Snare micing?

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DWdrummer

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Yes! I need to know where to put my mic on the snare!! I see some place it on top and some on bottom. What gives the best sound? Or could you put it in both places? Thanks
 
The most common and some consider traditional way to mic a snare is on the top (batter) head, about 2" off the drum.

Some engineers do like to mic both the top and bottom - the top to get the attack and the bottom to get more of the snare sound.

If you have the mics and channels on the board, use two mics and mix in what you need.

Shure SM57 are by far the most used mic for the top head, (I'v never seen what appears to be clear preference for the snare side), however with the number of new mics on the market, I'm sure there are several people who prefer other mics.
 
I'm brand new at the whole deal, but I used 57's on the top and bottom and really dug the sound...

The day after the initial recording, I went to mix on the drums a bit to get an idea for how they could sound....I used a slight gate and some rev on the top and used the bottom at a lower level dry and was very pleased with the sound for what I was doing...

The bottom seems to have a bit more high end and the rasp of the snare adds a bit more growl to it...
 
Good, there's a snare thread already going.

Question: where do you put the mic to get more low end when the drummer hits a rimshot, so rather than a "kack", more of a "kaw" sound (and really opening your throat up when you say it). Lower mid-range. If you want an example, listen to the snare sound on Mudvayne's album. I remember getting a sound more like this with a mic farther above the snare, but it picked up a lot of hi-hat bleed, which would change the sound of the hi-hat if I eq'd it.

It's not the drum depth either, I saw a band getting this sound live using a piccolo snare that had zero depth.

Here's a link to some Mudvayne mp3's:
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/293/mudvayne.html

Listen to "Dig" or "Deathblooms".

Thanks!
 
Try mic'ing the shell. Also if you mic the top and bottom watch for phase issues with the bottom mic.
 
I've always found that trying to mic closer to the center of the head (without compromising the drummers playing) with the mic higher off the head does get a deeper sound, but as asi9 indicates this does allow more bleed from the hi-hat etc.

Normally I try (if the gear restictions allow) to mic the hi hat seperate to allow more focused direction with the top snare mic. Obviously select use of EQ may help, but like most, I hate to resort to EQ unless all else fails.
 
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