Planning on getting a drum mic kit:

> > > Planning on getting a drum mic kit:

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Byte-Mixer
Member Since: Dec 04, 2007

So continuing on with the service I want to start, I'm planning on getting a decent drum mic kit/package. I'm thinking either one of the Shure, AKG, or possibly an Audix kit.

I'm particularly curious if anyone's had any good experiences with the Audix mics, since I'm not familiar with that brand.

These are what I'm looking at: Some of it will depend on what my budget ends up being though. I don't think I'll want to go much over $500 for the package, though I was looking at the AKG package, but that would be a bit of a splurge.

Shure:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DMK5752/

AKG:
www.zzounds.com...--AKGRHYTHMPACK (this is probably over-budget for me, but if it's better than the shure or audix packages, I may splurge for it)

Audix:
www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FP5A/
Or possibly the FP7, which is about $500

For dynamics, I'm looking at getting 2 SM57's, a Beta 58 A, an SM7B, and the drum mic kit.

I'm also planning on getting an LDC mic or two....possibly the AT2020, 4040, or a Rode NT1A or two. Or maybe mix/match them? I don't think I'll want to go much over $300 per mic, though.

Also, if someone can recommend a decent Small-diaphragm condenser mic, that would be good. I'm figuring an SDC would be good for acoustic instruments. Maybe the AKG C1000S ?

My budget is still up in the air, but I'm figuring about $1500 to $2000 total for the mics (not including stands/cables/clips) and I'd like to have a fair variety.

And, I'll probably be getting an A&H MixWizard3, either the 12ch, or the 16ch. I like the options of the 14ch with the grouping options, but I don't really want to go over $1000 for the mixer.

But yeah, I'm figuring for all this crap, mixer/mics/cables/stands/etc. spending around $3K as the tentative budget.

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edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004

Feb 27, 2012 06:21 am

That Shure package looks great. I like the audix mics as well, but the D6 (kick) is so scooped sounding. Not useable for everything.

I would steer clear of the NT1a's and the C1000's. Do they sell sE electronics in your area? The X1 is great, and the sE2200a is even better. The 2200's are my go to for overheads at the moment. Audio Technica are also great. Got a lot of love for the AT4033.

The Mix Wiz's are a sweet little desk. Not sure if you have an interface already, but take a look at the Zed series desks.




The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007

Feb 27, 2012 01:50 pm

As you know, I am coming from the live end of things. And the most popular, and the ones that I use the most, are the Shure mics.

The Beta 52 along with the Beta 91 are what is used the most for kick.

www.shure.com/americas/pr...nser-microphone

Another mic that we use from Shure is the Beta 98. Even thou it is listed as a drum mic, which it is one of the best sounding mics for, we also use it for just about everything. From Trumpets to flute, even upright bass. Plus all of the percussion pieces.

If you can swing the price, it is a great drum and utilitarian mic.

www.shure.com/americas/pr...-tom-microphone

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007

Feb 27, 2012 05:31 pm

Thanks for the responses guys. I just remembered I have a couple mini-condensers. I've got a matched pair of those Karma K-Micros that were all the buzz around here a few years go.

Thanks for recommending the SE Electronics stuff. I gave the mentioned mics a look, and they're both in my price range. I'll most likely be ordering everything online. The two closest local music places I know are the Guitar Center over in Cedar Rapids about half an hour from here, and the local West Music which is within walking distance (well, it'd be a about a good 20 minute walk or so).

Maybe I can swing a pair of X1's and then get a 2200a. Have to see how my budgeting works out once the dust from moving stuff around has settled hehe. The 4033 is a little more than I want to spend right now on LDC mics, but the 4040 is doable.

If the D6 is pretty scooped, I'm going to guess the F-series package are probably cheaper, but try to achieve similar sound kinda deal. I think I'm going to lean towards the Shure mic package here.

The Beta 98 looks good too. Think I'll get at least 1 of those. :D

I do have a desktop audio interface (my echo audiofire 4) but it's small with only 2 universal inputs with +48v, and 2 line-level inputs on the back along with an SPDIF I/O. However, it supposedly uses the AKM4620A codec.

bounav.free.fr/wp/?p=224

Three sharp regulators
One Texas Instruments Firewire 1394a-2000 iceLynx controller
One Xilink Spartan FPGA
Two AKM 4620A CODECs (DAC and ADC converters)
Two Analog Device SSM2019 op-amps (one for each microphone input)
Ten JRC 2068 op-amps

It's a nice interface, but a bit small for doing the mobile recording, unless I just take the stereo mix from the mixer. so I may need to up the ante, and get something with maybe 8 or 12 inputs so I can get each individual track in the DAW. Wonder if I should forgo the mixwizard, save some money and go with a ZED with USB so I can set up each track directly in the DAW on my laptop. (will be using Reaper) The only firewire Zed I've seen so far is the R16, and that's hands down over my budget haha. I'll look at the smaller Zeds. They might fit the bill. :)

Edit: Hmmm, not sure about the newer ZEDs (the 16FX and the 18) but if it's anything like the earlier models, it seems they only send the main mixes over USB. Not sure that's gonna work for me for recording into the laptop DAW. I'd love to have the R16, but that's way over my price point at this time. :( Maybe I need to consider a firewire or USB 2.0 mixer or soemthing. Hmmmm.

Edit2: Looking at the Mackie Onyx 1620i firewire mixer now. Zzounds has one warehouse resealed for $850....that's mighty damn tempting. Can send all 16 channels to the daw. The Zed series seem to just send the L/R channels to the Daw (except the R16, which is wayyy over my budget) Sounds like the old Alesis Multimix 16ch mixer could do the same, but it's discontinued. I've also heard Phonic's Helix MkII could do it, but it seems to not be available either unless I scour ebay or something. :P

Still open to opinions of course. :) Right now I'm leaning towards the onyx. Individual +48v swiches for the channels, Hi-Z inputs on the first 2 channels, able to record the separate channels to the DAW via firewire, Mute/Solo buttons per channel, is all looking mighty tasty. Faders are only 60mm, but that's such a tiny niggle heh.

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007

Feb 29, 2012 01:11 am

Okay, double post, but wanted to update/bump this up without turning the previous post into a mess.

Here is my tentative list so far for the mics/mixer.

Mixer: Mackie Onyx 1620i (can get it for $850 thru zzounds plus they've got a deal where the driver is free)

Mics:
Dynamic:
The Shure drum mic package with the beta 52 + 3 SM57's
1 extra SM57
1 Beta 58 A
1 SM7b

Condensers:
to cut costs a little, I think I'm going to get 2 AT2020 mics instead of the X1's (as room mics I'm thinking) and in turn, I'll get 2 of the SE 2200A's.

I'm also going to get the small Shure Beta 98 as I think that will come in pretty handy.

Then 4 boom stands, 1 or 2 generic upright stands (thinking the on-stage stands with the collapsible tripod bases should suffice. They all run about $30 each)

Also some 20' XLR Lo-z cables with neutrik connectors (like a 6-pack), and a couple hi-z cables will do the job. I can get a few 2-packs of the CBI cables off zzounds. I also have some generic hosa cables here at home, but I'd rather get some cables with decent connectors. And of course, a couple pop filters, mic clips/stand mounts:

So all in all The price comes out to be somewhere between $3200 and $3300 with that setup. I've read a number of threads in other places and it sounds like the preamps on the onyx i-series boards are useable, but pretty "vanilla" which I think is fine for what I'm planning to do for now.

If this ends up turning into a business venture at some point, then I can think about upgrading to the A&H Zed R16 or just getting a better pre-amp later on.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007

Feb 29, 2012 01:51 am

I don't think that you can go wrong with the Shure mics that you're looking at. Same with the Mackie board. And I think the price range that you have is amazing for all that you're getting!

I hope that all works out well for your new venture.

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007

Feb 29, 2012 01:59 am

Thanks Rob. I've planned carefully, and I just need to get out there, and start talking to people and trying to draw interest. (well, and purchase the equipment too, of course!) I'm also planning on possibly talking to the music school at UIowa to see if any students would be interested.

Other than that, I guess I'll start making flyers, and print out more of my business cards to leave places. :)

My plan is to give myself some time to familiarize myself with the mixer and its routing and capabilities before I jump into starting to record people.

> > > Planning on getting a drum mic kit:

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