Budget Drum Mics - Audix D Series?

[GRiFF]

I posted one a while back and got some good feedback. These included lots of the 'commercial' recommendations Senn's, AKGs etc.

Sadly, I might have to put my desire for the mics I'd really like to use on hold for a bit.

An option that was suggested to me were some AUDIX drum mics, ranging from $600 - $2500 - the D-Elites were really well recieved by pro audio reviewers.

So, the topic here then; whats the best bang for buck if you can't use all the names?

My budget is around £1000 ($2000) maybe up to £1500 for a really great option.
As before I do want to offer a quality drum sound that a good drummer with a nicely tuned kit would be happy with.

[MarkS]

for overheads the oktava mk012 (matched pair) are really bang for bucks, and sound very nice.
shure sm58 for toms, sm57 for snare and the standart d112 and a nice third condenser of your choice and budget for the hihat and that's all you need to create a solid rocking drum sound, especially if the kit is well tuned and a good grooving drummer is on hand.
i don t think that good sounding drumssounds inherently need to be expensive. sometimes the old trusted and standart stuff does the trick best, especially when calculating on tight budgets.
hope this is usefull

[GRiFF]

Hey Marks -

I agree with your theory that a great drum sound doesn't have to be an expensive drum sound. In fact, if its too sophisticated it could end up killing a vibe.

Thing is, I'm trying to cater for a mixture of rock pop bands so the rough edged vibe might not always be the answer. I think I may need to fake a bit of a commercial generic sound and then wind in some cool mics when the budget allows.

Mind you are you saying that configuration is good for most rock pop apps?

[MarkS]

hes, indeed, i like it very much for rock, but maybe this is biased to my personal references where i believe that a drum sound needs some roughness and edgyness. different flavour than the shure path is the sennheise e604 route, they are often cited as being meore elegant. maybe looking into that could be worthy.

hope you find your way through, and am i am curious what the more seasoned experts may come up with.
good luck !

[BJohnston]

I started using Audix mics about 5 years ago. I think that the D4's are absolutely fantastic for toms. In any case I'd choose them over any of there higher priced compatition. I'm not too familiar with the newer line of Audix mics, but I absolutely love mine.

Good Luck,
BJohnston

[GRiFF]

What kinds of music do you use the Audix for? And do you combine these with any other mics or go for the whole bundle everytime?

[hrn]

You should consider LD's as overheads. Have a look and a listen at this thread:

http://www.4sync.com/rc/msg/disc_dis...undclips+Board

Hans

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by hrn
You should consider LD's as overheads. Have a look and a listen at this thread:

http://www.4sync.com/rc/msg/disc_dis...undclips+Board

Hans

Enjoyed that link, drum sound not bad at all, the ADKs are what you describe as the LDs???

Can you give me the official name and also how much these cost?

ta!

[meteor]

for inexpexpensives drum mics -

kick - first, check around and buy 2 or 3 of the kick mics that you suspect will do what you want. try them and take back what you don't need. do not skimp on the kick mic . go for something that is fairly versatile. maybe even buy 2 different sounding kick mics that you like. the wrong kick mic for a particular session can really hurt you.

snare - sm57 on top and bottom - cheap and easy - if you're interested in the audix - a d-2 makes a great bottom snare mic.

toms - audix d-2s all around or maybe a d-4 on the floor is actually very usable for stock toms. for a more natural sound (to my ears) try EV 468 for toms. they position really easily and i think they sound fanatastic.

overheads - as mentioned before - Oktava mk012 matched pair (especially ef you can get them from The Sound Room @ www.oktava.com).

for different room mics - i might suggest using whatever you are using for vocals these days. might be brilliant.

even if you buy new, all of this could be had for under 1500. if you buy used it could be had for a bit less.

cheers,

[Rab]

You could do worse than an Audix DP-5 kit and a couple of 414's. You'd get the whole lot for £1500. Whatever, the Audix D6 is a killer kick mic...

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by meteor
for inexpexpensives drum mics -

overheads - as mentioned before - Oktava mk012 matched pair (especially ef you can get them from The Sound Room @ www.oktava.com).

I looked at the price of these, big difference if I get the single fixed capsule £89. The multi capsule model is £280.

Am I going to need more than one capsule?

[MarkS]

the different caps give you more versatility , and is a good go when you plan to record accustic steel string guitars, violins, and sort of that.
i use the standart matched pairs as overheads, and i am happy.

more infos about okatava here: http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=55&Page=2

[hrn]

GRiFF,
Yeah, I love the fat sound that a Large Diaphragm mic can make to a drum set. Small Diaphragm mics like the Octava 012 cannot deliver that....But, they are cleaner and more detailed. The 012 is the best hihat mic I've ever used

The mics used on the sample was ADK A51 type III and can be found for almost nothing.

http://www.adkmic.com

Well, some advices,

For the kick: AKG D12

Toms: Shure SM 57

Snare: Try some ATM/AT dynamic (cheap...second hand maybe) Audio Technica. They are great mics. Two SM57's works too..up and from under....... Try whatever dynamics you have, they are all the same in quality, just sounds different. The position is the most important to think about.

Hans

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by MarkS

i use the standart matched pairs as overheads, and i am happy.

more infos about okatava here: http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=55&Page=2

...you use a pair the £89 versions? Is this capsule fixed or can it be changed if you bought the other capsules at a later date?

[GRiFF]

Little summary so far this is what I like for my drum mic kit...

D112 Kik
57 Snr top
57 Snr bot
421s Toms
MK012s O/Heads

my U87 as a room mic

Alternatives...

ADKs as OHeads and my SM58 on the bottom to save more money.

Any advances on this configuration?

[Telecastr]

Hey Griff,
i'd buy a Beta 52 to have as a kick mic as well. i typically don't like the D112 on kick. it sounds good on floor tom to me more often than kick. either way, not all kick drums are the same, and youcan't just expect one mic to always work best. this is true for all instruments of course. considering how cheap a D112 and Beta 52 are, it's not going to break the bank to get both, especially with 2 grand for drum mics. having 2 different mics will only expand your options. sometimes a Beta 52 is best other times a D112, or Sennheiser 602. i wouldn't force yourself to have only one mic to choose from for kick. i'm very particular about kick sounds and i'd rather get the sound right with the right mic without a lot of EQ. i always find myself EQing a D112 a lot, not much with a Beta 52 though.
also check out T.H.E. KR25 for overheads. they are great and reasonably priced. www.theaudio.com they are also great on many acoustic intruments and vocals too. i would check them out before getting the MC012s. i've used them before as OH and i like the T.H.E.s better.
Peace,
Derek

edit...ok i guess after checking to see how much the T.H.E. mics cost they won't fit into your budget. still if you can get cash together for them sometime, do it. i use them for just about every session.

[everybody's x]

I played at arrowhead stadium this summer, and the soundguys had a kick ass A-rig out there, The drums sounded phenomenal and I couldn't believe that he was getting that good of a sound in a huge outdoor arena like that.

He was using the audix D series. The D6 is amazing right out of the box. a 20" kick just inside the hole HEAVEN. I never even EQ mine at all.
This dude had the budget to use anything he wanted to.

I had played with several of the bands playing that day and none of us ever sounded better.

I highly recommend them

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by Telecastr
Hey Griff,
i'd buy a Beta 52 to have as a kick mic as well. i typically don't like the D112 on kick.

I know your right T, but I haven't been finding any s/h 52s as yet -I would add this recommendation tho.

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by everybody's x
I played at arrowhead stadium this summer, and the soundguys had a kick ass A-rig out there, The drums sounded phenomenal and I couldn't believe that he was getting that good of a sound in a huge outdoor arena like that.

He was using the audix D series. The D6 is amazing right out of the box. a 20" kick just inside the hole HEAVEN. I never even EQ mine at all.
This dude had the budget to use anything he wanted to.

I had played with several of the bands playing that day and none of us ever sounded better.

I highly recommend them

So he just used the D6 mic kit on its own? I've heared of lots of drummers loving the Audix series, often from live useage. Makes me wonder if these are more satisfying used in a live context - do these translate as well to the studio?
If so, I'm all ears these would be a hell of a budget solution.

[everybody's x]

actually he used the entire D-series for everything, except he had an I-5 on the snare

The only comment as far as recording I can make is the D6. It gives a nice solid thump in the low end around 80hz with a little rise around 5K.

They claim it isn't placement dependent but of course it is. But really the only eq you need for it is how close you put it to the beater.
closer to the beater = more clik

Much more defined than a D112 or Beta 52

Some say it is a "metal" kick mic, but George Straight is using them and he's about as metal as my grannies mandolin riffs.

[Kurtly]

I use:
ATM25's inside kicks (Plus a Rode NT1 outside for recording)
SM57 on snare (Plus another underneath for recording)
AT25Pro's on toms (they survive getting smacked by drummers)
Behringer B5's as overheads for recording (don't use OH live)

I'm poor, I use what will last and what I can afford. I do tend to get a very big drum sound though (do mostly metal bands)

[Telecastr]

Originally posted by GRiFF
I know your right T, but I haven't been finding any s/h 52s as yet -I would add this recommendation tho.

There are plenty on eBay. I'm guessing you are trying to find one locally in London?

about the D6...i've used it in live situations and it sounded pretty good. i wasn't amazed or anything, but it worked well. live sound is a totally different beast though, b/c you've got to make it work right then and there quickly with what you have.

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by Telecastr
live sound is a totally different beast though, b/c you've got to make it work right then and there quickly with what you have.

This is why I wondered if it satisfied the live market more than the studio market. A studio recording has to last a bit longer and is scrutinised a little more.

I'm torn, been speaking with Stirling Syco on this and they tell me that there are some engineers that are just loving the AUDIX series, because they have a uniformed sound, and you can get a great sound really quickly.

Actually this is probably good for me right now, I'll be working with demo bands initially and time is usually restricted.

Still - I know for the same price I could get the bulk of the commercial mikes I know will last me forever...hmmm.

BTW - not a budget mic this but what do you think of the RE20? Isn't that a popular kick mic anymore?

[Telecastr]

Originally posted by GRiFF

BTW - not a budget mic this but what do you think of the RE20? Isn't that a popular kick mic anymore?

i like it. it's another good mic to have for kick as well as having many other uses.

[GRiFF]

One lengthy conversation with a seasoned commercial engineer later and I'm thinking once again about the benefits of the AUDIX.

This guy loves 'em raves about 'em.

I think its likely that I'm going to give them a try. Next thing is what overheads to use with them, this engineer loves AKGs - not cheap.

[meteor]

I have used a D-6 extensively both live and in the studio. i much prefer it as a live mic. i think it's a little too unnatural or scooped for the studio - still better than a beta 52 in most applications. the exception for me would be hard or heavier rock and metal. it really shines for that kind of stuff both live and in the studio.

cheers,

[GRiFF]

Originally posted by meteor
I have used a D-6 extensively both live and in the studio. i much prefer it as a live mic. i think it's a little too unnatural or scooped for the studio - still better than a beta 52 in most applications. the exception for me would be hard or heavier rock and metal. it really shines for that kind of stuff both live and in the studio.

cheers,

Given that the DP5 kit - that I am looking at is approx £550, would you say that this is still a very decent solution to getting a reliable commercial sound.

I'm thinking of adding a pair of 414s as overheads and for a bit of sparkle.