Opinions on Shure drum mic set PGDMK6?

Sanchez · 27th December 2011

I'm thinking of doing some basic demo recording of a 3-piece rock kind of band and wondering if the Shure drum mic set PGDMK6 which has:

* (3) Three PG56 snare/tom microphones
* (1) One PG52 kick drum microphone
* (2) Two PG81 instrument microphones
* (3) Three A50D drum mounts
* (6) Six 15ft (4.57m) XLR-XLR cables
* (1) One durable carrying case

is a good deal. I already have 3x 58s, a 57 and a Rode NT2000 so would this be a waste of $$ or could I spend it more efficiently? As well as drums it'll be bass, guitar and vox I'm recording.

Cheers!

Tobi · 27th December 2011

I have used the Shure PGDMK4-set for a session once. I ended up not using the PG56's for toms and snare. For snare I pulled out the old trusted 57 and the toms got a 58 each (underrated tom mic imo). The kick mic is decent enough. The PGDMK4 does not have PG81's so I don't know how good they are for overheads. You already have the 57 and the 58's, so if I were you, I'd go for a pair of small condenser overheads and a kick-mic. I'd buy a couple of Rode m3's for overheads and a Shure Beta 52A for the kick and then stick with the mics you already got for the rest of the kit.

Of course, If you spend more money you can get better mics but back then, this setup worked for me and the band.

Good luck.

icecubeman · 27th December 2011

For demo recording, the PG series is good. I was using it for recording several years.

avidfcp · 27th December 2011

[QUOTE=Sanchez;7370745]I'm thinking of doing some basic demo recording of a 3-piece rock kind of band and wondering if the Shure drum mic set PGDMK6 which has:

* (3) Three PG56 snare/tom microphones
* (1) One PG52 kick drum microphone
* (2) Two PG81 instrument microphones
* (3) Three A50D drum mounts
* (6) Six 15ft (4.57m) XLR-XLR cables
* (1) One durable carrying case

is a good deal. I already have 3x 58s, a 57 and a Rode NT2000 so would this be a waste of $$ or could I spend it more efficiently? As well as drums it'll be bass, guitar and vox I'm recording.

Cheers![/QUOTE
Just read this recently but apparently there is a new mic that is supposed to be quite a bit better. Not sure ( no pun intended), but double check. Cannot remember there brands, so not very helpful. Sorry.

stetyrrell · 27th December 2011

To be honest, the DMK57-52 kit for the same price is a lot better value, 3 57's with mounts and a Beta 52a, all quality mics, far better than the PG mics. Add a set of nice SDC's for overheads and you've got a truely quality set up.

Sanchez · 27th December 2011

Great input all thank you. I'm liking the sound of getting the better Shure set, using what I have and adding a pair of sdc s for overheads. Any sdc suggestions in a price range to suit the rest of the setup? Please indulge/school me, I have nooooooo idea about sdc, overheads etc as yet really so I'm surfing the learning curve here.

Bill@WelcomeHome · 27th December 2011

Just my opinion, but I'd rather buy a half-dozen multipurpose mics used than a half-dozen dedicated mics new. I've used the 57 on snare for many years but I can't say that I have used many other Shure mics around a kit in decades. (I did not mind the 565 or 545 on toms, but that was live and that is basically a 57.)

An RE-20 or Beyer M-88 or Sennheiser 421 makes a wonderful kick mic and tom mic. (as does the 441, but those tend to be more pricy.) The AKG 451/460/480 makes a great overhead pair and fine hat mics. Look for the Oktava MK/MC 012 for a budget choice. And the 57 on snare. These mics are also all great choices for many other mic duties, so you get double duty or more for your investment.

Meanwhile, rent.

Sanchez · 20th January 2012

Thanks again. Looking at what I 'm doing and the band I will be recording to begin with, a Glyn Jons-style 4 mic setup looks like a great way to start. I don't have the budget to look at $700 for a single mic, so bearing in mind I currently have a Rode NT2000, 3 x 58s and a 57, could anyone suggest what might be a good way to spend say 5 or $600 max to do the best job I can? I'm fine with 2nd hand but obviously here in Japan options are far more limited...anything used from a Gslut would be even better!

dkelley · 20th January 2012

no requirement for SDCs to be overheads. I typically prefer LDCS or ribbons on overheads. dynamics sometimes can work but most of the 57s and 58s of the world aren't terribly attractive as overheads imho due to presence peak and lack of true HF energy and beign slightly middy overall.

I do'nt konw what to suggest in the very cheapest price range though... I'm sure others do.

I used mxl 603s on overheads once. they worked but were typically thing and also had the expected distortion on louder crashes... just that stock 603s aren't very good mics imho (despite how many people love them on guitar or whatever). I far prefer cheap LDCs to mxl 603s for overheads. normally I have cad m179s lying around so have used them when needed. they work great for overheads. but plenty of others are out there, and even cheaper that will sound good for that job.

27th December 2011	#1
Sanchez Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 243 Thread Starter	Opinions on Shure drum mic set PGDMK6? I'm thinking of doing some basic demo recording of a 3-piece rock kind of band and wondering if the Shure drum mic set PGDMK6 which has: * (3) Three PG56 snare/tom microphones * (1) One PG52 kick drum microphone * (2) Two PG81 instrument microphones * (3) Three A50D drum mounts * (6) Six 15ft (4.57m) XLR-XLR cables * (1) One durable carrying case is a good deal. I already have 3x 58s, a 57 and a Rode NT2000 so would this be a waste of $$ or could I spend it more efficiently? As well as drums it'll be bass, guitar and vox I'm recording. Cheers!

27th December 2011	#3
icecubeman Gear addict Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Slovakia Posts: 417 7 Reviews written	For demo recording, the PG series is good. I was using it for recording several years. __________________

27th December 2011	#7
Bill@WelcomeHome Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,188	Just my opinion, but I'd rather buy a half-dozen multipurpose mics used than a half-dozen dedicated mics new. I've used the 57 on snare for many years but I can't say that I have used many other Shure mics around a kit in decades. (I did not mind the 565 or 545 on toms, but that was live and that is basically a 57.) An RE-20 or Beyer M-88 or Sennheiser 421 makes a wonderful kick mic and tom mic. (as does the 441, but those tend to be more pricy.) The AKG 451/460/480 makes a great overhead pair and fine hat mics. Look for the Oktava MK/MC 012 for a budget choice. And the 57 on snare. These mics are also all great choices for many other mic duties, so you get double duty or more for your investment. Meanwhile, rent. __________________ "We have a situation where somebody has learned that 'tape' sounds good. Tape doesn't sound good. Tape sounds like crap. But sometimes good stuff gets put on tape." "Putting crap to tape...sounds like crap." Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Resistance is not futile. It is voltage divided by current. "I do not think that the wireless waves I have discovered will have any practical application,..." Heinrich Rudolf Hertz

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27th December 2011	#2
Tobi Gear interested Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 19	I have used the Shure PGDMK4-set for a session once. I ended up not using the PG56's for toms and snare. For snare I pulled out the old trusted 57 and the toms got a 58 each (underrated tom mic imo). The kick mic is decent enough. The PGDMK4 does not have PG81's so I don't know how good they are for overheads. You already have the 57 and the 58's, so if I were you, I'd go for a pair of small condenser overheads and a kick-mic. I'd buy a couple of Rode m3's for overheads and a Shure Beta 52A for the kick and then stick with the mics you already got for the rest of the kit. Of course, If you spend more money you can get better mics but back then, this setup worked for me and the band. Good luck.

27th December 2011	#4
avidfcp Gear interested Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 11	[QUOTE=Sanchez;7370745]I'm thinking of doing some basic demo recording of a 3-piece rock kind of band and wondering if the Shure drum mic set PGDMK6 which has: * (3) Three PG56 snare/tom microphones * (1) One PG52 kick drum microphone * (2) Two PG81 instrument microphones * (3) Three A50D drum mounts * (6) Six 15ft (4.57m) XLR-XLR cables * (1) One durable carrying case is a good deal. I already have 3x 58s, a 57 and a Rode NT2000 so would this be a waste of $$ or could I spend it more efficiently? As well as drums it'll be bass, guitar and vox I'm recording. Cheers![/QUOTE Just read this recently but apparently there is a new mic that is supposed to be quite a bit better. Not sure ( no pun intended), but double check. Cannot remember there brands, so not very helpful. Sorry.

27th December 2011	#5
stetyrrell Gear Head Joined: May 2011 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 46	To be honest, the DMK57-52 kit for the same price is a lot better value, 3 57's with mounts and a Beta 52a, all quality mics, far better than the PG mics. Add a set of nice SDC's for overheads and you've got a truely quality set up.

20th January 2012	#8
Sanchez Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 243 Thread Starter	Thanks again. Looking at what I 'm doing and the band I will be recording to begin with, a Glyn Jons-style 4 mic setup looks like a great way to start. I don't have the budget to look at $700 for a single mic, so bearing in mind I currently have a Rode NT2000, 3 x 58s and a 57, could anyone suggest what might be a good way to spend say 5 or $600 max to do the best job I can? I'm fine with 2nd hand but obviously here in Japan options are far more limited...anything used from a Gslut would be even better!

20th January 2012	#9
dkelley Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Maple Ridge, BC, Canada (by Vancouver) Posts: 4,071 3 Reviews written	no requirement for SDCs to be overheads. I typically prefer LDCS or ribbons on overheads. dynamics sometimes can work but most of the 57s and 58s of the world aren't terribly attractive as overheads imho due to presence peak and lack of true HF energy and beign slightly middy overall. I do'nt konw what to suggest in the very cheapest price range though... I'm sure others do. I used mxl 603s on overheads once. they worked but were typically thing and also had the expected distortion on louder crashes... just that stock 603s aren't very good mics imho (despite how many people love them on guitar or whatever). I far prefer cheap LDCs to mxl 603s for overheads. normally I have cad m179s lying around so have used them when needed. they work great for overheads. but plenty of others are out there, and even cheaper that will sound good for that job.