overhead mic positioning

[Wireneck]

For about the past year I have been using only 1 overhead (Audio technica 3035) on drums due to lack of tracks. In this setup i had the mic sort of in the center of the kit and tried to pick up as many of the cymbals as i could.
Recently i got two mxl-603s but i haven't had alot of time to experiment with them. My question is, where over the kit do you normally place the overheads and how high above the cymbals should they be. I know there is no set way and alot of factors apply but im curious about setups that people like and know work. My drummer mainly uses Zildjian K custom/ A customs but he plays pretty hard. My room is fairly large w/ high ceilings but i dont think it sounds that bad. I mic all of the toms/snare and kick seperately so i mainly want to know where i should have the overheads to get the most clarity cymbal wise. Also in the mix do people normally mix these 2 mics hard left and right? It sounds a little weird to my ears when its this way, i guess its because ive been doing one mic in the center. Any help or ideas are appreciated.

 

[Wireneck]

Maybe i should have put this in the recording techniques section? I did a search but im only getting stuff on the 3 mic technique thing. Im not sure that technique is good for my setup since I already mic all of the drums?

 

[wjgypsy]

Try this: place the first ovh. mic (right) about 42" (the same as 2 drum sticks.) above the edge of the hi-hat (the edge that is right beside the snare.) then do the same with the left overhead mic, but you put it over the ride edge this time. back at the mixer, fine-tune the gain on the mics so that they are both the same. (you don't want your overheads to be to loud. just put the gains at 12.00) then add a short room revurb. (if prefured.) And yes, you always pan the right overhead to the right and the left to the left.


zeke

 

[kristian]

There are basically limitless opportunities for overhead positioning. You can put them perpendicular to each other with respect to the diaphragms and then more this pair around the kit until you find a sweet spot. Some problems with this is if you place them above the snare in a snare centered drum image then you might have the snare too loud compared to the cymbals in the overheads. You can try ORTF, two cardioid microphones spaced by 17cm (roughly the same as ear spacing) and angled outwards at 110 degrees. But this will work better from out in front of the kit. These are all generalizations and with your low slanted ceiling may not be perfect. Also, a spaced pair above the kit can work if you are going for extreme stereo imaging. One mic pointing down perpendicular to the floor pointed at the rim of the ride closest to the next cymbal but furthest from the rack tom if there is one there and the other mic pointing down perpendicular to the floor pointed at the rim of the hihat closest to the nearest the next cymbal but furthest from the snare. The snare is the trickiest thing in a overhead mix. This is just a starting point and your specific kit’s positioning, tuning and room will make a difference. As a final point, solo just your overheads once you think you have the sound you are looking for, then move them both panned center and look for phase issues.