Micing a drum kit with 3 mics?!?!

google glyn johns method then play like john bonham

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There are two options that stand out. Two overheads and kick or one overhead, kick and snare. As all three of your mics are different maybe go for the kick snare and overhead approach.

By getting the kick and snare if the music goes rocky or into a style where it would be good to have kick and snare  then you have got them covered. One overhead works fine as well. The stereo created by two oveheads while nice is not absolutely necessary either. In fact mono overhead removes many phase issues and the like.

I would put the SM57 on the snare and use the condensers for overhead and kick. Most decent condensers will cope with the kick drum. Is there a hole in the front head of the kick? If so you can get a little inside for better isolation.

Remember tune the drums, that is more important than any mic technique. Get the drums sounding great first.

It does depend a fair bit on the genre of music you are recording. You have to think ahead to the mix process. If it is a style of music that really needs the kick and snare separate then my approach is better. But for a more acoustic or an open style where the drums could be more ambient than Dave's approach is nice too. But remember with Dave's approach the snare is not being close miked anywhere and you wont have that sound and you will have a hard time isolating it (if you need to that is)

At first I thought maybe the 57 in the kick was not so good but on reflection I think it is a fine choice. I have used a 58 on kicks very well and in this capacity there would not be a lot between the 58 and 57. A mic model program is handy too. I have turned 58's into beta 52's very well and it can sound great.

I don't agree with the 57 not being good for toms. Although now I realise that Dave is talking about it being used a bit further away from the toms and he may be right. I have not tried that. But for close miking it is one of the best tom mics on the planet. I have used it for years on toms and never complained. It does a good job of picking up the tom it is aimed at and rejecting other spill quite well.

If you have got the chance try some tests and see what you like best.

Although the mics are differnet, I've had great success with two LCD's for overheads and a nice PZM (not the cheaper soundgrabber but that might still work) on a wooden floor in front of the kick.  I try to place them in an equal lateral triangle.  Can deliver a nice, full sound with natural stereo.

I don't agree with the 57 not being good for toms.

The 57 is great for toms - close up. Its narrow pickup pattern and poor off-axis frequency response make it less suitable for wide sources. Cian only has one of them, so the kick drum is the most logical place for the 57.

batsbrew, I read all of your links except the last one for some reason and that has a load of **** in it, thanks,almost too many options to be honest.

I actually tried it out today, i ended up using the sm57 for the snare and the at202o for the kick,mmm the kick is a bit muddy and all thudm the snare ok. the nt1a done its job way back though.

Cian