Drum Mics (Shure or Audix)

[Peyton]

Bass Drum - Shure Beta52 or Audix D6
Floor Tom - Shure SM57 or Audix D4
Rack Toms - Shure SM57 or Audix D2
Snare - Shure SM57 or Audix i-5
Over heads Shure(???) or Audix Fusion 15

[against88]

to me, the D6 has one sound. it works super well for live situations because its really tight, sorta over EQed or hyped. its got a tight thump in the low end, and a click/slap up top.

i think the D4 is going to give you a lot more low end for the floor tom.
D2 vs 57 might be closer call?

i'd keep a 57 on the snare because its classic, its what i expect to hear...but hell, maybe thats more reason to experiment.

just my 2 cents
-will

[decepción inc.]

Decent Shure OH's are SM - 81

Also, Audix OM-2's are good on rides.

[bernieL0max]

Is there a reason you wouldnt consider Sennheiser e602/e604's?

[WEAPON_X]

working on tight budget, the sennheiser mic line for drums are exeptional good and i use them regulary when it needs to be quick fast and good.
although they are not on par with the audix line, or a decent and well chosen mic setup which can easily go for more than 5 times the cost, they are really good. i like them.

[sonic dogg]

I have both set-ups,as well as Sm81's and ADK's for overs as well as a couple of LDC's I'll use from time to time.


The Audix are cleaner and have an extended range compared to 57's. I still love the ole Unidyne III on the snare as well as a Beyer 201. There are times I'll use the D2 on the snare, or the D1 for jazzier things....it has a better top-end than the D2. I use the D2 exclusively live...Excellent to find a spot on a kit with it. I LOVE the Audix i5. On everything. Its like a great old Shure.

For the floor toms, its either the D4, or a BG.6.1 Shure...I think this is a cheap version of the Beta but it works great on the tom.

D2 for all other toms. They're just set and push the red button.

D6 for rock, Beta 52 for a bit mellower stuff, ATM25 for everything else...

[David Lee]

Audio Technica ATM25 on the toms...It's a damn kick mic but you've never heard such massive sounding toms than you will with this mic.

[Peyton]

well i record mostly metal if that gives you any idea of the sound i'm going for

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by Peyton

well i record mostly metal if that gives you any idea of the sound i'm going for

Beta52, notch out a bit more 250 and you have that nice clicky metal kick sound, so simple and so effective.
sm57 on snare there is a reason they are the standard. you can easy EQ it to get a nice twack, beefy, pingy or which snare sound you want. can also use a beta56/57
toms beta 56 (or b57 same capsule) or sm57 for cheeper
dont bother with poo gee mics, never used the 56 but the 52/57/58 suck donkey
dbx gates and compressors dirty it up nicely aswell

[Peyton]

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

Beta52, notch out a bit more 250 and you have that nice clicky metal kick sound, so simple and so effective.
sm57 on snare there is a reason they are the standard. you can easy EQ it to get a nice twack, beefy, pingy or which snare sound you want. can also use a beta56/57
toms beta 56 (or b57 same capsule) or sm57 for cheeper
dont bother with poo gee mics, never used the 56 but the 52/57/58 suck donkey
dbx gates and compressors dirty it up nicely aswell

so you think i should use just shure?

[bigbone]

Originally Posted by David Lee

Audio Technica ATM25 on the toms...It's a damn kick mic but you've never heard such massive sounding toms than you will with this mic.

I do agree........for a floor toms, it is awsome........

[aussie_techie]

Originally Posted by Peyton

so you think i should use just shure?

im a big believer in shure mics under all circumstances, they sound good and are so reliable. there is no magic bullet and you can get good results with whatever you decide to use
get a couple of 57s, if you are planing on using them on drums or not you will never go wrong with them and definatly use one on snare. it is so simple to get a brillant metal sound with a b52, with a propley tuned drum and correct positioning you can even get away without EQing it. toms are less important, while i recomend to stick with shure if you find a good deal on something else consider it
look at the package of 3 sm57s and a b52, think its the DMK5752. you wont go wrong

[Nu-tra]

Here is a mic no one ever mentions... The Audio Technica ATM 63HE It's great on Toms and guitar cab... It sounds like a mix between a 421 and sm57. I now 421's and still occasionally have to mic a 4th tom.. I reach for the AT63he and it matches up well. I put a link up plus check ebay if interested

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...list&sku=68243

[Harley-OIART]

Industry Prooven Thunderous Kick - > Electrovoice N/D 868
Sm-57 On Snare (maybe add a SDC to Taste)
Audio Technica AE2500 Floor Tom / any tom if you have the money for more than one (That thing rocks)
Sennheiser N/D 421 Overheads or Tom/s

=) Don't mind me, Rock on

-Scott

P.S. there is actually merit to these suggestions

[jkshort]

Kick: atm 25 or re20 are my favs. ae2500 is cool to.

snare. sm57 or the audix i5 I used recently and liked.

toms- 421's

o/h. nt-5's or 451's if i'm feeling brash.

[drummin4christ]

I used to be a firm believer in the sm57 for snare and toms, but now I absolutly love the E604's for both. Plus, if you get a 421 for the lower toms, the e604 matches perfectly with it.

[keep it reel]

shure 57 on snare
senhiser 602 on kick
421 on toms ( maybe some small clip on condensers for metal eg akg, shure?)
thers heaps of choice for overheads, i personaly like akg 414 and 460...but theres neumann, octavia, rode,audix etc etc

[eso]

Originally Posted by Peyton

well i record mostly metal if that gives you any idea of the sound i'm going for

In that case, I would recommend using Audix D2's and D4's on the Toms at least and it's worth having the D6 for kick if you can also get another kick mic which isn't so hyped (AKG D12, D112, Shure Beta 52, Electrovoice RE20). Maybe also the D1 for snare - if you can afford both that and the SM57's.

For a metal drum sound, the Audix mics can work well because they have a tight bottom end and a fairly scooped sound (a lot of click on the D6 especially). But, the main advantage is the massive amount of rejection they offer, giving more seperation between each drum. Meaning that you get to compress and Eq quite heavily without the off-axis spill and colouration smearing the whole drum sound, introducing higher levels of phase cancellation and excess cymbal leakage (really ugly when boosting Eq in mid/high-mid section) on tom tracks.
Bearing in mind that in fast metal bands, the volume most drummers hit between faster and slower drum sections can be wildly different. The Audix allow more control and are less likely to have you playing with triggers, unless you so desire.

Just my opinion.

I like Shure, Audix and Sennheiser on drums, but if you're going for the Sennheiser range, get the MD421's, not the E604's. The rejection is not that good on the E604's, they sound boxy when too close to the skin, and require a bit more work to get the clarity.