Low cost "Drum Mic Sets" - which one is best?

[kid klash]

I've been told that the RED5 RVD1 kick mic is very good. They're not very expensive either (35 pounds from the UK distributor). Wish they were easier to get in the States (other than on eBay). Anyone here got some of these RED5 mics or mic sets? Whaddaya think?

http://www.red5audio.com/acatalog/Drum_Kit_Mics.html

 

[TragikRemix]

the hell with packs!

i got a used d112 for $130,
audix i5 new for $99,
4x used sm 57's, totaling $240 or so,
c430 overheads new for $200.

if i had to do it again, i would get the d112, i5, and a pair of the oktavas. screw the toms in the beginning.

 

[scrubs]

I've been told that the RED5 RVD1 kick mic is very good. They're not very expensive either (35 pounds from the UK distributor). Wish they were easier to get in the States (other than on eBay). Anyone here got some of these RED5 mics or mic sets? Whaddaya think?

http://www.red5audio.com/acatalog/Drum_Kit_Mics.html

I don't have one, but I'm pretty sure that Sound Pure sells them (Dan "Dot" Richards is affiliated with them): www.soundpure.com

 

[kidvybes]

...just received a set of the Karma/Phoenix drum mics I posted above...they're on the Karma/clearance site for just $99 (7 mics - 5 dynamics, 2 condensers)...built like tanks and so far, they sound quite good...used them for a couple of live gigs but not for recording yet...how can you lose for under a hundred bucks (the overheads alone are worth close to that)...check the specs here:
http://karmaaudio.com/clearance.html

 

[kojdogg]

...just received a set of the Karma/Phoenix drum mics I posted above...they're on the Karma/clearance site for just $99 (7 mics - 5 dynamics, 2 condensers)...built like tanks and so far, they sound quite good...used them for a couple of live gigs but not for recording yet...how can you lose for under a hundred bucks (the overheads alone are worth close to that)...check the specs here:
http://karmaaudio.com/clearance.html

yep, those kits used to sell for like twice that. those are on my "pick-up soon" list
fwiw i think the main reason they are on clearance is because of the name change from phoenix to karma. the overheads in that kit look a lot like karma's sdc's

 

[Paj]

I picked up one of the Phoenix sets from the Karma site and am very happy with it for a live utility kit. The condensers are hot, the tom mics sound good and sit nice in a mix. I haven't made up my mind about the kick, snare and HHat mics for recording live--- but all of the mics kick *ss for miking live to FOH. The tom mics reminded me of the Sennheiser 421 on toms.

Paj
8^)

 

[mrhotapples]

I'd like to hear that karma set...You guys should record something!

 

[MCI2424]

A question that a lot of newbies ask is "what's the best low cost drum mic set that I can use for recording?"

I don't have any experience with these new sets... I use individual mics for everything, the studio workhorses that I've been using for decades, but there seems to be a proliferation of low cost drum mic sets, and I've been curious myself if any of these sets are good-sounding sleepers that haven't caught on yet and would be worth the money that a newbie might spend on them.

Please, if you've got any of these (or other low-cost "under $400" sets), pick your favorite above (or write in the details in a post below), and give your reason or reasons why you think it's a worthy set. Pros and cons, and comparisons are welcomed. Posting a link to a clip made with the mics would be great, along with a list of the signal chains and other details.

The one that's best in this catagory is the one that is the lowest cost.

 

[kid klash]

The one that's best in this catagory is the one that is the lowest cost.

Based on the replies, maybe you're right from a price point of view, but maybe not from a performance point of view.

 

[kidvybes]

I'd like to hear that karma set...You guys should record something!

...I've now used them for a bunch of live gigs and my sound tech & drummer both love them...the tom and snare mics are very clean and crisp and the bass drum mic actually has a bit more punch then my Shure beta 58A (really!)...don't wait for these to sell out...at this price they're a "gimmee"...

 

[Elton Bear]

I'm about to purchase an Australian mic set called the Ashton DMP100, all the stuff I've tried from Ashton so far is dirt cheap and great value for money, so fingers crossed and I'll let you guys know what I think of them!

 

[kid klash]

I'm about to purchase an Australian mic set called the Ashton DMP100, all the stuff I've tried from Ashton so far is dirt cheap and great value for money, so fingers crossed and I'll let you guys know what I think of them!

Very cool! Looking forward to your review.

 

[kid klash]

Looks like Karma is sold out of their $99 drum mic sets.

 

[xstatic]

I bought one of the last of those karma kits to add to a cheap PA rental system. As far as what Karma said, they are not making them anymore so once they are gone they are gone. I had used the Phoenix mics a couple of times before and decided the $99 was a decent deal. However, they are not very durable. The couple of times I used them they were falling apart. Personally, they did not sound as good as my other drum mic packs, but they also cost much less. The only reason I purcahsed them was the price, and not the quality. So for anyone who did not get one of those packs, don't feel too bad, they aren't all that great. They were definately affordable though