Mixng Overheads

[OregonTom]

Can I get some opinions on how drum overheads are mixed after tracking. My initial feeling is the hi end (Cymbals) but more and more opinions I hear are that overheads are to capture the complete kit. I am using Earthworks TC30's for overheads. I must say they capture the entire kit very well but I leave them low in the mix just enough to get the cymbals. The rest of the kit is mic'd with SM57's and the kick with an AKG D112. Pipe in all.

 

[mjau]

Kind of depends on where you're gonna with your drum sound - personally, I like the OH's to give a nice overall image, and have the other mic's augmenting that (i.e., kick drum mic giving some low end oomph, snare mic giving some upper mid crack).

 

[tmix]

In general,I experiment with placement , sometimes putting the overheads lower and in front or behind , to capture the whole kit and just augment that sound with the other mics. But sometimes when I want an artificially balanced kit I use the overheads for just the cymbals, equing most of the body and low end out and using the close mics for the bulk of the sound. It really depend on the sound and type of music you are doing.

Tom

 

[Dogbreath]

I tend to have my OH's paint a decent overall picture and use my kick n snare to augment too. I only use 4 mics tho, in the "Recorderman's Technique", so I kinda have to get the whole kit in the OH's. Sounds good to me tho....fwiw.

 

[OregonTom]

Augment is the key word

Wow, I love the opinions here, I did a mix with just 3 earthworks mics, 2 OH one Kick and the only word I can use to accuately describe it was a "real" sound. Like you were standing there.

I never used my OH's to capture the entire kit per say but now that I hear your opinions, I will try just that and lower the mix on the SM57's on the toms and snare. Thanks.