M160 Drum Overheads

clambake · 20th April 2008

Beyer M160s get a good rap here as drum overheads. Will they work in a 3 mic-only jazz kit context (OH's + Kik)? or will the hypercardioid pattern be too tight to cover a whole kit without accompanying snare mics, over the shoulder mics etc.

If the M160s don't do it what mics would you recommend in this context? The jazz is of the contemporary variety so the kit can get sonically quite intense.

cheers

Scott

jasonraboin · 20th April 2008

I use two M160's for overheads and a Heil PR40 in front of the kick. I run the overheads through an A-Designs Pacifica mic pre and it sounds fantastic. The tour is with a folk singer, and it never gets very loud. I have also recorded louder music with the same configuration and love it.

warhead · 20th April 2008

Just remember you will need (A) plenty of gain and (B) likely desire lots of top end shelf added to the tracks. Personally I would go for a more detailed sound for jazz overheads and go the SDC route, but if you can cover these other 2 bases well the M160 will indeed get the job done.

War

**Remoteness** · 20th April 2008

I use a pair of M160s as drum O/Hs all the time.
They are my "go to" mics of choice for this application.
They work well for me especially when placed properly.

creative.control · 21st April 2008

These are now my staple overhead mics, they're very smooth sounding.

I also use them with a pacifica and I usually end up keeping them flat as the pacifica's high end does the job for me, they're detailed enough without the harsh top end of some sdc's.

With a jazz setup I'd recommend using a M160 in conjunction with a M130 (figure of 8 ribbon) in an M/S pair, aim the M160 at the snare and should work fine!

If more transient detail is needed I'd run the session at 96khz

20th April 2008	#1
clambake Gear interested Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Thread Starter	M160 Drum Overheads Beyer M160s get a good rap here as drum overheads. Will they work in a 3 mic-only jazz kit context (OH's + Kik)? or will the hypercardioid pattern be too tight to cover a whole kit without accompanying snare mics, over the shoulder mics etc. If the M160s don't do it what mics would you recommend in this context? The jazz is of the contemporary variety so the kit can get sonically quite intense. cheers Scott

20th April 2008	#3
warhead Jai guru deva om Joined: Feb 2003 Location: South Carolina Posts: 12,257	Just remember you will need (A) plenty of gain and (B) likely desire lots of top end shelf added to the tracks. Personally I would go for a more detailed sound for jazz overheads and go the SDC route, but if you can cover these other 2 bases well the M160 will indeed get the job done. War __________________ Warren Dent, Owner - ZenPro Audio: Gear Now & Zen

20th April 2008	#4
Remoteness Super Moderator Joined: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 7,405	I use a pair of M160s as drum O/Hs all the time. They are my "go to" mics of choice for this application. They work well for me especially when placed properly. __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network What about my Facebook Profile? Remoteness on Myspace

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20th April 2008	#2
jasonraboin Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2006 Location: Northampton, MA Posts: 212	I use two M160's for overheads and a Heil PR40 in front of the kick. I run the overheads through an A-Designs Pacifica mic pre and it sounds fantastic. The tour is with a folk singer, and it never gets very loud. I have also recorded louder music with the same configuration and love it.

21st April 2008	#5
creative.control Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 181 5 Reviews written	These are now my staple overhead mics, they're very smooth sounding. I also use them with a pacifica and I usually end up keeping them flat as the pacifica's high end does the job for me, they're detailed enough without the harsh top end of some sdc's. With a jazz setup I'd recommend using a M160 in conjunction with a M130 (figure of 8 ribbon) in an M/S pair, aim the M160 at the snare and should work fine! If more transient detail is needed I'd run the session at 96khz