Mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brian Rohrer
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Brian Rohrer

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I want to mic drums and I want to know the best way to setup the mics and the best mikes to get. I'll go as high as 1000 or maybe even more.
 
I don't know much about what you could do with that much money to mic drums, as I am squarely in the low-budget arena. So I'll tell you what I do. I got two Marshall MXL603s for about $80 apiece (these are small diaphragm condensors) that I use for overheads, two Shure SM57s ($80 each)--one on the snare, one between the two rack toms, and a Sennheiser e602 low frequency instrument mic ($200). With the overheads pointed more or less over the drummer's shoulders, they pick up cymbals, hi-hat, and toms well. I only have one extra dynamic mic (an SM57, so if I'm not recording my band, I put it between the 12" and 13" toms. This beefs up the sound a little. The other SM57 simply goes on the snare, almost parallel to the head, with about an inch of the mic over the rim. Here's a thread I have on another forum in which I've posted two mixes in which you can hear the results: http://www.audioforums.com/forums/Forum17/HTML/000983.html

You can do some substituting here. The e602 is probably not the best kick mic, although it's got a frequency response curve that gives a good sound on kick drums without needing much EQ, and it's not too heavy (a complaint I've heard about similar mics). Do some research before you commit to any of the kick mics. Of course, with a lot of money, the EV RE20 is supposedly one of the best mics you can use. But even that is debatable. Instead of the MXL603s, you can get a more expensive SD condensor like the Rode NT3. Some people use the cheaper Behringer ECM8000s for overheads ($30-$35 each). I got mine in the mail yesterday, and I must say I don't like them for this purpose; the overall sound was dull. With the MXL603s, more high-end energy from the snare comes through and gives a crisper sound. You could also individually mic each tom (probably with dynamics like SM57s). This would give you more control overall.
 
Forgot to mention that most people mic the hi-hat separately, in case they want to boost it later. A small diaphragm condenser of some sort would be your best bet there (ECM8000, MXL603, NT3).
 
id go with Whoopys first suggestions but sub a d112 on kick....and sice you have the extra budget, throw in another sm57 on toms.....

kick - akg d112
snare - sm57
toms - pair of sm57's
overhead - pair of marshall mxl603's

this will put you between $500 and $600 but remeber you need all the hardware.....
 
also a good Large condenser diaphragm mic like the Marshall mxlv67 as a room mic wouldnt hurt.....
 
it may be important to know what preamps/mixer you will be using and what you will be recording to......

if your preamp/mixer is poo poo, you can scale down your budget on mics (loose both tom mics and the LD) and address that.....
 
instead of the sm57s on the toms could i use AKG C418s? Are as high of quality as the sm57s?
 
I think most important to this subject is the Genre of music you will be recording. Personally, i wouldnt use LD condensers if you are planning on recording loud and hard music. LD will have too thick and warm of a sound for something like that. If you are looking for a more punchy type sound i would stick with SD condensors. Ive got a Senheiser e602 and i think its a great mic for the kick drum. The AKG d112 has a certain color to it that you might like and that is used in alot of new rock, punk music. But if you want a kick mic that is a little more transparent and will be a little more versatile the Senheiser e602 is a good choice. Same to the EV RE20. SM57 on the snare is a good choice, although there are a few more pricier mics this one usually works really good in any situation, and also is great for guitar cab. As far as toms go, it depends again on what type of music you are mainly going to be recording. Do you want really punchy in your face sounds, or do you want fat warm toms. Senheiser makes good mics for, (was it the e642 or something?) AKG makes good ones, but im not really familiar with the different sounds of the tom mics. As far as the overheads go, if you do want warm sounding drums for maybe jazz, and country style music, Studio Projects C1, AT4033, AKG C3000. As far as SD there is a really good deal on the ECM8000's but you could do better. AKG C1000's ive heard are not bad, Audix TR-40s, Shure SM-81s. With a 1000 bones or more you could get a very nice mic cabinet for drums. But like Gidge mentioned above, make sure you have good enough preamps to preamp them or you might as well buy some radio shack mics.

Darnold

p.s. Let us know what kind of music you are mainly going to record, what you have at the moment, (mics, mixer, preamps, recording console, etc.) and we can help you out in more detail.
 
Well I'm completely new to recording so I'm buying everything now (so if you have any ideas for what I need feel free to post). So far I have bought the EMU Paris Pro pack and thats about it. My band plays hard rock (I have a DW drum set if that matters)but I'm also expecting to record local bands so who knows what style they will be. The drum set up I am seariously considering is this:
Bass drum: AKG d112
Toms: 4 AKG c418s (I found a deal for 4 c418 and a d112 for $500)
snare: sm57
overhead: 2 Rode NT3s
What do all of you think of this? I would really appreciate opinions.
 
That would be a pretty good setup. Even though like i said before you might want a little more versitile kick drum mic. But if the AKG d112 has the sound your looking for then yes it is a great mic. But most people have to do some EQ to get it to sound the way you want. Other mics like the Senheiser sound more like your actual kick drum without EQ.

As far as the overheads go, those will be great.

The paris pro should be a pretty decent setup although im not sure how the preamps are. Seems as though you got a little bit of money to burn on this stuff. Wonna help a poor guy out and share the wealth? ;)

You should be alright without a room mic becuase you probably will be relying more on the close mics to get the sound of the kit since you will be needing them to cut through loud instruments.

Darnold
 
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