Drum micing

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crazyjman

crazyjman

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I notice that when most people talk about micing drums that they have specific mic preferences for each drum rather than using drum mic kits. Does anybody use these or are they more appropriate for live applications?
I'm planning on micing my drums pretty soon for recording and wondering which the best way to go is.
 
Drum mic kits are one of two things. A) an affordable way to mic you kit if you can't afford a selection of more expensive mics. or B) A way for a manufacturer to make it more likely you will use their brand of mics all the way around your kit.

Mic kits are a new idea. It always used to be the sound people used different mics depending on the flavoring they wanted. To do this you need to have an understanding of different mics and the general sound they provide before making your selection.

I highly recommend you using the search feature of this site and doing some research to get a better scope of what you want. There is plenty of info here on it.

I personally don't like kits (from experience). While you can get some good mics, you don't always get the sound you want on some drums. Getting an idea of the sound you're looking for helps the selection.
 
It's interesting that you say that.... I was going to buy a kit however I had a feeling that I might not be totally happy with it and end up experimenting with different mics here and there.
Thanks you might have saved me a ton of cash!
 
from my experiece, overheads and room mics are more important than putting a mic on each tom. kits tend to sell you a bunch of one thing, mostly for micing all your toms.
I would get a 57, a kick mic (52 or D112) and a couple overhead condensers. I dont think you can get that combo of mics in a kit.
 
I like the flexiblility in choosing individual mics. That said I could have bought a kit of mics for the same price as I paid for my NT5s, and I would be recording with more mics instead of saving up for a D112 now, and then mics for my toms, and then.... etc...

I guess what I'm saying is if you can afford to choose your mics individually (or are just fussy) it is the best option.. If you can't afford to do that or you just want to get recording with some 'tried and true' mics that are probably suitable, then kits are a good way to go.
 
The problem with the kits is that they come from one manufacturer. I can't think of a Sennheiser that I would use on a snare or a kick. (personal preference) but I don't want to use anything else on toms (421, 604, 609)
I tend to use a 57 on the snare. I could use a B52 on the kick, but I prefer the D112. I don't like AKGs tom mics. These are the mics I like to use and they come from 3 different companies. A drum pack with the best stuff isn't going to happen.
 
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