2 SM57 for room miking drums?

[heisleyamor]

I'm starting to use my sm7b for my snare now so I have an sm57 that I don't use. Should I buy another Sm57 and use it to get a stereo room sound? I don't have enough money on LDCs for room sounds right now. I saw a video with a band using 2 sm57s as room mics. Has anyone tried this?

[cowrange]

I just did a mix last week for somebody that used 57's for room mics. Sounded good. Of course it was a great room and drums, going into neve's etc. Worked as a nice compliment to the royer overheads.

[Tomer1]

I imagine that even though you are recording a loud drum kit , the 57s as distant mics would require lots of gain so be sure to look in your arsenal and see if you can provide with 55-60 of noiseless gain.

[vernier]

Dynamic mic for room is kosher, and you only need one.
'

[judah]

Why not? Give it a try and report back.

[stevesmithfan]

I've used 1 Sm57 facing away from the drumkit into Purple BIZ, several feet away. It worked great! I was surprised. But I still prefer 2 LDC's set in Blumlein into the BIZ preamps.
Best of luck, you won't be disappointed.

[bgrotto]

I've never liked 57s on room; I end up low-passing the crap outta them to kill the fizzy top, especially if I'm bombing the mics with compression. Also, the off-axis stuff gets a bit hairy-sounding IMO.

Anyway, the best thing to do is try one as a mono room mic, and if it kicks ass, get a second for stereo.

How's the SM7 on snare? I've never tried it there, and our studio's SM7 got stolen, so I haven't been able to.

Got any sound clips?

[travisbrown]

I don't mind dynamic mics for room micing.

Ain't much a SM57 won't sound good on, if the thing sounds good in the first place.

[SRS]

Room mics are so subjective. The room and placement of the mic as well as many other factors heavily influence the sound of a room mic (or mics). 57's can certainly work. For a $75 mic, can't hurt to do it and see. Hell, if you have several open pres, put out a few different mics in the room either in the same, or various places and see what you get. If the project is time sensitive, go for what your ear tells you in the room and make a judgment call on the mic used. If the room has a dead or muffled overall sound, a 57 can bring up the upper mid hype some and provide that little bit of needed clarity from the kit.

[LiquidArmy]

For sure! I know engineers that like to throw it in a corner, and squash it. Always nice to have that "wildcard" mic during mixdown to add some real vibe.

[CrankyRayHanky]

sm 57 is up to $100 now, I would imagine that would be better served going towards a condenser for room micing

[malaclypse]

yeah, done it before and it sounds aaight, but you need lots o' clean gain, like tomer1 suggested.

[BlueSprocket]

Have seen a few engineers (and I've used this on a record or two myself) take a pair of 57s, put them on stands very near the ground (or lay them on the ground) about 10-12 feet away from the kit. Put them into a pre with a good amount of gain, and smash 'em. Sounds really cool if done right.

Recording is a very subjective art-form. There are a few rules, but even those can be broken if you have a good reason to.

Rule of thumb, try anything and everything...if it sounds good, it is good! Just don't break someone else's gear finding out.

[Grumblefoot]

Never used a '57 but have used a '58 I really liked it, would like to add the room sounded pretty good to begin with.

[Aurora T.]

Originally Posted by CrankyRayHanky

sm 57 is up to $100 now, I would imagine that would be better served going towards a condenser for room micing

I don't want no 100$ chinese condenser as my room mic.

Not even totally sqashed. Sm57 anyday.

Though you could use it as a doorstop or as a tea strainer.