X-Y overhead miking - need advice from those familiar with this technique

[FattMusiek]

For a long time I used a technique I learned here at the BBS religiously. Here's the link:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=39030

I had great success with this technique, but now that I can mic the toms and hi-hat it's time to move on. I've read a few websites regarding drum miking but I'm still not getting the results I want. My question is this: what are some tried and true X-Y miking methods? Currently I'm experimenting with the left overhead mic pointed about 90 degrees towards the ride cymbal and the right overhead pointed 90 degrees towards the hi-hat. The mics are spaced about a foot apart. The snare is always stronger on one side, depending on how it's panned. Panning using this setup is also confusing me a bit. Typically, would you pan the left overhead to the right using X-Y or vice versa? I can't seem to get the "balance" that you're supposed to get when X-Y miking. I feel a bit foolish posting this, but I really need some advice here. Upgrading my gear has proved challenging indeed. If anyone is interested in hearing some of my recordings, the link is in my signature (the latest one is "Triangle").

Thanks for your time!

 

[mattamatta]

If your mics are about a foot apart, you're not doing it in XY. The point of an XY placement is to get the capsules as close together as possible to minimize problems due to phase difference.

If the way you're doing it doesn't center the snare and kick in the mix, you might want to adjust the placement of the mics until it does. Since the kick and snare aren't centered naturally in the kit, what you end up with probably wont be aligned with the "real" axis of the kit, but dont be afraid to have yoru overheads more toward one side of the kit than than the other, or angled. As long as you get a good balance of the cymbals and other kit elements, and get a balanced stereo image, it's fine (provided it sounds good, of course.)

As for which way to pan, it can go either way. Some prefer to mix a kit from the audiences perspective, and others prefer to do it from the drummer's perspective. Personally, I prefer to hear drums from the drummers site, so I mix that way.

 

[Track Rat]

If the mics are a foot apart, it's not X-Y. In X-Y the capsules are almost touching with the two mics angled 90 degrees. When doinf stereo overheads I generally do an X-Y setup about 30" or so directly above the snare. This way the snare stays centered.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

I'm a big fan of ORTF.... similar to X-Y except the angle is 110 deg. and the capsule distance is 17cm. Provides very solid (and wide) imaging....