mic'ing drums which would you use

[jasgav]

If you could only use one of the following to mic drums which would you use: (for toms and/or overhead)
3 sure sm11's
or 3 oktava 012's

and then I what would you use for the kick drum

 

[FattMusiek]

Two MK012s as overheads and those little buggers on snare and two toms. I don't know what you should do about your kick problem. You might want to pick up a Beta 52.

 

[DJL]

If you could only use one of the following to mic drums which would you use: (for toms and/or overhead)
3 sure sm11's
or 3 oktava 012's

and then I what would you use for the kick drum

2 Oktava MC-012's as overheads... and a Sennheiser MD421 on the kick, and a Beyer M201 on the snare.

 

[Mark7]

(In best Southron drawl) That's a mighty odd mic collection you got there son.

I'd go for the simple approach. A pair of the Oktavas in XY position about two drumsticks length above the snare and the other Oktava as close as you can get it to Beater head of the Kick Drum without the sound pressure distorting the capsule or overloading the electronics (even with the pad). So probably start with it pointing at where the Beater hits but about a foot away and then work your way in slowly.

Unless, that is, you have enough money to get a more specialised mic for the Kick Drum; or you don't mind selling those SM11s and the spare MK012. In which case look on E-Bay for a used Audio-Technica ATM25 (around $100).

 

[jasgav]

I also have a sure prologe, ev n/d 2578, and an oktava 319 if these help at all

 

[Mark7]

You could try putting either the Shure Prologue or the EV n/d 257b inside the Kick Drum a couple of inches from where the Beater strikes the back head and then use the other one as a Snare mic.

 

[lo beam]

FWIW - I've just got back from a drum rec session and we used:
Snare (top) - beta sm57
Snare (underneath) sm56
O/head - 2 AT condensers ( can't remember the actual model) And we pulled em in pretty close - mebbe 2 feet above the kit, so they could get detail on the toms & cymbals))
Kick - beta sm58
And then a Stagg large dia condensor set back about 6ft in front of the kit, set to omni. ( we tried a Rode NT1 but it wasn't having it)

Not exactly textbook, but it worked just fine - and the large dia condenser did a wonderful job of adding *the room*.

 

[Rev E]

If you wanted to get to recording right away, perhaps you could skip the kick mic and go for a more roomy sound. Set the Octavas as overheads. Use the third MC012 as an infront of kit mic (a few feet in front of kick down a bit low to pick up a bit more of the kick). That 319 would probably be right at home on the toms. Why don't you try it on kick. It may not be great, but it probably won't suck either.

 

[ozraves]

I'd get the Audio-Technica ATM25 for kick.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

 

[Rev E]

I'd get the Audio-Technica ATM25 for kick.

Steve
www.mojopie.com

I would agree! I have an ATM25 and it is a wonderful kick mic. But, my response was a direct answer to the question of what to do with what jas has right now. If he has time, selling that spare MC012 would be a great idea, Picking up an ATM25 would be a great idea. Check eBay.