Mic Pre for drum Overheads

[NL5]

What do youy guys reccomend for mic pres for drum OH's. I will be using km184's and UM92.1S's. I need 4 channels total.

So far, I am thinking of a JH M-2, 2 X FMR RNP, or 2 X P/AMR VMP-2. I don't have a unlimited budget, and the Hardy would be pushing it, so probably nothing too much more expensive than the Hardy.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks.

[HudHudson]

Of those three options, I've used the FMRs from time to time on OHs and find them to be pretty clean and punchy, good transient response. Pretty good value per channel IMHO.

[NL5]

Thanks!

Any suggestions that aren't on the list?

[bradb]

4 channels of SCA J99s, or A12s...

good stuff.

[campironwood]

i've been loving my amek 9098 on overheads.....
great stereo pre.

ALSO, the peavey vmp2 has worked really well for me.

-m

[brownmouse]

Originally Posted by NL5

Thanks!

Any suggestions that aren't on the list?

yeah... but a d.w. fearn vt-2 is a bit overbudget. actually, now that i think about it a pendulum mdp-1a would be an excellent choice as well.....
joshua

[Solunaris]

High budget, I'd go with Mercury M72S's or for less I heard the Old School Audio MP1-L3's were really nice on overheads/

[cgarges]

The Hardys are super-cool. I also dig the Syteks, Focusrite Red Series, Millenia HV-3B, and APIs.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[chetatkinsdiet]

Any time you're talking recording rock and roll, API's should be in your short list. Doesn't matter if you're talking drums, guitar, vocals or what. Rock and roll and API are a match made in heaven. Sure, there are other pres that work in certain situations and sound great, but overall, the API's sound amazing on just about everything.
later,
m

[Kenny Gioia]

API 3124

[doorknocker]

Don't know if it fits your budget but I got really good results with the 184s thru a Chandler TG-2.

Andi

www.doorknocker.ch

[kats]

funny you post...I just tried a session with two c42's O/H and a d12e kick through TG pres and they were punchy as hell. Actually one guy was asking what I used to comp it and I said nothing....I didn't even touch the eq

All being said, the drummer hit hard and even sooo .... who knows?

[heyman]

Here is a good one for you..... This has to do with overheads and pre's so ... Lets say you had 8 channels of Drums to record ...

You have a API 3124 (4)
a Great River Mp2nv (2)
and finally 2 Vintech 1073 clones

Mics to choose from are

2 Royer 122's
1 Akg d112
2 Sm57's
3 Senn 421's
1 Neumann tlm 103

(I know the mics add up to 9, but wanted to see what one's you would match up with the pre's and what drum you would place them on...)

Thanks...

[seb37000]

I think the sytek is really good for over heads , the stock channels are real clean , it's also very good on other things if you get the burr brown channels you can track just about everything with it and 4 channels for 800 dollars is probably the best deal out there.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by heyman

Here is a good one for you..... This has to do with overheads and pre's so ... Lets say you had 8 channels of Drums to record ...

You have a API 3124 (4)
a Great River Mp2nv (2)
and finally 2 Vintech 1073 clones

Mics to choose from are

2 Royer 122's
1 Akg d112
2 Sm57's
3 Senn 421's
1 Neumann tlm 103

(I know the mics add up to 9, but wanted to see what one's you would match up with the pre's and what drum you would place them on...)

Thanks...

Audition what pre worked best on that day with that drummer in that room on the Royers as overheads & then use that

Then from the remainder - audition what pre / mic combo worked best on that day with that drummer in that room on the kick & SN & then use that

Use remainder on toms.. or, if you are lucky and the toms pick up nicely in the room mic's, use the remainder on interesting 'drum room' mic's - point one into a corner or put one one in an odd place - like a closed drawer!

etc etc etc......

[stakeoutstudios]

A pair of spaced Soundelux cardiod U99s, with a mono omni Audio Technica 4050 direct above kick and snare.

All through Millennia Media HV 3D, though the Manley Dual Mono is nice also.

compress the 4050 with a Universal Audio 1176 4:1, but no compression on the U99s... mmm, transient response.

Then of course bring on the Royer R121 ribbon mics as room mics, compressed hard with Thermionic Culture Phoenix.

Optionally screen off the kit and put the room mics other side of the screen for a real wet / dry effect!

add in however you like your kick / toms / snare.

Neumann KMS 105 is a nice snare mic, lots of snap. I'm favouring the Shure beta 52 on kick, or AKG D12 E depending.... not a fan of the D112

Pres for kick snare and toms? mmm, Chandler TG2

Of course we're talking rock here.... it could get a whole lot more minimal for other genres....

YMMV

Jason the drum slut.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by NL5

So far, I am thinking of a JH M-2, 2 X FMR RNP, or 2 X P/AMR VMP-2. I don't have a unlimited budget, and the Hardy would be pushing it, so probably nothing too much more expensive than the Hardy.

What do you guys suggest?

I would suggest that if you're thinking about a John Hardy, think about the M-1, not the M-2. You don't need detents on mic-pre's and that is the major difference between the two units [besides the price]... so while the JH may be stretching the budget a bit, the M-1 will stretch it less than the M-2 and fill the same actual requirements.

Best of luck with your search [and wrestling through the plethora of irrelevant recommendations... but hey... you asked for it]

[NL5]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Best of luck with your search [and wrestling through the plethora of irrelevant recommendations... but hey... you asked for it]

I guess I shoulda known better..............

[coppage]

Use the ones that work... it's an overhead for crying out loud!

[84K]

Pendulum MPD-1 is my fave

[LaLaFaV]

Originally Posted by seb37000

I think the sytek is really good for over heads , the stock channels are real clean , it's also very good on other things if you get the burr brown channels you can track just about everything with it and 4 channels for 800 dollars is probably the best deal out there.

I agree with what seb said...

[Jburn34]

api 3124+

[NathanEldred]

There is no best. It depends on the room, mics, and style of music & production primarily (which goes hand in hand with the actual sound of the kit). Out of all the preamps I own (which is a pretty healthy selection), I would say that this specific application is very general for preamp choices...I'd worry more about mic selection here, which does get very subjective.

[steins]

Originally Posted by NL5

What do youy guys reccomend for mic pres for drum OH's. I will be using km184's and UM92.1S's. I need 4 channels total.

So far, I am thinking of a JH M-2, 2 X FMR RNP, or 2 X P/AMR VMP-2. I don't have a unlimited budget, and the Hardy would be pushing it, so probably nothing too much more expensive than the Hardy.

What do you guys suggest?

Thanks.

GR MP-2NV or a TG-2 on the OH's (adjust input gain/output for color depending on style) and a RNP or other "clean" pre for the room microphones could be a good starting point. I'm only saying that because that's what I use on 90% of the sessions

In my opinion, any decent, quality preamp will do the job. Mics and placement makes a lot more difference.

Stein Tore

[PhilE]

I have a box called the Blakeyboy. Pair of customized Neve line amps- I use with 414s for o/h and no matter where I go they rule- fast airy and clean.
Funkyjunk London can get them in or direct from the guy who makes em. Couldn't be without mine now!

[alphajerk]

Originally Posted by heyman

Here is a good one for you..... This has to do with overheads and pre's so ... Lets say you had 8 channels of Drums to record ...

You have a API 3124 (4)
a Great River Mp2nv (2)
and finally 2 Vintech 1073 clones

Mics to choose from are

2 Royer 122's
1 Akg d112
2 Sm57's
3 Senn 421's
1 Neumann tlm 103

(I know the mics add up to 9, but wanted to see what one's you would match up with the pre's and what drum you would place them on...)

Thanks...

i pretty much record 4 piece sets all the time now... so this is pretty easy.
d112>mp2nv=kick [or] 421>vin1073=kick [both?]
tlm103>vin73 FOK
57>mp2nv=snare
421>api=tom
421>api=floor
122's>api=spaced OH or blumein/XY [depending]

[Drumsound]

I really like my Neotek pres for all of the drums, so I assume the Sytek would be cool. At TapeOpCon we used a Grace 201 with Blue Dragonflies and it sounded sweet!