Ribbon Figure 8 on two rack toms?

[TelePaul]

Hello almighty mic gurus!

I have a cheap ribbon on the way from thomann.de. Was thinking of using it to close mic two rack toms, but was wondering if this is possible given it's figure-of-eight configuration. I'm thinking, from a logical standpoint, that it could be positoned between each rack tom with the front forming a 90 degree angle with the first rack tom and the back forming a 90 degree angle with the second...make sense? Or should I place them so that the front of the mic faces the toms (and hovers parallel to the skins)?

 

[moresound]

Tried something like this before with two acoustic guitarist on either side of the ribbon microphone and it didn't sound bad at all (given back in the day this was done all the time).
The only problem that you'll run into is that you are unable to fix/work on one sound source with out affecting the other. So the trick is to just be sure that you are fine with how they both sound from the get go and you'll be golden.

But with your case you'll pick up much more than just the two toms you'll get the drum set left and right from your microphone placement.

 

[TelePaul]

Tried something like this before with two acoustic guitarist on either side of the ribbon microphone and it didn't sound bad at all (given back in the day this was done all the time).
The only problem that you'll run into is that you are unable to fix/work on one sound source with out affecting the other. So the trick is to just be sure that you are fine with how they both sound from the get go and you'll be golden.

But with your case you'll pick up much more than just the two toms you'll get the drum set left and right from your microphone placement.

Thanks man! Yep, I know I wont be able to process each tom separately. I hadn't really thought of spill now that you mention it...but I guess if there has to be bleed, it's a nice central placement.

 

[tmix]

Some other thoughts that may or may not come into play:

If miking the toms with opposite sides of the mic:
the polarity of the signal will be positive on one side and negative on the other.(I believe)
mixed in with the overheads may or may not cause any strangeness as you bring them up in the mix since I assume the overheads will both have the same polarity.

I know this is all theoretical and so much affects the final outcome such as distance between mics and reflected sound being picked up, but it is a consideration if things sound funny.

you could point the "null" of the mic pattern at the snare and therefore decrease how much snare bleed is in the tom mics.

If miking with one side:
I love using fig 8 mics because you can use the deep null spot to direct what does NOT get picked up.
I like positioning the nulls toward high hat or ride so that the toms are more isolated.

 

[TelePaul]

If miking with one side:
I love using fig 8 mics because you can use the deep null spot to direct what does NOT get picked up.
I like positioning the nulls toward high hat or ride so that the toms are more isolated.

Thanks for the detailed response. I imagine I'll be having phase issues with a 7 mic setup, and I also understand that it mightn't be worth the hassle. From what I gather though, you seem to suggest that using one side would probably be the better solution?

 

[tmix]

I think for miking toms using one side is best.
If you want to use the ribbon as part of a mid-side room set up where you are picking up the whole kit, then using both side is needed and benefitial.