Mic my drumkit (dammit)

[fizbin]

Not to beat a dead horse - I've seen these threads many times, but now I want to know how you'd mic a 5 piece kit with my mic collection (please humor me if you're so inclined and have the time).

(2) Rode NT5
(2) Oktava MK-012
AKG D112
Audio Technica ATM25
(3) Shure SM57
Shure Beta 57a
Studio Projects C1
Studio Projects B1

Thanks a bunch,
fizbin

 

[xstatic]

Kick: D112
Snare Top - beta57a
Snare Bottom - Oktava mk012
hi Hat - Oktava mk012
Rack 1 - sm57
Rack 2 - ATM25
Floor - ATM25
Overheads - Rode NT5's
Room mic - C1

You may want to try running the B1 inside a shielded kick tunnel as a second kick mic, or even right on the port (if you can gain pad it sufficiently)

Also, I have no experince with the RODE NT5's so you may want to put the Oktava's (which really don't sound too bad) to me on overheads instead, and then maybe an sm57 on snare bottom.

 

[fizbin]

Thanks for the response. That was kind of what I was thinking except I was probably going to use the ATM25 on kick, all SM57's on toms and no room mic. I might have to experiment with the room mic, but I'm not sure of my actual drum room qualities (a garage that doesn't really reflect too much) - I don't know if the walls would sound good if they made it to tape, but maybe worth a try.

fizbin

 

[xstatic]

Personally, I prefer an sm57 on kick rather than the ATM25, but thats because I really don't like the ATM25 at all on kick when compared to other kick mics.

 

[DJL]

xstatic...that's how I feel about the Beta52... but, I like the ATM25... different strokes for different folks.
fizbin... other than that, I think xstatic's drum miking approach with your mic locker is good.

 

[Mark7]

MK012s/NT5s: Room
MK012s/NT5s: Overheads
Beta 57a: Snare
ATM25: Kick
SM57s: Rack toms
D112: Floor Tom


Leaving you with

1 C1 for vocals
1 SM57 for guitar cab
1 B1 for bass cab

If you have the channels and the personnel available; and you're so inclined.

 

[xstatic]

I hear ya DJL. Everyone has differing opinions. In the end it only matters what sound you want to achieve and whether or not you were able to get it.

 

[Dot]

I'd highly recommend you get another $79 B1 or even two more. They're killer on toms. And also you'd have the option of using them on OH's if you at least had a pair.

57's sound like ass on toms.

OH's - NT5's or MC012's
Snare - 57 and or C1
Kick - ATM25 or D112
Toms - get some more mics. Two more B1's would do it. 57's are a very poor option.

That's what I'd put up on your kit and try them out and go with what works.
No sense in trying to shoot for an exact list without actually being at the session and being able to try a few things out.

fizbin, you also gave no indication of the type of music you're working on and the sound you want.

 

[Mark7]

Don't 57s sound like ass on most things? Unless you use those expensive Boutique pres, that is

 

[xstatic]

Nah, 57's are very usable. They just may not be exactly what you want right out of the box. A halfway decent preamp and a little decent EQ'ing and they can be very friendly

 

[fizbin]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions A new B1 might be doable in the budget, but from here on out I'm going to try and invest mostly in some upgrade pre's.

Dot - it will be for Raaawk music. Note that this is not the same as just plain old "rock", but a new subgenre called "Raaawk". It will be my own genre. No one else will be allowed to play in this style or possibly even listen to the music. You may be the only people that even know that Raaawk exists. Please respect my wish for secrecy here - patent pending and all that pish posh. The only thing I can say about it is that it will be a wall of sound that will squash everything else. Squash it with melody or maybe the wall itself - I'm not sure yet. You'll know it when you hear it, if I decide anyone should hear it.

fizbin

 

[songsj]

I'd really like to know what ass sounds like.

 

[noisedude]

This was an interesting thread to resurrect. FWIW - I'm not super-keen on the NT5s, so if those Oktavas are as good as people say then I would want to use them. I wouldn't use the 57s on toms either, and would be very keen on getting one of the other mics on snare because I don't adore the 57 there either!

 

[songsj]

I recorded my drums the other day with a SM57 on my snare, all equing was set to 0 or flat, now I know what ass sounds like, my chrome snare is pretty darn bright but I was really surprised how dark it recorded. I cut 4db of 250hz, boosted 4db of 2.8k and boosted 3db of 4.5k. Then it didn't sound too bad. Seems like a lot of equing for a mic that many swear by for snares.
I do like my Sennheiser E604's on my toms though.