SDC or LDC for Drum OH?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jaykeMURD
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jaykeMURD

jaykeMURD

I sit on you.
So I'm trying to decide which Condensors will fit my case...and budget! What I'd looking at doing is using the 4-mic technique.
Kick=Beta 52a
Snare=SM57 (top)

I don't plan on having the toms individually miced (3-4 toms), since I don't really want to mess with them...and it'll cost more! So what KIND of overheads sound I look at that will pick up Cymbals AND toms!? Would a LDC be better, to pick up the toms better? Or a sdc? I also will be using 2 overheads (stereo), so I'd need 2 of whatever I decide on. I like the sound of C1000 and Oktava MK012 for overheads...but will they accuratley reproduce the toms with the cymbals?

OR I am just being cheap and lazy? Should I buy some mics for Toms and not worry as much about Overheads?
 
I've been recording with just 3 mics here lately, and I've gotten some really good results........ I'm also looking to upgrade so we're in exactly the same boat. I own a sm57 and some crappy mics. I'm planning on the beta52 as well. Anyways in all of my "asking around" I just keep hearing about oktava 012s. People seem to think really highly of them for the money.........

I've never used them, but I'm starting to believe the hype. :D
 
I demoed the AKG C1000S condenser, and loved it....and people tell me the oktava mk012 are even better! It'll just come down.....if I decide on SDC, which I can get a better deal on!
 
Most folks will tell you to avoid the C1000s. Although I've never used one, my impression is they are overpriced for what they do (unless you need battery powered condensers). The popular budget SDCs include:

Oktava MC012
Studio Projects C4
MXL 603s (& probably the new 604) - I own a pair of the 603s and like them

To answer your other question, yes, properly positioned overheads will pick up the image of the entire kit, not just the cymbals. They are more than adequate for getting the toms.
 
remember: the oktava mc-012 is the new copy produced in china (i think), the mk-012 is the original production line ($400-$600, depending on capsule options)..

i've also heard good things about the peluso matched pair sdc...

IMO.. the ldc will pick up a lot more ambient sound... so if youre in a good quiet room.. then that might be the way to go... if your room sucks, or theres a lot of ambient noise you dont want to pick up... some sdc might be better..

gl
 
I have Mk012's....they're worth more than they actually cost! A few other good choices for overheads that I've tried or friends of me have:

SP B1's (LDC)
MXL 603's (SDC)
Beri ECM8000's (SDC)
Rode NTK's (LDC tube)
AT 4040's (LDC)
AT 4033's (MDC)

Jacob
 
Same dilemma -

I just recorded a track with 2 at3035s as OHs and one 57 on the kick. I'll post a link when I get home. I'm pretty happy with the sound, but I'd like to hear what other people think.

JD
 
jkokura said:
I have Mk012's....they're worth more than they actually cost! A few other good choices for overheads that I've tried or friends of me have:

SP B1's (LDC)
MXL 603's (SDC)
Beri ECM8000's (SDC)
Rode NTK's (LDC tube)
AT 4040's (LDC)
AT 4033's (MDC)

Jacob
Click to expand...

I've heard about these Behringer ECM8000's before? Aren't they "measurement" mics? Hell, for 50 bucks a pop, I'd try them if they're worth it!
 
jaykeMURD said:
I've heard about these Behringer ECM8000's before? Aren't they "measurement" mics? Hell, for 50 bucks a pop, I'd try them if they're worth it!
Click to expand...

Yeah, they are...and they work pretty good actually. I heard about them from someone else's statement: "Harvey Gerst recommends them"...me being the rookie here I look at who Harvey Gerst is and say - ECM's it is! I used em for a while, and they do great. They're flat, easy to use Omni's. There ya go/

Jacob
 
recording with 2 LDC OHs and an SM57 on kick

It's the cover of 'Old Brown Shoe' here:

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=4459&alid=-1

Here ya go, for those who were interested. It's a rough mix w/o vocal or guitar,
but I think it conveys what the drums can do with this set up.
I use a yamaha mg10/2 into a tascam us-122 with cubase. A little bit of reverb was added on the drum track. The only EQing was on the sm57 with the low end turned to 3 o'clock on the sm57 input.

Let me know what you think of this mic set-up.

JD
 
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room dependent

seismetr0n and others make some good points here.

I've never been a fan of C1000s for overheads either. Too harsh and thin IMHO.

I do have a pair of Peluso's CMC6 mics and they sound GREAT on overheads, They are also the best acoustic stringed instrument mics I've heard so far.

With the right mics in the right places, there's no need to mic every drum individually. Cheers, Rez
 
So I've been messing around with my MXL 990 LDC (just one) and using it for drum overheads. I actually like the sound, it's godo enough for me. So I'll probably go with using 2 990's for OH's now!
 
I have used several different types, but I have settled on the Rode NT5.

The Rode NT5's are a matched pair of mini-me mics... but their sound is wonderful. I use this to capture drums, and bring up only what I need (as far as the individual mic'd drums).

Since I started using these a couple of years ago, I noticed that my snare sounds are much larger, and the stereo reach of the kit seems more accurate and fuller.

Hope this helps!

C
www.thelogicmusic.com
www.chadaustin.com
 
I think, in general, if you are going to use minimal mic techniques on the drum kit, you should use SDC's on the top. SDC's generally have better "off-axis" frequency response. Since you are relying on your overheads to give you a much greater picture than if you were just using them for cymbals, the better off-axis response will give you a better recording. That's my experience anyway. Off course, it really boils down to which LDC's and SDC's we are talking about.
 
best of both worlds

Why not use both?
I run my Rode NT5's as overheads along with a LDC about 8 feet in front of the kick (heavily compressed and sometimes distorted through a guitar amp) to get an edgy room vibe.
The overheads give me clarity and a stereo image whilst the LDC gives attitude.

Stu
 
In my opinion, LDC seem to capture much more of the actual room ambience of the kit and the nuances of the kit itself that regular condensors just only add a little sparkle tha t LDC's don't.
 
I'll tell you what I've wanted to try, is using a pair of overheads with hypercardioid or supercardioid condensers. I'm wondering how that would sound. I have the 603's for my overheads, and they really aren't a really tight cardioid pattern....actually, none of the MXL mic's that I own really have a tight Cardioid pattern.







Tim
 
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