micing the drums with 4 mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter lurek100
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lurek100

lurek100

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Hi there.
I want to record real drums but have only 3 mics, sm57 , sm58 , and se2200 condenser.
I thought If i use condenser se2200 for mono overhead, sm57 for top of the snare and sm58 for bottom of the snare and buy
another mic for bass drum it might have sense.

what you think about it.
is there any different technique I could use with my poor budget?
 
...or you could try to get the entire kit with 58 placing it front of the drums.

But yeah, get a kick mic.
 
Im also thinking of getting set of drum mics up to 150pounds but im not sure if its good idea. and if they are any good.
 
Set for 150? I really don't think these are worth buying. One mic for 150 sounds better.
Use a lot of google before buying anything!
 
I actually thought it might me better to buy higher quality stuff and just record at the moment with four mics if its possible. and then buy one after the other in time.

for kick drum I think this would be nice : AKG D112 have seen them second hand for 100.
 
The AKG D-112 is a fine kik mic. Personally, I'd try to get another condensor and go with 2 overheads, kik and snare. Forget about the snare bottom, it's the least important one of all right now. Or, I guess I shouldn't say forget about it if you have the extra mic, you might as well throw one under the snare, I guess. You always have the choice of not using it at mixdown. Don't forget about the phase/polarity issue it will give you
 
what do you think about akg c1000 condensers for overheads. they are not so expensive on ebay.

by the way what is that phase polatity issue?
 
lurek100 said:
what do you think about akg c1000 condensers for overheads. they are not so expensive on ebay.

by the way what is that phase polatity issue?
Click to expand...

I think the C-1000's get a bad rap. I use them for overheads and I like them.

As far as the phase/polarity issue with doulbe micing your snare; You have 2 mics pointing at each other from opposite sides of the same source. You have to flip the polarity on one of them or they'll cancel each other out to a large extent.
 
Last edited:
RAMI said:
You have to flip the polarity on pn one of them or they'll cancel each other out to a large extent.
Click to expand...

Thanks for answer but still dont get it. what is pn mean?
If i use sm57 and 58 for snare i cant really switch anything because they have no switches.
 
lurek100 said:
Thanks for answer but still dont get it. what is pn mean?
If i use sm57 and 58 for snare i cant really switch anything because they have no switches.
Click to expand...

pn is a typo. When you're mixing, hit the phase switch on one of the mic channels (it looks like a zero with a line through it).
 
thanks, i understand it now.

I was searching for some overheads in not killer prices and found something better than akg c1000.
What would you say about M-audio pulsar II or Rode NT5. they booth are in similar prices.
also if you have any suggestions I will appreciate

and for kick drum I will probably stay with akg d112.
 
Sheesh these nubs.. Track everything like you want. 4 mics, it's easy. Kick, duh, snare, duh, OH L!!!! OH R!!!. I only need three mics for your band to make a million dollars....
 
You might be surprised what you can do with three mics, if your room has a good sound. For some time now I've used SM57s or Sennheiser 609 as overheads (though I put them closer to my elbows so the high hat and cymbals don't overwhelm) and a Heil PR48 for kick and I've been very happy with some of the tracks I've gotten. To be fair, I'm a much bigger fan of toms than I am of crashes and rides, and obviously you would lose some top end clarity just using your dynamics, but it sounds like you're still getting started to an extent. I would think about getting a kick mic for now and experiment with mic placement. Remember, if you have a bad sounding room, condensors will pick up more of the cymabals, but it will also pick up more of the room. You can screw the grill off the 58 and use it as a 57, put them up as overheads, stick the condensor on the snare if you want, I forget which you said you had but be careful of the SPLs, it's not really necessary anyway, and get a kick mic. It's a good place to start anyway. Hope that helps.
 
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