Drum Mic Kit

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BMOG
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2012/10/04 13:08:07 (permalink)

Drum Mic Kit

I am looking ot purchase a middle of the road Drum Mic Kit but not sure what route to go.  What mic kits are you using and how do you like the results?
post edited by BMOG - 2012/10/05 07:49:30
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    IK Obi
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/04 15:30:48 (permalink)
    Don't buy a kit. Buy individual mics that can cover many bases. Plus some of the best drum recordings out there were made with fewer mics than come in kits. A few questions: Do you have any mics? What is your space like you'll be recording drums in? What is your budget?
    #2
    IK Obi
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/04 15:32:25 (permalink)
    A few recommendations out the gate before you even answer any quetsions: Shure sm57/Audix i5 for toms/snare Decent pair of overheads - depends on what you'd want. SDC/LDC or even dynamics. You can even do mono over head. But at minimum a decent pair of overheads, a snare and a kick mic should get you pretty far. The RE20 or Shure SM7B are great dynamics for kick.
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    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/04 17:12:20 (permalink)
    I have a  RODE NT1A-P Condenser Microphone and Behringer Ultravoice XM8500.  I was looking around the $300 range for a budget hoping that would get me close to mid grade quality.  I have read in other forums the same answer you gave which was build your own set of mics to use for the drums.  I am using the drums in a bedroom that I use for my studio.  
    IK Obi


    Don't buy a kit. Buy individual mics that can cover many bases. Plus some of the best drum recordings out there were made with fewer mics than come in kits. A few questions: Do you have any mics? What is your space like you'll be recording drums in? What is your budget?


    #4
    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/04 17:27:15 (permalink)

    Sorry for dumb question but what does SDC/LDC stand for?

    IK Obi


    A few recommendations out the gate before you even answer any quetsions: Shure sm57/Audix i5 for toms/snare Decent pair of overheads - depends on what you'd want. SDC/LDC or even dynamics. You can even do mono over head. But at minimum a decent pair of overheads, a snare and a kick mic should get you pretty far. The RE20 or Shure SM7B are great dynamics for kick.


    #5
    quantumeffect
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/04 23:07:34 (permalink)
    SDC – small diaphragm condenser (e.g., sm81)
    LDC – large diaphragm condenser (e.g., AKG 414)


    What is your budget?

    Dave

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    AT
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/04 23:45:05 (permalink)
    Personally, I'd rather have fewer good mics than a slew of so-so mics.  You can mic a drum kit w/ three mics (or less), often w/ much less headache than multimic'ing.

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    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 07:36:47 (permalink)
    I was thinking around $300 but I realize I may have a another issue with micing drums my Motu only has to condensor mic inputs and from what you have guys have been teaching I may need 3 one for kick and 2 for the over heads  http://futuremusic.com/blog/2008/07/21/motu-announces-ultralite-mk3/  Here is a layout of the new model but the output setup is the same
     
    quantumeffect


    SDC – small diaphragm condenser (e.g., sm81)
    LDC – large diaphragm condenser (e.g., AKG 414)


    What is your budget?


    #8
    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 07:47:04 (permalink)
    Here is an interesting article on my situation https://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=131327
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    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 07:49:52 (permalink)
     I may have to go old school and use my Mackie 1202-VLZ3 mixer don't have money to get mics and a new pre amp with more inputs
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    IK Obi
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 13:11:38 (permalink)
    Using what you have now and your budget I'd focus on getting a solid kick mic, then a solid snare mic and finally a decent pair of over heads last as you can use your Rode as a mono over head for the time being and the Behringer dynamic as a snare mic in a pinch. The good thing is if you go with any of the mics I listed earlier they are useful on guitars, vocals, horns, percussion, bass and more. Jack of all trade mics.
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    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 13:19:43 (permalink)

    I think I will go this route and take my time gathering what I need.  I feel I have tolook for a pre-amp as well and people wonder why we charge what we charge to do a project for them, they have no idea how money is invested in to quality equipment 
    IK Obi


    Using what you have now and your budget I'd focus on getting a solid kick mic, then a solid snare mic and finally a decent pair of over heads last as you can use your Rode as a mono over head for the time being and the Behringer dynamic as a snare mic in a pinch. The good thing is if you go with any of the mics I listed earlier they are useful on guitars, vocals, horns, percussion, bass and more. Jack of all trade mics.


    #12
    digi2ns
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 18:00:12 (permalink)
    What interface are ya using to come into your computer with (How many inputs?)

    As IK suggested Id shoot for the I5 or SM57 for a good all around mic but as for the drums, snare and toms.

    A decent kick mic Id also look at a D6 or AKG d112.  Can usually get them for around $100 off eBay-Just watch who your buying from.

    The D112 and a SM57 would only set ya back 200 and then maybe get a set of Samson C02's for you overheads.  All in all a good little setup for a small project studio (Just the 4 will do ya good.  


    Was going to also suggest running all mics to your mackie if you have direct outs, use that then go to your interface from there.  I do it through a mackie 1604 VLZ Pro
    post edited by digi2ns - 2012/10/05 18:02:18


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    #13
    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 18:35:38 (permalink)
    quantumeffect


    SDC – small diaphragm condenser (e.g., sm81)
    LDC – large diaphragm condenser (e.g., AKG 414)


    What is your budget?

    Is there an advantage to either size?
    #14
    BMOG
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 18:38:58 (permalink)
    digi2ns


    What interface are ya using to come into your computer with (How many inputs?)

    As IK suggested Id shoot for the I5 or SM57 for a good all around mic but as for the drums, snare and toms.

    A decent kick mic Id also look at a D6 or AKG d112.  Can usually get them for around $100 off eBay-Just watch who your buying from.

    The D112 and a SM57 would only set ya back 200 and then maybe get a set of Samson C02's for you overheads.  All in all a good little setup for a small project studio (Just the 4 will do ya good.  


    Was going to also suggest running all mics to your mackie if you have direct outs, use that then go to your interface from there.  I do it through a mackie 1604 VLZ Pro
    I am using Moto Ultralite MK3



    #15
    gibsongs
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/05 19:08:50 (permalink)
     a bit more money but: Sennheiser 421's toms EV RE20 Bass Shure SM57 snare AKG 451s High Hats and Overheads ....oh and John Bonham on the seat
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    quantumeffect
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/06 09:22:05 (permalink)
    Both large and small diaphragm mic’s are in common use for overheard drum mic’ing.

    For many years I used two Shure SM81’s over my drum kit and if I had to make a recommendation for a pair of reasonable priced, well respected condensers (for this application) … I would say get two SM81’s but at about $350 each, I think you are already over budget.

    I don’t have any personal experience recording with two overhead large diaphragm condensers but a model that will often come up in discussion is the AKG 414 (in its various forms). But now you are in the ballpark of 2 grand for a pair.

    When comparing SDC and LDC mic’s, engineers with a lot more experience than me (I am not an engineer just a hobbyist) ... will talk about transient response and frequency response.  A review for a SMC might discuss how well it captures cymbal detail (transient response) and a review of a LDC might discuss how nicely the toms and bass drum are presented.

    Currently, and just to convolute matters even more, I am using a pair of Beyerdynamic M160 ribbon mics.
    post edited by quantumeffect - 2012/10/06 09:39:02

    Dave

    8.5 PE 64, i7 Studio Cat, Delta 1010, GMS and Ludwig Drums, Paiste Cymbals

    "Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact." H. Simpson

    "His chops are too righteous."  Plankton during Sponge Bob's guitar solo 
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    quantumeffect
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/06 09:31:20 (permalink)

    Using what you have now and your budget I'd focus on getting a solid kick mic, then a solid snare mic and finally a decent pair of over heads last as you can use your Rode as a mono over head for the time being and the Behringer dynamic as a snare mic in a pinch.


    This is really good advice.

    If it was me and I was on a $300 budget, I would get an AKG D112 for the bass drum, a Shure SM57 for the snare and use the RODE NT1A as a mono overhead (with the eventual goal of upgrading to a pair of nice SDC overheads).
    post edited by quantumeffect - 2012/10/06 09:40:12

    Dave

    8.5 PE 64, i7 Studio Cat, Delta 1010, GMS and Ludwig Drums, Paiste Cymbals

    "Everyone knows rock n' roll attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact." H. Simpson

    "His chops are too righteous."  Plankton during Sponge Bob's guitar solo 
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    IK Obi
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    Re:Drum Mic Kit 2012/10/06 17:10:13 (permalink)
    LDC/SDC are really all about what sound your after. Another great sleeper mic for overheads and toms are the CAD M179s. Can be had relatively cheap at 150ish each and are workhorses in the studio.
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