recording drums/mics

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http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007

ok im finally bitin the bullet and decided it really is a pain to be programing drums all the time especially with the band im in.

what i wanna ask is. i currently only have a sm57 a 58 and a rode nt1a.

would i be better of just maybe buying another condenser and mainly doing an overheads mix, or getting a drum mic set for around the same price as another rode with a few more mics?

or maybe another rode and 57 and just mic up the kick and snare and use the 2 rodes for o/h's.

not sure what the best way would be.

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 26, 2009 08:40 pm

Deon, there are a few different ways to get this done for sure.

One is the simple attack of having one out front for the kick. Then setting up the overheads to get a good big picture.

I've done this many times and turned out good tracks. A lot of it really depends on the room as well too. But my favorite for a tight kit is dropping a good mic out front of the kick, just far enough out to pick up a little of the toms and the snare. Then setting up overheads to gather the rest. Based on the same principal as the recorder man technique many here use.

But there are some really good budget drum mic kits out there as well. I think there is one from CAD that is pretty decent. And I recently saw a low priced small kit from Shure as well.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 26, 2009 09:59 pm

well, if im to buy another condenser thats at least another $400.

and if i go a drum mic set i'll proly be up for ooh i dunno 7/800.

i guess its a matter of quality and problems. more mics more probs and will it be an overall better qual than having the just the kick and o/h's?

do i record the 2 o/h's in stereo?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Jan 27, 2009 10:05 am

Also don't forget about the option of using a MIDI controller to program your drum samples. Something that's velocity sensitive (could be a keyboard, could be one of those drum pad things). Its still cheaper than outfitting a drum kit with mics.

But I'll admit that there's nothing like the real thing. I think the toughest thing about getting a good drum sound is having a room that sounds good with those things bashing away. With the acoustic nature of drums, having the room play a part in the captured sound is huge. But if the room is too reverberant or too bassy, it can make micing drums a nightmare.

As for mics, I'd suggest using your SM57 on the snare, and then invest in a pair of SDC mics for the overheads and a kick mic.

If your budget is $700 or $800, then you could grab either a Shure or Audix kick mic plus a pair of MXL, CAD, AT, or even Rode SDC mics. I bought a pair of MXL 993 SDCs and I was surprised at how good they sound on drums. They're not excellent mics, but they really do pick up the brass of a kit very well.

I think for a first-timer drum mic setup, the fewer mics, the better. Those drum mic kits are kind of cool but that's a lot of signals to jack with. Plus the quality of the overheads and kick mics in those packages seem to suck as a general rule (I'm sure that's not true for all drum mic kits though).

Czar of Turd Polish
Member
Since: Jun 20, 2006

Jan 27, 2009 12:24 pm

I like my Audix D series mics. Although recorderman and open room sounds are fantastic in certain types of music, I need the close mics for my heavier recordings as that is what the bands want.

The only mics different for my drums are the OH's which are Rode NT5's. I ebayed my D series got all 6 for about half price of the package deal.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2009 06:08 pm

if i was to buy the audix pack i think it had 5 mics in it, could i use just my rode nt1a condenser for o/h's?

and im gatherin i would record that one mic in stereo?

id be up for 1000 dollars + to get them here.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2009 06:44 pm

i did check e bay, would like opinions on these if i could.

MKD DK8

CAD DMPT4 (4 piece) for $279aud.

1 Audix D6. $200aud.

I already have a sm57 and a rode nt1a.
should i buy a set, or try and put one together using what i have by maybe getting the Audix D6. and a couple of tom mics?

also i'll just chuck in again, can i use just one condenser for o/h's and do i record that in stereo?




Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 27, 2009 07:29 pm

Can't find the MKD DK8.

On the CAD kit, that is kind of a high price for ebay. Those kits can be had here for $99 USD, $150 AUD or less in some places and that is new kit price.

ON the Audix, that is a nice mic and works well on kicks for sure. I don't own one but have used them in the past and found it good. I know several here use them and like them.

Price is about right for a used one. If that is a new price then jump on it right off.

And yes, record the OH's as stereo or 2 separate tracks.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2009 08:44 pm

thanks for that noize.
i went down to my local music shop and they had a shure 4 pce kit there for $850. he says thats the last one at that price because of the aussie dollar and that im up for 1599 otherwise.

anyway, just wanted to run it past here before i get it. its basicly got 3 sm57's and a beta 52 for the kick.

i can then use my rode for the o/h and my other 57 for the snare.

sound cool?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 27, 2009 09:10 pm

That seems a bit steep, but it is a good kit for sure.

I can't believe how high your dollar is getting over there. The cost of stuff is huge compared to over here.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 27, 2009 11:13 pm

yeah i know, its @65cents.

but that price i mentioned is for when the dollar was at around 85/88> cents.

I dont know what that shure kit is worth over there but 850 is still pricy in comparison for what the dollar was at that point for over here.

as i said that kit and all stuff is going up like another 50%.

the numbers dont add up and i dont even need to look into it, coz i know one thing f sure, over here you spit roasted on just about everything. i think we are the highest taxed state in the world too.
makes you wonder how ive managed to buy anything at all in regards to this sort of gear.

i know i said i wouldnt look into it, but , lets go back 3 months, when our dollar was about 88 to 90 cents roughly.
what would the price have been for this shure mic kit you think? im thinking not even 500?

yet it was 999 here, im just getting it for 850. they arent passing it on but they sure as hell dont mind passing on the f****** price rise.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 28, 2009 02:04 am

i ended up buying today a 6 piece shure mic kit.

its got 2 pencil mics one for hats, one for snare, 3 tom mics and a kick mic.

anyone know these mics?

PG-52 for kick
PG-56's for toms and snare
PG-81's pencil condensers.

so that leaves me with a sm57 and a rode nt1a. so i guess i can use the rode for an ambient mic and the 57 for whatever.



Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jan 28, 2009 05:04 pm

Yep, that's a nice kit for sure. You'll like the 81's. You can use them for OH's as well if you like.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007

Jan 28, 2009 06:25 pm

oh, ok. the guy was saying to use them for snare and hats. but i thought being condensers they were only f o/h's?

wont they cop a hiding from the snare?
either way i got the xtra mics so im not gonna run out.

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