Recording a Drum Kit with minimal mic in's...suggestions?

[csiaudio]

Hello fellow slutz!

I am looking to find out the best advice on how to mic a drum kit with what equipment I currently have along with finding out what mics would be best to add to make it complete. I like the idea of minimal mic's on the drums and try to capture a 'real' drum sound and not over mic it. For now I am looking for the the best bang for the buck...until I get more band business I don't want to sink for money into my current set up than I have to. I currently have limited mics and that is where I need some advice along with where the best place is to use the mics that I have.

I have a total of 6 mic pre's available - Neve Portico 5012 has 2 - and the Apogee Ensemble has 4.

I have 3 mics;
Rode NT4 stereo mic
Shure SM57
Neumann TLM-103

First, where do you feel I should use what I have? example: NT4 as over heads, right?
Second, what additional mics would be recommended and where would they go?
If you'd like to see the room go to www.creativesoundimages.com - I have 10' ceiling with sloping sides. The room is 25'x24' total. The entire ceiling has a butt load of mineral wool in it!

Thanks for any advice folks!!

[chadly]

Originally Posted by csiaudio

Hello fellow slutz!

I am looking to find out the best advice on how to mic a drum kit with what equipment I currently have along with finding out what mics would be best to add to make it complete. I like the idea of minimal mic's on the drums and try to capture a 'real' drum sound and not over mic it. For now I am looking for the the best bang for the buck...until I get more band business I don't want to sink for money into my current set up than I have to. I currently have limited mics and that is where I need some advice along with where the best place is to use the mics that I have.

I have a total of 6 mic pre's available - Neve Portico 5012 has 2 - and the Apogee Ensemble has 4.

I have 3 mics;
Rode NT4 stereo mic
Shure SM57
Neumann TLM-103

First, where do you feel I should use what I have? example: NT4 as over heads, right?
Second, what additional mics would be recommended and where would they go?

Thanks for any advice folks!!

Hmmmm. . . Stereo mic on overhead, '57 on snare, TLM103 front of kick? I'd start there first, but that's just me.

There's a number of options really, it depends on your room and what you're going for. Maybe the stereo mic would sound great at stomach height 2 feet in front of the kick. . . or the stereo mic should go over the drummers shoulder. Maybe the 103 on the side of the snare (get a little HH bleed if it ain't coming through, though unlikely) with the '57 on kick (then mult '57 at mixdown, trigger a sample, and sneak that in)

Bottom line, if you have time to experiment, I'd experiment quite a bit to get a "sound". Not knowing your room, how good the kit sounds, genre, etc. I'd take everyones advice with a grain of salt. Best of luck!

[flail19]

have you checked out.....http://www.mercenary.com/3micdrumstuf.html

I found this very useful

[Kingtone]

I did a sessioon the other week where all i used was a Neumann UM57 on omni between the kick and snare (just at the top of the kick rim near the snare... kinda in the 'middle' of the whole kit. through a trident pre.... sounded really great.
of course... a great room makes all the difference

[Sizzleboy]

Originally Posted by csiaudio

I have a total of 6 mic pre's available - Neve Portico 5012 has 2 - and the Apogee Ensemble has 4.

I have 3 mics;
Rode NT4 stereo mic
Shure SM57
Neumann TLM-103

You could use what you got, NT4 OH, SM57 snare, TLM-103 kick. I really like a room mic though. You could get a decent LD dynamic for the kick and use theTLM-103 as a room mic.

You could build a kick tunnel out of blankets to isolate the kick mic. The first thing you will loose is the low end punch when you start mixing mics at different positions. It can be done, but positioning is critical. You can also time align your tracks to a snare hit to offset the timing descrepencies between mics at different distances to the source.

I am a minimalist when it comes to micing a kit. Pair of OH, kick, snare, room. Get most of the sound from the OH and room and add kick and snare to taste.

[csiaudio]

Originally Posted by Sizzleboy

You could get a decent LD dynamic for the kick and use theTLM-103 as a room mic.

Sizzleboy, what would you think would be a nice, but cost effective, kick mic? I always thought well of Audix D-4 or the Shure Beta 52-A or the like...any suggestions? If the kit sucks I will probably replace the kick any how but if the kit sounds good I would like to capture it with something that will do it justice.

Thanks for the input!

[Puff-E-Mike-T]

I have used the Beta 52 with great results but we also have an AKG D112 which is a great all around kick mic as well. I would say that any of the standards would do, but it partially depends on what type of kick sound your going for.

I recently put a Shiny Box Ribbon as an FOK mic and it added some good thump to the kick. They're really cheap...run less that $200.

[JohannS]

IT DEPENDS!
what do you want? more roomsound? or a closer drumsound?
maybe i would use the stereomic for the room to get a wide and full room sound and then i would try to find a spot where snare and bassdrum sound as good as possible. often you find this spot between snare and bassdrum next to the drummer´s knee. compress this signal very hard and mix it with the roomsound. try the sm57 for additional bassdrumkick. (ouch!) have fun.
(one of maybe 40 way to use these mics..)