drum kit mic logistics

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coplinger

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I am recording a band Sunday whose drum kit has just the hihat & one crash for cymbals, 2 toms, kick & snare. I figure I've got the cymbals covered with a mxl603, the snare w/ a 57, beta 52 on the kick. Question is: how to mic the toms?
1 sp b3
2 sm57's
1 mxl603
I'm leaning towards the b3 as my first choice. I also have a mxl v67. Any ideas? Also, is the spl on the b3 safe for drum miking?
 
Hi Coplinger!

If you have the mics I think you have here's what I'd do.

Overheads: pair of MXL603Ss in a coincident cardioid setup.
Kick: As you were.
Snare: Ditto.
Toms: Rack: SM57s, Floor: B3 or V67.

Alternatively, if you're one of those "mono drums rule dude" types.

Overhead: Either the B1 or the V67 placed in front of the kit or looking over the drummer's right shoulder.
Everything else: As above.

Does that do it for you?

Regards

Mark.
 
You could also use the spare SM57 (you have three, right?) as a Beater mic and the spare condensor under the snare. And don't forget to reverse the phase on these ones.

Just an idea.
 
As much as I prefere condensor mics on toms and floor toms, out of the mics you have, I'd put the 57's on the toms and floor tom and put the B-3 out in front of the kick about 3' pointed at the kick (stay well away from the hole if there is one cut in the front head).
 
Coppy!

Just checked the Studio Projects website. SPL figures for the B3 are 132 dB without pad, 142 with. Does that sound good to you?

Regards

Mark.
 
beta 52 -kick
sm57 - snare
603's - pair overhead

v3 out in front of the kit a feww feet in front the kick and about the height of the snare

2 sm57's on toms

v67 as a room mic...walk arounf the room with a finger in one of your ears and find where you are getting the best balance of the whole kit and put the mic there....Dont laugh, i got that from Harvey
:D


MIKE
 
Thanks everyone. A few things to add: This kit only has 2 cymbals, a crash right next to the hihat. Using a stereo pair for overheads will put all cymbals on the left side & all toms on the right side. This is why I'm leaning towards a more mono setup. I was figuring that there might be a better option than the 603 on the 'tom side'. I was thinking of trying the b3 in figure 8 between the toms with the null side towards the snare. Also, the band will be playing in the same room with the drummer. We're in a very large warehouse & I'm hoping to 'make bleed my friend'. I'm going to use some room mics as well to pick up some natural reverb (the band actually sounds real good in the room)
 
You could always ask the drummer to move the crash over to the opposite side of the kit to the HH, that'd make the stereo picture a bit less lopsided. Isn't that where it normally lives anyway? Well, I always put it there.
 
We ended up adding a ride to the kit, so I used the 603's as overheads & the b3 on the guitar amp. This was the 1st time I used the 603's & I was very happy with the sound I got. Much less harsh than the v67's we had used as OH's before. Also, the room we were in sounded great, so I think we got some good tracks. I'll post some in the clinic once they're done. Thanks everyone
 
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