Micing the underside of a snare.

[ManInMotion711]

What kind of mic should i use for this? At my personal disposle i have a Audio Technica AT 2021, and a CAD GXL 1200. Would either of these work?

 

[moresound]

A SDC works out very good on the underside of a snare.

 

[moresound]

I would try the AT 2021 first.

 

[ManInMotion711]

Thanks. ill give that a shot

 

[Steenamaroo]

Keep an eye on your input levels. A pad might be required.

 

[moresound]

Keep an eye on your input levels. A pad might be required.

Good catch there, Paul.

 

[WarmJetGuitar]

Personally I really like the sound of a crappy 58-copy through a cranked preamp for that position and then a decent mic on the top.

 

[xaudia]

And pay attention to the polarity/phase of the signal.

If your snare bottom mic is pointing up, and the top mic is pointing down…. you can guess the rest!

 

[moresound]

And pay attention to the polarity/phase of the signal.

If your snare bottom mic is pointing up, and the top mic is pointing down…. you can guess the rest!

Yup. That's a biggie too!

 

[ManInMotion711]

I guess i have alot more research to do for this kind of recording lol. Btw what exactly did you mean by a pad?

 

[antichef]

a pad will reduce/attenuate the signal to make sure it doesn't clip whatever it's running into (you can then bring the level up later when you're mixing, and the peaks will be intact). A lot of mics have them built in (sometimes it's like a switch between 0 and -10dB, which would attenuate the signal by 10 dB. Sometimes the preamp can do this on the other end. If neither of those options is available, you can put a special inline pad somewhere in between the mic and the pre.

I use a beat-up Shure SM81 for this - so I'd try the 2021 first

 

[ManInMotion711]

a pad will reduce/attenuate the signal to make sure it doesn't clip whatever it's running into (you can then bring the level up later when you're mixing, and the peaks will be intact). A lot of mics have them built in (sometimes it's like a switch between 0 and -10dB, which would attenuate the signal by 10 dB. Sometimes the preamp can do this on the other end. If neither of those options is available, you can put a special inline pad somewhere in between the mic and the pre.

I use a beat-up Shure SM81 for this - so I'd try the 2021 first

Oh ok. Thanks. I had no clue what a pad was referring to

 

[Farview]

It's also a good idea not to point the mic directly at the snare wires. If you do, you end up with a papery, flappy undesirable sound. I point mine at the bottom head and position my mic at about the same angle and distance as I have my top mic. And, as was said, flip the polarity/phase of the bottom mic.

 

[Track Rat]

All true but I have to say that the many times I've miked the bottom I never used it in the final mix. Hell, lately I've been using just the overheads and kik mics.

 

[moresound]

All true but I have to say that the many times I've miked the bottom I never used it in the final mix. Hell, lately I've been using just the overheads and kik mics.

yes, yes and yes again.

 

[moresound]

Dang it! Someone give Mike some rep for me.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Done and done.

 

[DM60]

Done and done.

and Done

 

[moresound]

Done and done.

Don't forget to .......

Sorry Paul you left the door wide open.
I hang my head in shame.

 

[moresound]

You too ... David.