Let's talk snare drum mics

[Resonater]

A couple weeks ago, I started a thread about tom mics and that thread went on for a long time and had alot of great ideas.

SOOOOO, on to snare mics.

Yup, I've been using an SM57 and have never been overwhelmed by it. It just seems boxy and rough. I don't get to record drums enough to have experimented a lot, so I wonder what you all think.

The Josephsons that Steve Albini is always talking about intrigue me, but I haven't tried them.

Anyway, what great success have you had with your snare mics?

[84K]

Josephson e22s has eased my mind. I no longer feel the need to search for a snare mic. Its as good as it'll get for close micing a snare.

[Drumsound]

I'm quite partial to the Audio Technica ATM23HE. Of course the sound in the OH and room mics is a very important part of the SD sound.

[Lanstar Zero]

The KM84 is my favorite snare mic. Very balanced without the emphasized midrange of the 57, surprisingly good rejection for a condensor, and takes eq and compression well. Great mic - I would love to hear a kit miked up with these on snare, toms and OH's!

I also like the Beyer M201 - more similar to the 57 than the KM84, but better rejection and a little flatter/smoother.

[Rick Sutton]

Here's one of the reasons I use an SM57 on snare.
Many years ago my biggest client at the time wanted to get the best snare sound possible so I gallantly offered up my best mic, an AKG c412 with a real CK12 brass capsule . Sounded great. About half way into the session during a take a very loud explosion occured (on the back beat, go figure) and across the room went a flying object. Must have travelled twenty feet. Have you ever seen a mic hit with a drumstick so that the outer casing exploded and sent the windscreen assembly into orbit? Unfortunately I have.

A 57 into an API pre using a lowly Ashly 15 band graphic for eq can be a beautiful thing. With a drummer I REALLY trust I might put up a KM84.

[NathanEldred]

I agree that the e22 is probably the ultimate (and I own three KM84's too)...it's got the big proximity effect and a presence in the high mids, which to me is the perfect 'snare curve'...I'm a lot hesitant though of putting a $1300 condenser of the top snare though. I haven't met a drummer that accurate in the almost decade and a half I've been doing this. I'm sticking with the Sennheiser e604, which has a lot more clarity and detail than an SM-57.

[bigbubbaj]

You might try an audix d1 - it is amazong on snare. It has replaced everything else and is my first mic choice for top snare!

[Lanstar Zero]

I haven't tried the e22 yet but it sounds great.

Nathan - how does it compare to the KM84's? It sounds like it has a more emphasized upper midrange/highs?

[tvanveen]

Last week I checked out all the gearlsutz drum threads, and tried a bunch of stuff out....

Ended up liking a MXL 603s pointed at the shell the best.

Also tried a SM57, E609 and RE16 on the top, but the side technique works really well!

tv

[warhead]

Beyerdynamic M201TG: Detailed mic, almost condensor like, probably best suited for brush work and things you want to hear that super-detail with. Will probably need some snap / crack eq'd into it if you use on rock.

Audix i5: Big open low mid / bottom end thing that sounds great on rock drums. Good punch etc, and not a typical boxy dynamic sound. Really a great all rounder for rock stuff, and it's cheap.

sE Electronics SE3: By far a killer mic that sounds more like the whole drum with sort of a pre-eq'd sound on snare! It only has a -10db pad and it can crap out if you have a guy who is really pounding it. Under normal SPL conditions I would pick this mic over any.

War

[cdog]

Originally Posted by Drumsound

I'm quite partial to the Audio Technica ATM23HE. Of course the sound in the OH and room mics is a very important part of the SD sound.

Yeah, thats a good one, very quick and clean.

It can take a licking and keep on ticking.

I also like:

421 (no low cut - big, beefy, thick, [think Bowie, Petty] needs some high EQ)

Beta 57

Beyer 201

AE2500 (yes the dual element kick drum mic - again, beeftastic)

KM184 with the foam on

As an aside I have now switched to $79 AT2020s for all my toms.

[r0ck1r0ck2]

UnidyneI here..... Pistol grip.!!...usually i make lazer noises when i bust it out....
New is the beter m160 overhead......
AT pro37r infront of the kit.....

[mesh boogie]

i put a tlm 103 on top snare the other day for the hell of it. i was digging that.

otherwise, a 421 is usually there. but to be honest, i dont really like the sound of the top snare mic all the time. it gives it tone, but its all about the bottom of the snare for me, plus the overheads.

[djui5]

Originally Posted by Eric Greedy

honestly get a great snare sound with 57's. I'm much more interested in the snare it self.

If your sound isn't great with a 57, you have other problems. If you want a different flavor, that's fine.

[drummin4christ]

Originally Posted by Eric Greedy

honestly get a great snare sound with 57's. I'm much more interested in the snare it self.

Agreed!! I Alternate between the 57 and the e604, but I'm now just investing in different snares. My dream is a black beauty.

[bleen]

I've been really digging the Audio-Technica AE3000 on snare lately. I put it perpendicular to the top head letting the hoop bisect the capsule - this gives plenty of head crack, but also some body from the shell and sizzle from the snares. I haven't needed a bottom mic since using this method. thumbsup

[Jayson]

Lately...

SM7!!!

ALL ABOUT IT!!!

Although it is rather large...

[digitalson]

try the audix I 5

[wwittman]

ALWAYS a KM-84... and I honestly have only seen one wacked ONCE in 25 years.
where I put the snare mic it takes a contortionist to hit it.


every once in a while an engineer concinces me to try a 57 as well, and I actually di on the record I'm in the middle of now.
SO we had an 84 and a 57 taped together in as near capsule alignment as we could... each on its own (protools) "track".

and I've been living with them both through the overdubbing process and frankly everytime I A-B them the 57 simply sounds like the smaller, poopier, more boring version of the 84. Nothing else.
not DIFFERENT in any meaningful, USEFUL, way ... just not as good.

[Igotsoul4u]

I have been using a 414 with hyper cardiod pattern on top. I get nice isolation and its easier to position then a 57. I also put a 451 (-20db pad) on the bottom of the snare. It picks up the rattle perfectly especially for really sensetive players or brushes. I have never been a 57 fan.

[Winey]

Originally Posted by djui5

If your sound isn't great with a 57, you have other problems. If you want a different flavor, that's fine.

I used the 57 for many years until I found something that does what the 57 does, only better and with top end.
To find out what mic this is you'll have to hire me to track your drums.
Or you could just ask GM.

[kudzu]

Last two records I've done have been a U87 on one and a 441 on the other....both times the snare was a Black Beauty....OH mics, hats mic and snare mics all make up the snare sound (I don't like sound replacing)....I'm lucky to have found a couple of great Black Beauty snares....I also have a v.nice ayote snare....the drum, skins (white ambassadors) and tuning is the most important stuff....also hit it HARD

[bleen]

Originally Posted by Winey

I used the 57 for many years until I found something that does what the 57 does, only better and with top end.
To find out what mic this is you'll have to hire me to track your drums.
Or you could just ask GM.

Sennheiser 431

[jchadstopherhuez]

beta 56a....

57 always works on a good drum...(and drummer !!)

beyer m201 is VERY HI-FI sounding...as is AT4031...

i really would like to hear the e22....does anyone feel that it has better isolation characteristics...or does the "bleed" just sound better...I find that to be the case with the beyer 201....the hat bleed seems to sound better...

i also just used an audix i5....very cool sm57-ish sound...little more high end i found..

also....i have 8 of these....so the secret gets out...and i am ok...
oktava mk219.....seriously...just dont buy it at gitar sinter...

also....anyone use a pro37R.....i lost both of mine...damn those were cool little mics..I did my first 2 solo records with 2 pro37r's and a at4033.....

peace...


j

[NathanEldred]

Originally Posted by Lanstar Zero

I haven't tried the e22 yet but it sounds great.

Nathan - how does it compare to the KM84's? It sounds like it has a more emphasized upper midrange/highs?

It's got more emphasis in the high mids and more lows, so it's basically less flat than the KM84. The sensitivity is almost the same....quite low (which is great for drums, anything hotter and it would have to be padded on the mic output)

[Winey]

Originally Posted by bleen

Sennheiser 431

[blackcatdigi]

Originally Posted by wwittman

ALWAYS a KM-84... and I honestly have only seen one wacked ONCE in 25 years.
where I put the snare mic it takes a contortionist to hit it.

William, could you give us a little more detail on your placement?

As for myself, I'm a longtime 57 user, recently converted to 609s top and bottom. And toms, for that matter. In fact, I'd probably like them on HH and Ride as well.

[84K]

Originally Posted by wwittman

ALWAYS a KM-84... and I honestly have only seen one wacked ONCE in 25 years.
where I put the snare mic it takes a contortionist to hit it.


every once in a while an engineer concinces me to try a 57 as well, and I actually di on the record I'm in the middle of now.
SO we had an 84 and a 57 taped together in as near capsule alignment as we could... each on its own (protools) "track".

and I've been living with them both through the overdubbing process and frankly everytime I A-B them the 57 simply sounds like the smaller, poopier, more boring version of the 84. Nothing else.
not DIFFERENT in any meaningful, USEFUL, way ... just not as good.

I understand your reasons for preferring the KM84 over a 57, but have you tried an e22s? These days there are so many options.

Also, more info on your snare microphone placement would be great

[Rick Shepherd]

I have heard the e22s and it is a good mic for close spot miking. They provide very good isolation. You can also use them on amps and acoustic instruments. I recommend them highly.

[Ollie]

So Bill,
Where do you place the 84 to not get the crap knocked out it?

Originally Posted by wwittman

ALWAYS a KM-84... and I honestly have only seen one wacked ONCE in 25 years.
where I put the snare mic it takes a contortionist to hit it.


every once in a while an engineer concinces me to try a 57 as well, and I actually di on the record I'm in the middle of now.
SO we had an 84 and a 57 taped together in as near capsule alignment as we could... each on its own (protools) "track".

and I've been living with them both through the overdubbing process and frankly everytime I A-B them the 57 simply sounds like the smaller, poopier, more boring version of the 84. Nothing else.
not DIFFERENT in any meaningful, USEFUL, way ... just not as good.