Large Diaphram Condensors for Overheads

  • Thread starter Thread starter BeniRose
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BeniRose

BeniRose

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I'm in the market for some new overheads for my drums. I've come to the conclusion that I like the sound of LDCs over SDCs, and given that my current pair is SDC, it makes sense to get a pair of LDCs. Of course, I'd like to be able to spend 1g each on some C414s, but I'm looking for something that will be about 500 for a pair (since this is what I was planning on spending for the Rode NT5s) of good LDCs that will function very well as overheads. Right now I'm using my Rode NT1As, but I think I want something a little nicer and more tuned for the application. Not sure if something like that even exists for 500, but wanted to see if anyone had some recomendations. I'm a bit flexible on price, but absolutely can't spend more than a grand on a pair. Thanks in advance!
 
I'm a big fan of AT3035s as overheads. Very smooth and articulate, definitely not harsh like a lot of SDCs can be.
 
Yeah. I've found that a lot of SDCs were too "shiney", and kind of exagerated my cymbols a little bit. The LDCs are a bit more truthful to the sound.
 
Studio Projects B-1's might do the trick for you and you'd have a pile of money left over.
 
Another good option would be Michael Joly's modded MK219's.
 
I have recently been using a pair of CAD M177's over my drums and I have been pretty pleased with them....I have several other options....I have a pair of Oktava MK012's and a pair of MSH-1's all of witch do a really good job...I also have a pair of Oktava mk319's but at the moment only 1 of them have the PE Oktava mod....once I get the other modded, they may find themselves over the drums as well...
 
I plan on using my PE-modded 219s as overheads on my next project, and one of my PE-modded 012s on snare (though I'd really like to get hypercardioid caps for them first).
 
Oktava LDC as OH

You can hear the 219 has OH here:
http://www.oktavamod.com/audio.html

For comparison, there is a pair of MK-011 also. The '011 is usually called a "mid-sized" diaphragm mic but its actually closer in size (and sound) to the '012 than the '219.

In between enjoying the '219 as an OH pair, you can make great vocal or acoustic guitar recordings with it.
 
In my ever so humble opinion... I sort of hate 414s for drum over heads. So don't feel like you are missing out. My absolute favorite drum OHs are a pair of AT4050s.

<tanget>
Don't get rid of your SDCs though. What I usually do is use the AT4050s in a spaced pair (think mixerman) and then put an SDC (SM81 or whatever is handy) in the middle. That makes for a really great stereo image and the SDC adds punch I find. I use the mixerman string deal and by using the arc the string creates you can easily get the phase right on all three mics. The only thing is you may need to futz with the mid mic to be sure it is in the same distance arc as the two side mics AND equal distance from the two side mics. The extra 10 minutes is worth it.</tangent>
 
I use the Studio Projects LDS2 Stereo Condenser. It has switchable patterns. Cardiod, Omni and Figure 8. Sounds sweet!
You can probably find it on ebay for around $500 if you're lucky.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll be looking into all those mics. I really just need to get an internship at a local studio and play with the mics they have so I can see if there's any lower end mics I like.

I'm not going to rule out using SDCs, I'm certainly going to hold on to them when I need more punchy and pop sounding drums. Unfortunately my SDCs are pretty cheap (Samson C02s) so I wouldn't mind trying some higher quality ones to see if it's really all SDCs that I don't like.

What's the recorder-man method? I just started using strings to check my overhead distance from the snare and man it makes a difference.
 
BeniRose said:
What's the recorder-man method? I just started using strings to check my overhead distance from the snare and man it makes a difference.
Click to expand...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiFOD1EeKhQ

There's also a gigantor thread on this in the Drums forum here, look for the 3 mic technique thread. I dig this setup a lot, although lately I've been a little more partial to the Glyn Johns overhead technique only because my kit sounds better in my new "recording space" that way.
 
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