help with my drum mic setup

[m_gant]

Planning on getting the following for studio miking kit:
(2)AT4021 ohead (can use for acoustic stuff too)
(1)SM57 snare (yay I already own this)
(3)E604 toms
(1)Beta52 or E902 kick (undecided)

Any suggestions?

[hazelmossobrien]

Originally Posted by m_gant

Planning on getting the following for studio miking kit:
(2)AT4021 ohead (can use for acoustic stuff too)
(1)SM57 snare (yay I already own this)
(3)E604 toms
(1)Beta52 or E902 kick (undecided)

Any suggestions?

beta 52 is an awesome mic that always sounds good, and I'd just get a few more 57's. you can use them for toms, snare top/bottom, and tons of other apps like guitar cabs etc etc.

[taperocket]

I like good old sm 57's better for toms, I used to have the e604 and found them to be kind of muffled and dull sounding.

[Sword in Hand]

Good mics you listed, here are some other suggestions

For Overs check out Audio Technica AT4040s (pretty clean and lots of dynamics, a bit peaky, though)
For snare check out Audix i5, Sennheiser 441 (great mic for other things as well)
For Kick the ElectroVoice N/D868 (I prefer this over the Beta 52)
For toms you can't go wrong with Sennheiser 421s (good versatile mic too).

Don't know your budget, but that's my two cents.

[j2dafo]

if you can add more, how about a LD condenser for outside kick (Oktava 319 works well for me on a budget), at least 1 mic for room sounds, something with figure 8 or omni as an option, and last and least another SD for hats, under snare, or spot duty.

[larry b]

Audix i5 is a definite contender for snare.

I'd get a bunch of 57's for toms as they will be useful all over the studio.

x2 on getting an LDC if you can swing it. Either as a mono room mic or close in on the kick.

Get the best overheads you can afford, as they will create much of the "image" of the kit. If you have to not get an LDC in order to get some better SDC overheads...do that.

[JalenRawley]

Originally Posted by taperocket

I like good old sm 57's better for toms, I used to have the e604 and found them to be kind of muffled and dull sounding.

Yeah, definitely avoid the e604s if you can. Their size is great for live use, but they just sound awful in my opinion. I've had my e604s for about eight years or so now and I can't stand 'em. I've since upgraded to 421s and the difference is night and day... of course, so is the price. I prefer the 421's eq curve on toms to the 57s, they just sound more pleasing to my ear.

If you absolutely have to get the e604s, make some space in your budget for stands for them. The little clip mounts transfer every single little bit of ring and noise from the toms and not in a good way. I used to spend tons of time editing, automating and gating tom ring which would completely ruin my drum sounds. My drum tracks sounded a thousand times better once I ditched the e604s for the 421s.

I also have the e602 kick mic, but it sounded like garbage compared to the Beta 52. I loaned the e602 out to someone a couple years ago and forgot who I loaned it to... I couldn't care less, and if the person ever comes back I might offer them a few bucks to keep it.

[hazelmossobrien]

maybe an e609/906 or two instead of 604's they can be used well for drums and are AMAZING for distorted guitar.

[m_gant]

if you can add more, how about a LD condenser for outside kick (Oktava 319 works well for me on a budget)

Yeah, I own one of these and some LDC marshall stuff too.

Good mics you listed, here are some other suggestions

For Overs check out Audio Technica AT4040s (pretty clean and lots of dynamics, a bit peaky, though)
For snare check out Audix i5, Sennheiser 441 (great mic for other things as well)
For Kick the ElectroVoice N/D868 (I prefer this over the Beta 52)
For toms you can't go wrong with Sennheiser 421s (good versatile mic too).

Don't know your budget, but that's my two cents.

Good stuff, I am trying to stay around 1k minus the 57, LDC's. I am also buying at dealer pricing, so that helps too.

I am on the fence with the e604's, lookin like I better just grab more 57's.

I was eyeballing the Electro-Voice N D868
Anyone else liking this more than beta52a?

[peeweedrummer]

i like e602 for kik. depends on the style of music though

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by m_gant

Planning on getting the following for studio miking kit:
(2)AT4021 ohead (can use for acoustic stuff too)
(1)SM57 snare (yay I already own this)
(3)E604 toms
(1)Beta52 or E902 kick (undecided)

Any suggestions?

I really like the beta52
But I think the d112 is more versatile
you can turn it 180 degrees and position it in all weird
angles and get an array of sounds

I think the 52 is like a 57 it's a one trick pony
but does sound good.

I would look for some used AT25's for toms
I think they sound similar to a 421 but at 1/3 the price

4021's are ok but depending on budget look at the beyer mc930
or the less expensive josephson c42 or peluso's over the AT's
Also the ksm137/141 may be better option than the AT's ?
I would borrow or rent some stuff before dropping the cake$$$

I spent months a few years back a/b-ing stuff I think
everyone has to do the same to see what works for them
in their rooms with their consoles or pres

[lynyrd]

SM 57s will work fine for toms and are certainly inexpensive, but if you have the budget, you could get CAD M179s for toms for about $140 and I prefer them to just about anything including 421s. They can also be used for quite a few other purposes.

[Sword in Hand]

To be fair I've only used the Beta 52 once, I liked it but it was definitely soft sounding on the beater definition. I also agree with Allen about the Beta 52 being a one trick pony. The N/D868 sounds similar, but has more definition I feel, also some serious lowend. I also use an Audix D6, that mic is great if you want definition, but the mic is so EQ'd that it's hard to make it sound natural (so kind of a one trick pony as well). I mainly use it inside the kick now, with the N/D868 outside, seems to be a good combo.

I agree too, about using at least one mic for room. Makes a big difference in the space around the drums, during mixdown.

Other cool mic would be a Shure SM7 on Hihat, I think it sounds great.

[Sword in Hand]

Here's an example of the N/D868 outside and the Audix D6 on Beater Side.