Drum Overhead suggestions...

[Grahambo!]

Which one for drum overheads?

Studio Projects C4
ASK C 1000 S
Samson CL2
Audio-Technica AT3031
MXL604

I've heard great things about all. I've also heard the Oktava Mk012s are top-notch, but they seem too expensive ($400 a pair), where as all of the ones I've listed I can get cheap on ebay.

 

[drossfile]

the c100s and the samsons???? are you serious?????

i'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're not a troll.

keep your eyes open at ebay for a pair of mxl 603 (similar to the 604, and either will do, but the 603 is less $$$). i got my pair for $110, new.

that is all. in the future, please do a search for such things. a lot of people around here will flame you for a question like this.

 

[Sloan]

the 603's are good. I liek them. check for some used ones too! i got a used pair for $75.

 

[lumbago]

One on kick (AKG D112 or Beyer M88). One between snare and hihat (SM57), one overhead (condenser).

Simpler is better.

 

[Concrete_Lake]

One on kick (AKG D112 or Beyer M88). One between snare and hihat (SM57), one overhead (condenser).

Simpler is better.

Completely disagree. It all depends on the genre of music. In no way is simpler always better.

 

[McParadigm]

the c100s and the samsons???? are you serious?????

i'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're not a troll.

keep your eyes open at ebay for a pair of mxl 603 (similar to the 604, and either will do, but the 603 is less $$$). i got my pair for $110, new.

that is all. in the future, please do a search for such things. a lot of people around here will flame you for a question like this.

I'd heard that the 603 was great on acoustic guitar but awful on cymbals and brass?

 

[ausrock]

From that list I'd say the SP C4's. MXL603's are usually great on acoustics but overly bright on cymbals. Oktava's 012's, if purchased wisely, are a mic that you will probably keep for a long time

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

No mic is too expensive: you're just too cheap!

 

[Grahambo!]

thanks for all of the input. and yes, I AM cheap. But that's because I'm a college student and don't have a high-paying job. It's hard to pay for top-end equipment while paying for rent, bills, food, gas, and LOANS.
Hence, I am inquiring for the best INEXPENSIVE mics out there for overhead purposes.

From what I've read, the mxl 603s aren't too hot on overheads. How do the 604s stand?

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

thanks for all of the input. and yes, I AM cheap. But that's because I'm a college student and don't have a high-paying job. It's hard to pay for top-end equipment while paying for rent, bills, food, gas, and LOANS.
Hence, I am inquiring for the best INEXPENSIVE mics out there for overhead purposes.

From what I've read, the mxl 603s aren't too hot on overheads. How do the 604s stand?

Dude, trust me on this one: wait a month or two, or five, don't go out to eat, don't buy beer (you can't tell me it's hard to mooch in college), don't go out to the movies, etc. Save up and buy the good stuff right away!!! This is true of everything for the rest of your life. Use the time for practicing whatever material you plan on recording. Think about it: you'll be 2-3 months better at the material, AND you'll have some kick-ass mic's to use when you do! Win-win my friend.

Never ever ever ever ever buy the cheap shit if the only reasons are money and time. Quality first.

 

[dgatwood]

Never ever ever ever ever buy the cheap shit if the only reasons are money and time. Quality first.

Strongly agreed. If your time is worth anything at all, don't bother with Chinese condensers for overheads. They are pretty universally bad at it, and you'll waste tons of time trying to make it sound usable and still never get a sound that you'll like.

You can probably find used MK-012s on eBay and various other places for a lot less than $400 for two. For example, here's one:

$120:
http://www.musicgoround.com/gear/inventorydetails.asp?id=550126

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Oh, I forgot to add that I recommend buying used when it comes to analog equipment (mic's, mixing boards, outboard gear, etc.), and new when it comes to digital (computers, hard drives, etc.)

 

[Whoopysnorp]

You can definitely make a decent recording with the MXL603s as overhead mics; I've made lots. There is certainly room for improvement by getting nicer condensers, but the 603s are absolutely usable.

 

[carlosguardia]

If what you are looking for is the best INEXPENSIVE mics out there for overhead purposes I would have to say: go for the ECM 8000's. Harvey Gerst recommended them a few years ago and if the room you're tracking drums is any good, these cheap-o omni's will do the job and you'll be down less than $100.

 

[aidan_m]

How about the naiant MSH's? I use MSH1's happily! And boy are they budget!!

http://www.naiant.com

 

[bubbagump]

The SP C4 is a heck of a deal as it comes in a stereo pair and has interchangeable capsules. In that price range they are hard to beat.

As for the Naint's... I do love those little mics. However, I found the MSH1s to break up at high SPLs. I haven't messed with the new MSH mics yet... so take what I say with a grain of salt. But for jazz over heads, the MSHs ARE hard to beat... hint, use a Jecklyn disk setup (an OC 703/705 baffle works just fine).

 

[dgatwood]

If what you are looking for is the best INEXPENSIVE mics out there for overhead purposes I would have to say: go for the ECM 8000's. Harvey Gerst recommended them a few years ago and if the room you're tracking drums is any good, these cheap-o omni's will do the job and you'll be down less than $100.

You're down almost half the cost of a pair of MK-012s and you still can't usefully do X/Y miking (the most common arrangement for overheads)? Doesn't sound like a very good buy to me, IMHO.

 

[carlosguardia]

True, omni microphones don't work well for x-y or ortf mic techniques, however, I own a pair and have gotten great results with them placed a la Massenberg or Glyn Johns; again, I have to thank Harvey Gerst for recomending them.

 

[drossfile]

thanks for all of the input. and yes, I AM cheap. But that's because I'm a college student and don't have a high-paying job. It's hard to pay for top-end equipment while paying for rent, bills, food, gas, and LOANS.
Hence, I am inquiring for the best INEXPENSIVE mics out there for overhead purposes.

From what I've read, the mxl 603s aren't too hot on overheads. How do the 604s stand?

the 603 is just fine on OH applications. i bought mine because of harvey's recommendation, and i'm very pleased with them. in fact, harvey has commented that most people's complaints with the 603 are the exact same complaints with neumann's km184. yeah, the 603s suck.

the 604 is the exact same mic except with a -10dB pad switch, which you won't need, and it comes with the omni capsule, which you also won't need if your room is bad. besides, you can pick up a pair of omni capsules for the 603 for $35, so it's not a factor anyway.

i won't pretend to have the best drum sounds, but for overheads at $110 a pair, it's a steal. the only other mics i use to supplement the OHs are a d6 on kick and a 57 on snare, with the 603 pair in recorderman configuration.

here's the only track i've done with them so far (it's the top track, "untitled," a collab w/ a fellow hr member):

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=721637

let me know if the OHs suck.

 

[carlosguardia]

drossfile- nice sounding track... The drum tracks sound raw but really nice... The guitars sound a little weak between the 1:00 and the 1:30 mark... maybe some punching in new more solid takes might do... otherwise, great track! OH's sound fine and even the mix sounds good!