mic advice

  • Thread starter Thread starter FoulPhil
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FoulPhil

FoulPhil

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ok so this is all I have.

2 - AKG C 2000 B
1 - Shure SM57
1 - Shure Beta 52

I would like to be able to add some more mics for drums. So, my question is what would be some good mics to buy to mic up the bottom of a snare drum and also to mic up toms and the hi hats?

I see what looks like Sennheiser MD421s on all kinds of classic drum records. The problem is at $379 a pop, that's pretty steep. I was wondering if there is anything that is just as good for less.

Another question I have is an SM58 something that would work well on the bottom of the snare or what's the most common mic used for the bottom of the snare.

Also, whats the most common mic used to mic hi hats?

Just have at it with your opinions and microphone recommendations. I'll do the research, listen to sound samples, and check out prices as well. I plan to buy versatile mics that I can use on numerous applications. This way I can get the most out of the mics I'll be buying over then next few months.
 
OK- you are already in pretty good shape. The C2000B's are *excellent* overheads. The Beta 52 is OK on kick, and SM57 is a standard on snare. "Just as good" as an MD421 for cheap? Not. Reasonable alternatives? Look around for old/used AKG D320's. It doesn't matter whether D320 A,B, or C for your application. Note that it isn't that the AKG mics are the hottest thing since sliced bread, I just know them better than most folks. There are a whole series of EV (Electrovoice) mics that are very good for those applications. Other folks on this board know them better than I do. I will say this about the D320 series, though. Unlike SM57 or whatever, if you smack them with a drumstick, all you will need is a new drumstick. For what you are asking for, any decent dynamic will do. Sennheiser e835, 845, or 935, for instance. AKG D3800 tripower. That SM58 will work fine. Sennheiser e604, e902, e904, e906. Or for *wicked* cheap, Behringer XM8500 for $20 new. Try one just to check it out, and you will be amazed at how much it does not suck. For auxiliary drum mics, it's really about what you can find a good price on. Another option is AKG D112, if you can find a used one cheap. It's excellent on toms. The only problem is that it may wind up replacing the Beta 52 on kick, depending on your taste. Another option is Audix D-2, D-4. Good luck.-Richie
 
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Hey thanks for the advice. I'll do some research on all these mics you mentioned and see what's up.
 
The MD421 just went down to 299. each at GC I just got the flyer today.
 
Everything Richard suggested and this also...........You can add as many SM57's to kit as you want to buy. They will work quite well. Also the entire D series Audix mics are really good facsimiles of the Sennheisers as far as sound and a whole lot easier to place. Also mostly indestructable. The D2 is an incredible mic for almost anything(including vocals!!!....Dont believe? Try it!!) I am not a fan of the D112 inside the kik. Yeah yeah before I get all the hate I've owned two and they've certainly gotten their fair share of use and abuse in my studio and live. They just have a tone I cant quite accept. I do like the Beta52 as a tom mic more than the kik. It rocks hard on the low toms...Audix D6 for heavy kik sounds or the D4 inside with a condenser outside is hard to beat. The Audio Technica ATM25 (discontinued hard to find now) is my favorite. It isnt a single-purpose mic with a built-in scoop so its easily tailored to whatever sound you want from it. Handles spl extremely well and is one of the best bass cabinet mics around.
 
Thanks for jogging my memory Cavedog- I just added the D2 and several other Sennheiser mics. I know what you mean about D112. That's why I said "depending on your taste." The D112 is a mic that people either love or hate, I find it rocks on toms, is among the best mics in the business for standup bass, and is very good on voiceovers for people with very low voices (think James Earl Jones). It's hard to beat an EV RE20 on kick, but it doesn't come cheap. The D-6 is really good if you like bass with a lot of click. If you are the kind of guy that likes to tape a washer to the kick head, the D-6 is for you.-Richie
 
I'm probably going to buy 3 or 4 of the ones you guys are mentioning. One of each that is. I'll go to guitar center or some where that the return policy isn't too strict. This way I can test them out for a few days and end up with mics I actually like and return the ones I don't like.

This way I don't get stuck with mics that I try to sell and lose money on later down the road. But don't tell anyone I'll be returning them :laughings:

Once I find the one I like I'll buy a few more of them :D
 
cavedog101 said:
I am not a fan of the D112 inside the kik. Yeah yeah before I get all the hate I've owned two and they've certainly gotten their fair share of use and abuse in my studio and live. They just have a tone I cant quite accept.
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I've found the same thing with the D112 but have always kept it to my self knowing that many people swear by these mics for recording and live kick.
It's always my last go to mic and when drummers show up with them saying they'll use nothing but the d112 that's when I just grin and bear it.
 
FoulPhil said:
I'm probably going to buy 3 or 4 of the ones you guys are mentioning. One of each that is. I'll go to guitar center or some where that the return policy isn't too strict. This way I can test them out for a few days and end up with mics I actually like and return the ones I don't like.

This way I don't get stuck with mics that I try to sell and lose money on later down the road. But don't tell anyone I'll be returning them :laughings:

Once I find the one I like I'll buy a few more of them :D
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You could always seek out a studio in your area and rent the mics, or audition them in studio. GS might get a bit picky on returns. Especially with H1N1, Sars, Bird Flu, ......
 
FoulPhil said:
That's not much of a price cut LOL
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It's about a $40.-$60. savings at G.C. prices which means the other sites such as shopping.com or equivalent (G.C. hates them cause if you do your home work they have to match any advertised price) would lower their prices in response. So if you start to price shop every 3rd mic or so is a free mic.
 
Don't forget about the GLS ES-57's! Great on toms and snare and can be found on ebay for about $30-40 a piece IIRC. I have 6 of them and have never regretted it.
 
this might be slightly outa the norm but i use the karma micros for my close drum micings.. as long as u have overheads and something for the kick.. and mix the rest of toms hats snare cymbals in for attack

i think they were ~70 for a set up 7.. bargain mania
 
kwokwok said:
this might be slightly outa the norm but i use the karma micros for my close drum micings.. as long as u have overheads and something for the kick.. and mix the rest of toms hats snare cymbals in for attack

i think they were ~70 for a set up 7.. bargain mania
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they look interesting what else can you say about them?
 
to me they lack a bit of high end brilliance to them so i'd eq it depending on the cymbal/hi hat.. but for toms its great.. and also the fact that they are a LOT more sensitive than my other drum mics (SM57s) so at the same distance a drummer on steroid will really jump at you.. but if u move it out further u'd start to pick up everything else.. so i'd have to bring down the preamp esp for these lil buggers (but not too much as to lose the dynamics)

but for overall suond i'd definitely rely on a pair of good overheads to cover everything.. the mircos are just for final tweaks

im looking forward to trying them on strings (esp a cello).. i'd imagine a very dynamic smooth sound
 
Coolieo............. I'll have to check them out... thanks
 
yea for the price u really cant go wrong.. (well u can i guess but not in this case)... they are also very rugged themselves and ppl are amazed by how small they are in real life...

they come in a hard case (which i should mention was useful in itself for me last night to hold up the piano cover during a wedding rehearsal!)
 
Those little karma micro's are pretty impressive. I bought a pair to try on toms for 26 bucks not really expecting to much from them. They're built into an XLR casing so they're really tiny. Big tom sound for 26 bucks.
 
A few days ago I ordered a 3 pack of those Behringer XM8500 mics. It was only like 50 bucks and figured it would just be another mic to try out. Not too bad of a deal, if they end up not working out for me, I didn't waste too much money on them.

Now I found this K-Micro 7 pcs Silver Bullet Pack thanks to kwokwok.
http://www.karmamics.com/shop/K-Micro-Silver-Bullet-Pack.html

Only $79.00. I've read a lot of reviews on these mics and so far they seem to be pretty good for the price. I may buy them just to have some options. It'll be nice to have and if they work out as well for toms as people are saying, then I'll be covered pretty good with these guys :D

We'll see how good these things really are :laughings:
 
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