Question on micing drums

[Unwanteddrummer]

Hi all, my name is julian and i just got on this message board so i'm hoping that everyone will help me because i plan on trying to help others. my first question in my first post is this.
I have been playing drums for 4 years and am in a band. to save some costs and because it is fun, i have put a couple thousand dollars in recording equipment. my question is, for drums, why do people usually mic the top heads of toms? i really like the sound that micing the bottom heads gives, but everyone thinks i do not know anything about what i am doing and say i should mic the top heads? is a top head micing a better sound, or is it really just preference.?
Thank you to whoever posts back to me.

-Julian

 

[newatthis]

Actually for recording (in my very limited experience) I have found that you can actually mic both the tops AND bottoms, then play it out in the mix for the sound you like (mixing the 2 together). That is if you want to get that involved.

I dont know the exact answer to your question, but I also mic the tops when doing live sound. My guess is that it has something to do with the reflection of the sound>?>? Top vs Bottom>? Just a guess.

Peace
AJ

 

[Farview]

If that is the sound you like, go ahead and do it. The top heads are miked to get the stick sound, you won't get a lot of attack micing the bottome head.

 

[billmcdonald]

Your batter ("top") head is where you get all of that punch.

Whatever floats your boat though.