they're up to $40 apiece now, or $70 for a pair. Imagine my shock when I realized I got decent mics for peanuts....

For overheads, I personally like the Nady CM90. Other folks have suggested the Oktava MK-012, though those are getting hard to find these days except used on eBay.

DSM-1: $20 x 4 = $80
D112 (used): $150 x 1 = $150
AKG D2300S: $70/pr x 2 = $140

Nady CM90: $43 x 2 = $86
or
Oktava MK012: ~$99 x 2 = $198

Total is $458-$570 for what should be a good set of mics---and perhaps more importantly, a solid set of mic mounts with rubber bumpers to help isolate the mic from the drum, unlike the rim-clip mounts that pretty universally mar every drum kit mic set that I've ever seen.