Best Overhead Mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter mattkw80
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What type of mics do you use for Drum Overheads?

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mattkw80 said:
When you space the 4050's in Omni, how far apart, how far out from the drums, and how high?

(roughly as a strating point, I mean... I know everything is relevant)
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We've placed them out front, maybe five feet from the drums, centered, and either above or below the cymbals. Placing them on a plane with the cymbals can create a strange washy sound that comes from cymbal movement.

We've used them as a true spaced pair on either side of the kit "looking" at the snare.

I guess the answer you're looking for is "it depends". Our room is set up so that the omnis sound nice. Other rooms might not. You have to experiment. That's not a cop-out, even though it sounds like one; small changes in position and microphone type yield BIG differences in sound. Post-processing can make those changes even more prominent.

The cool thing is when you find something that really works through experimentation and trial/error. Although you most certainly didn't, it feels like you invented it.

One thing for sure - I like LDCs for the job now that my room is well-treated. I used to prefer SDCs. I usually use both, but sometimes the room mics are the thing I'm looking for.
 
I`ve usually used SDC`s before.

But after using AkG 414 on the cymbals, I will never go back, best sound I`ve gotten.

Used them as a spaced pair, worked like magic:)
 
I've heard 4050's are somewhat of a poor man's 414, or at least, a great substitue.

Anybody here agree or disagree with that?
 
IMHO overheads should be condensers anyway, and then of the two, small diaphragm condensers give me the best frequency response. LDC's are great, if you have a great room to record in.
Lately I've been messing around with a dynamics too, which gives some interesting effects. Not good for your everyday drum recording though.
 
2 x Rode NT3's

Very good all rounders I love these mics.
 
I record with LDCs (NT1a's) as overheads, but not by choice, only because my SDCS (Samson C02) aren't really worth using from my experience. They're way too shimmery and don't sound very good. However, the last time I used them was a year or two ago, and I've learned bucket loads on how to properly record drums since then (and gotten a MUCH nicer kit) so I think I'm going to give them another shot in a few days.

I do actually like the tone my SDCs give you, it's a much more raw, natural sound of the kit and cymbals. Surprisingly, my room's doesn't sound bad with them (I have concrete walls and a low ceiling!) and I've gotten a pretty good sound with them, but they still sound very open and raw. If I was going for a more produced and polished sound, I'd want to give my C02s another try, or sell them and get the pair of Rode NT5's I've had my eye on for quite some time. Everything I've heard those in sounds amazing.
 
I was impressed with several videos that Gretch drums did for thier site with only one AT3035 4' above the set...I bought 2 and Im very happy with the sound of them on overheads...Im not so sure if they are SDC or LDC...they are 3/4" diaphrams.
 
I've been using the Studio Projects LSD2 for about a year now and that thing sounds monster! Plus no phase issues? Heck ya! I like the sound much better than the Rodes NT5s I was using. <- stale in comparison

I have one AT4050 and am debating getting another one and trying those out for overheads to try something different. I love the 4050 as the room mic in fig 8 and I have a SP C1 that stays in cardioid....very nice!
 
Pairs of Shure KSM32 seem to be the choice of Eddie Kramer...and Im sure that he could have anything he wants.
 
A classic that's been used forever are Shure SM81's. I have a pair but I'm not crazy about them... they sound good but kinda cheap truthfully.

I'm crazy about Neumann KM84's and that's what I use.

A friend of mine was at a mic symposium in Switzerland and had a conversation with Alan Parsons, who worked on the Beatles albums and mixed "Dark Side of the Moon". Alan said the KM84 was his favorite mic and that he used them for all Pink Floyd's vocals.
 
weezerman2002 said:
I was rocking 3 blue KIWI's 2 overheads, and 1 placed in front of the kit waist high about 4-6 feet out to capture the room, and kit as a whole. That was a bitchin setup. I am a huge fan of most blue products, and I really like Audix drum mics too.
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holy shit! that's a lot a money. i wish i had your budget :D
 
Nakatira said:
I`ve usually used SDC`s before.

But after using AkG 414 on the cymbals, I will never go back, best sound I`ve gotten.

Used them as a spaced pair, worked like magic:)
Click to expand...

That is what I would like to move to, but for now I am using a pair of Beliner's CM33. I think they sound quite natural in my room and I am very happy with them. :)
 
I could check that against the book...but I have the making of Dark side of the moon on DVD and I dont think that they used those for vocals.
 
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