I think I need drum mics...

Our singer just got a Tascam multi-channel interface to make our homegrown album. We've got like 12 channels at once to work with... Killer!

Before we just mixed down a couple overheads to get the drum sound, but it was weak and hard to manipulate.

This time we were able to get two small diaphragm condensers overhead, a large diaphragm in front of the kick. But we only had a vintage sm58 on the snare, and two cheap behringer mics for the two toms.

It definitely sounded a whole lot better than before, but I we're all wondering if it'll be so much better with actual drum mics on my kit.

I know a lot of you aren't a fan of close micing every drum, and we're mostly going with the overhead sound, but we want the ability to bring out a little of each drum too to get a great clean full sound.

My question is if it would be noticeably better to replace these vocal mics with drum mics, and if so what should I go with?

There seems to be quite a few interesting mic packs that have the number of mics I need for under $100. But there's also quite a few well over $100.

Any experience?

Naturally, I'm a broke musician and would like to go with the less expensive options, but I don't want to waste my money either.

Now it's up to you, don't let me down!

57's are a little more directional, common for snare. Drum mics are good, but any set of mics for around a hundred isn't going to sound much better than that 58. I will say I'm happy with my audiopile set, although they don't offer it anymore. I think you should shop used, or save up for the mid-level shure or audix sets. Or if you can find a used set somewhere http://www.audiopile.net/products/Microphones/DK6_Drum_mic_kit/DK-6_cutsheet.shtml

I remember reading the 57 and 58 are the same mic design, just a different ball cover.

I wonder if I can use that to my advantage. Either way I would assume the Behringer mics have tons of room for improvement.

The kit you're suggesting looks pretty sweet. $180 doesn't seem too bad either. Is that what I should expect to pay for a decent mic set of other brands? Shure? Audio-Technica? CAD?

the audix fusions range from 3-400.

We used 57

Yeah, there's always a few 57's here on CL for about $40.

I'm guessing it'd be the most economical route just to get a few SM57's and go with those?

i've heard good things about the audix fusions but i would go for the SM57's.

anyone have anything against CAD mics? i've used them a few times and have liked them. they seem pretty good quality for the prices. i worked for a guitar store that carried them when they first came out, and i couldn't believe the prices for the product. i know they've gone up a bit, but if i were you, i'd look into those.

a friend of mine used them for a couple of recordings and they didn't sound half bad. pretty good for the money i reckon.

I would go the 57 route. If you buy the "Shure Microphone Drum Package".. it's like 4 57's and a Beta 52. They just jack the price up because... well.... it's a package!

When I first came on these boards, you were on one of two sides... The people who used the Shures, or the people who thought that "all drum recordings done with Shures sound like drum recordings done by Shures."

That and the whole acoustic vs. electric debate.

Not exactly.

You also get a cheap plastic case and 3 very expensive drum rim clamps, the A56D. These run about $35 each and are the best clamps I've ever used/owned, and I've worked with most all types available.

A USED Shure SM57/52 drum mic kit is what to look for on ebay, $250-300. Too bad about the EWI drum mic kit being dropped at www.audiopile.net. nice for a cheap set. The lower Audix Fusion line gets great props for it's cost. I USED to use SM57s around on top but now use a bunch of Audix i5s I picked up used one at a time. SM57s are great workhorse mics BUT that plastic cap doesn't mate well with drumsticks ;>( The i5s don't have just screens, they have a slotted metal sheild for heads. The Audix D6 wins for me for kick, great sound but mostly for ease of placement over it's competitors.

Boomerweps

Grem, I would either snag a couple of the 57's you see on CL or get on ebay and find a cheap set of Sennheiser e604's. The 604's would be awesome for you because they are great for recording AND live. You should be able to get 3 for around $200.

The 58 you have will do the job on the snare, but I tend to find that the 57 works better on drums because the different windscreen on the 58 seems to make it VERY sensitive to slight changes in placement with respect to the head. The 57 is much more forgiving. You don't want to lay down the track and then find that the cumulative effect of a little noise here and a little noise there ruined your take.

As for the close-mic'ing issue. You can always leave out the close mic tracks after you record them. You can't add them in after you leave them out though. Over-include when you record. Be selective in the mix.

I have a CAD kit I've used live every once in a while. Since then I've come across some 57's used. I use them live on my congas and bongos and have gotten compliments on the sound of those drums. I haven't used the CAD's enough to get any feed back about how they sound. Although no one said they sounded bad.

Also, mf had a CAD kick mic on the stupid deal site I picked up for like $50 that sounds pretty good.

hope that helps

Audix Drum Mics are the best. They are the only kind I carry on my Drum store web site. We have several new packages and I believe I priced them competitively.

If the price is not to your liking, let me know. Here is the link to check it out.

DrumCityUSA

Bob at Drum City USA

they must be the best. after all, you said so.

and what would you have to gain from a statement like that???

whore.

Hey Bob,

Cool it with the SPAM!

It might be helpful if you posted more than just what drumcity has to sell. Myself and most others here would be more apt to listen to what you have to sell if we knew more of what you had to say.

Been playing for 30-years and have cut numerous Cd's. Always liked the Audix for recording. Just trying to be helpful. Always best to shop around.

If you do your homework and want Audix, let me know.

Bob

With respect to Audix, I can say that I find the i5's to be slightly hotter SM-57's and very respectable. The D6 is a solid kick mic with good low end. I'm still partial to Shure, but if you can find Audix on the cheap, you can certainly put the i5's into the mix with essentially the same effect as the 57's.

Unless you have a really good room, really good drums, and a really good engineer/mixer, I would get two of the best large diaphragm condenser mics you can afford, put them over the drums in Recorderman style, and put an SM57 on the snare drum and one inside the kick drum (or a dedicated bass drum mic if you're feeling kinky).

If you're broke, try a pair of MXL V67's...I hear very good things. I loved my NT2's, but those are $800 a pair. V67's are $200 a pair.

I found small diaphragm condensers sound accurate, but not good on overheads. The large diaphragm models sound bigger and warmer, and can elminate the need for tom mics with the right setup, tuning, and playing. Tom mics can beef things up, but they can add phase and noise issues. And play with the phase of the tracks when mixing.

This setup works REALLY WELL with a 57 on the snare and an AKG D112 on the kick. I do it with a pair of Groove Tubes GT-67's as my LDC overheads.

BTW, I use an old 20" Rogers bass drum with a single head that's on a stand (when I play percussion, I hit it with a marching mallet). I mic'd it one time when we played a venue big enough - with a 57. And it sounded kick ass. I had the mic kinda hot without knowing it and everyone in the band freaked cuz it sounded so good. I mean the low end shook the walls of that place.

I'm not saying you should use the 57 on your kick, but it is a good mic.

I wouldn't be unhappy with four SM57's for recording. Pretty much all of Chad Smith's drums were miked with SM57's (including overheads) on Blood Sugar Sex Magic...a great punchy drum sound.

As usual, I'll pimp my YouTube video. It has ONE SM57 overhead with a little EQ, compression, and reverb:

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

The more mics you use, the harder you have to work to get it to sound good, and the better your equipment, playing, room, and experience needs to be.

Just close mic with 57's and be happy

Yes. Sennheiser e604's.

As suggested, you can find Shure drum mic packs on ebay for a couple hundred bones, and its a steal considering you get 3 57's, 3 drum clamps (which are worth their weight in gold), and the venerable Beta 52. This is handy for most any home studio because 57's are a workhorse, and the 52 does great on a lot of things. You can get amazing tones and timbres out of just about every instrument. I prefer Audio-Technica ATM650's as my workhorse mic, but sadly I don't see them on ebay selling in packs for a couple hundred dollars.

Pick up a real kick drum mic, like an Audix D6, Shure Beta 52A, A-T ATM250, or Sennheiser e602.

I love to use a Heil PR40 on kick drum, but since I don't own one (yet) I use an Audix D6.

I use Audio-Technica AE5100's on hats and OH.

I use an Audio-Technica ATM650 for the snare... THE best snare mic I've heard. ever.

I use Sennheiser e604's on toms, they're great.