Micing Drums?

[simpleblue]

I have to mic a drum kit in which the drums and cybals are freakishly close to each other. I'm wondering if I can use mic clamps or do they pickup unwanted vibrations? Maybe I should just stick with maneuvering boom stands into every nook and cranny. Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[Mark7]

Why can't you move the cymbals?

 

[simpleblue]

I'm primarily concerned with the fact that tha snare and two rack toms are almost touching. The hi-hat sits at the exact WRONG hight and location in relation to the drums. The rack toms aren't really the problem, I can get booms in there, but the snare... that's another story.

 

[CMEZ]

I've got one word for ya:

Overheads. Screw that micing each drum and cymbal. Mic the kick and snare and then use stereo overheads for the rest. No muss, no fuss.

Chris

 

[simpleblue]

I'm a big close-micer.

 

[Track Rat]

I prefere tight micing toms but when someone comes in with a set up like you're describing, I forgo tight mics on the toms and just use overheads. I just move them around and listen for the best balance of cymbals to toms.

 

[Poddy]

Keep your overheads nice and close to the kit and you should get plenty of toms in there. Try 2 drum sticks higher than the snare as a starting point, then work your magic from there.

 

[simpleblue]

But the SNARE. What about the snare? If I clamp a mic on it, will it pick up vibrations from the drum?

 

[morte sicura]

It might pick up vibrations, it might not. you'll just have to try it and see. what kind of mic are you using for the snare?

I've had good luck recently with Fletcher's 3-mic technique outlined over at the Mercenary website. A condenser over the snare/hats (3' up in my case), angled slightly inward and aimed at where I hit the drum. A second matching condenser looking across the floor tom, same distance from and aimed at that same spot on the snare - it's maybe 10" outside the kit and 8" higher than the top of the floor tom. A kick mic a few inches in front of the kick, or a LD condenser out a foot or three.. With a carefully tuned snare and careful fine-tuning of the mic positions, I don't need a snare mic. No phase problems and the snare stays well-centered in the mix.

best of luck,
andrew

 

[JasonBird]

i've had pretty good luck with a mic on the bass, and two overhead small diaphram condenser mics. they pick up the snare fine. if you can and have room, get an sm 57 in there by the snare, even under it works well. good luck.
jason

 

[morte sicura]

you could also try micing the shell, many people claim to get great results with this (though I haven't really had a chance to try it yet) and it would also give you another option for positioning the mic if you're having trouble getting it in there above the snare head.

 

[littledog]

i quite often use a claw on the snare, much to the horror of some folks here, and i still seem to get a good snare sound. I think it's worth a try if it is far more convenient.

There seems to be arguments pro and con. On the one hand you can get additional resonance because of the mechanical connection to the drum. On the other hand, because the mic moves exactly with the drum shell, there is a constant distance maintained even if the snare drum bounces around or sways a little.

Mic'ing the shell (from the side) can also work.