Mics for recording drums

[Keyflo]

hey im looking for some good mics for recording drums, what kinds should i get

[Remoteness]

It's sort of like asking, "I'm looking for a good vehicle to go to/from my job, what should I get?"

We need more information about what you're looking for and the mic technique that fits you best.

Furthermore, what style of music are we talking about?

Let usknow, and the information flood will rise!

[CrankyRayHanky]

general answer= 57s everywhere

[talbe1019]

For rock/metal applications I like to use 451's on OH's and hihat, 421's on toms, 57 or M201 on snare and either an RE20, D112 or Beta52 on kick. Other mics that have been used for me - ATM25's on toms and SM81's as OH's and Hihat (didn't really like the 81's). I also used a C3000B to mic the bottom of a snare and thought it did an ok job...

[bove]

How about opinions on an ideal setup for jazz?

[Remoteness]

I use this set-up for nearly every style of music...

M1160s on drum O/Hs

TLM103 on snare (SM57 or MD431 are also used when applicable)

On the foot I start off with an M88 (I love using a U47FET and have used B52 or E602 or E902 or RE20 or MD421 when applicable)

Over the shoulder mic can be a M149; TLM103; 4038; U47; M160 (other mics have also been used)

Toms when needed -- MD409 or MD421 or KM140 or TLM103 or DC96B or C414 or E604 or SM57 or M422

When applicable pretty much any omni (or cardioid) knee mic will do.

[bongo]

Originally Posted by bove

How about opinions on an ideal setup for jazz?

I use a Royer SF-12 for the overheads.
An Earthworks TC30K for the bass drum.
That's about it.
I'll put a SDC of the day on the snare and use it sometimes.
Sometimes I'll put mics on the toms, but I never seem to use them.
Forget about the hi-hat.

[Sound Chaser]

There are so many great mics, but I think what you really want are lower price mics that are 'proven' or at least work well in a variety of situations.

OH/hat: Audio Technica 4041, Octava MK012 (omni)
Toms: SM57, MD421
Snare: SM57, Octava MK012
Kick: MD421 (not cheap but a lot on the used market)

[James Meeker]

Here's a list of standard mics you tend to see on drums a lot. This is by no means exhaustive! But based on years of watching other engineers work, tons of reading what was used on various albums, people talking 'round here this seems pretty spot on:

SNARE

Shure SM57 - the old reliable standby, still one of the best on snare!

Audix i5 - another great snare mic, a bit tighter/brighter than the '57

Neumann KM86 - probably the only condenser to show up on snare with any frequency.

Sennheiser MD441 - not as common as the others, good for hi-fi snares but it lacks the rock 'bang' a little

Heil PR20 - these are getting more popular recently but can't think of any huge sessions that used these offhand.

KICK

AKG D112 - the generic kick drum mic of the last decade and a half. Gets good results, but the tone is kinda crappy if you ask me... the midrange is really boxy (of course you're supposed to cut that out anyways right?).

AKG D12 - the old school standard kick mic. Solid performer, but a bit pricey for what you get on the used market.

Beyerdynamic TG88 - a lot of guys dig these, similar to the D112 but with some actual tone.

Neumann U47FET - producers in the know with big bucks love these outside of the kick. Chances are you can't find, much less afford.

TOMS

Shure SM57 - yeah, as usual these are in the house. Not a favorite of mine for toms...

Sennheiser MD421 - pretty much the "go-to" standard for toms, probably the most commonly seen mic for toms. Good presence and tone.

OVERHEADS

AKG C451 - bright and zingy, great detail, fairly easy on the pocketbook. Pretty standard in the 80's for SDC OH mics.

AKG 414 - another ridiculously common overhead mic. Solid performer, if a bit characterless. Excellent filtering/padding/pattern options.

Royer R121 - if people are using ribbons on OH this is probably the one. A bit dark, like most ribbons, but very choice. Another popular ribbons is the Coles 4038, but nowadays the Royers are everywhere (for good reason).

Neumann U87 - the high end standard for overheads... unless you've got the next mic in a stereo pair.

AKG C12 - generally speaking, among people with unlimited budgets this is one of the ways they go, and for good reason. Almost peerless for overheads but you need mad cash to own 'em.

HIGH HAT

AKG C451 - these turn up on 'hats a lot. Very stupidly sizzly.... gobs of high end.

Shure SM7 - a dynamic on hat? Yeah, it gets used more often than you think.... Gives a "tougher" sound to hats and keeps the top end in check a bit.

Shure SM81 - a good middle of the road SDC for hat, not too bright, takes decent SPL, relatively affordable. A good choice overall.

[James Meeker]

Originally Posted by bove

How about opinions on an ideal setup for jazz?

For jazz?

I'd go for DPA 4012's on overheads, Neumann U47FET on kick and a Royer SF-12 on the room.

I'd take everything through a Millenia SVC type preamps. Clarity for days.

[dortola]

Have you ever tried the PGDMK6 kit from Shure?
I know it's cheap, but is it worth trying it?

1 x PG52 for the kick
3 x PG56 for the toms/snare
2 x PG81 for the cymbals
Drum mounts and cables

Any comments?

Thanks!