Figure 8 pattern for drum mic

[ckent]

I'm using six mics to record a drum kit. I've drawn a bird's-eye view of the setup, attached to this message. The numbers on the mics refer to the mixer channels to which they're connected.

My question pertains to the cardioid Pro 37 mic (#6) that's positioned between the Hi and Mid toms. Its job is to capture these two drums to be panned rightward, while the other Pro 37 captures the floor tom to be panned leftward.

Would it be better to use a Figure 8 pattern on mic #6? I have an AKG414 I could use for the purpose. Just wondered if there's any benefit to the Figure 8 rejection here. Frankly I'd rather not expose my 414 to the risk of stick hits if there's not a lot to be gained by it.

If anybody here uses Figure 8s in their drum mic setups, I'd be interested to hear about it.

Thanks...

Alan

 

[Farview]

If you used a figure 8 pattern on the rack toms, one tom would be 180 degrees out of phase with the other. You are probably better off the way you have it.

 

[ckent]

Hmmmm... good point.

I'm trying to achieve the maximum sense of stereo-ness, but having the toms fighting with each other (opposite phase) sounds like a bad way to do that.

Have you used the Pro37R? If so, what's your take on it?

Thanks...

Alan

 

[reshp1]

Why not put the fig 8 and cardiod mic (mc012?) together in an M-S configuration and decode the two into stereo?

EDIT, oh nevermind, I didn't see you had overheads already

 

[ckent]

Yeah, the idea is to get a right-to-left sweep across the toms when the drummer rolls across them. The overheads don't really communicate that. I guess what I oughta be doing is put a mic on each of the three toms. But I'd like to limit my kit to six mics.

One interesting idea that comes from your suggestion is to do an M-S on the two smaller toms, and still have the overheads to pick up the kit as a whole.
There I am adding a seventh mic again, though.

Drum mic'ing remains the most interesting recording challenge I've dealt with. I've got acoustic and electric guitars pretty well under control, and vocals. But the drums are an uphill battle. I'm trying to find a formula that works for me as a starting point.

Thanks...

Alan

 

[Farview]

The whole thing will hinge on whether or not you use the overheads as the main sound of the kit. If you do, the toms will sweep as they do natually. If not, you need one more mic. The m/s thing isn't worth the hassle in this case, you will get much more separation from one mic on each tom.

 

[ckent]

I'd say I am using the overheads as the main sound of the kit but I view those tracks as the true stereo image while the separate toms, snare, and kick should add some some motion and punch where needed. I think.

Looks like the use of a seventh mic is unavoidable if I want to get the sound I hear in my head. Might have to resort to an SM-57 for that additional mic.

Alan