Sorted - Drum/Studio Mics

chenzman

Hi all,

as above, I’m looking to buy some sensibly priced drum/studio mics for home recording. I will likely go for close mic’ing and some curtains setup to try to control the sound of the kit as the room is not treated.

At present I have an SM57 which I understand can be used for the snare although seems to be subjective as to people liking this mic. I also have an Sm58 although don’t see this used much on drums.

Thinking along the lines of an AKG D112 for kick, Audix D2 & D4 for toms and some large diaphragm condensers for overheads which I could also use for vocals, guitars etc. 

I am of course open to suggestion and guidance for similar mics that will do a decent job.

Musically, I will be recording Punk/Rock and Metal, although flexibility would be great. Recording into a Focusrite 18i20 and Audient ID14.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers

Vince 

chenzman

Kick mic no longer needed, picked up an Audix D6. 

Still need some Tom mics and overheads. Could be open to small condensers like a set of Rode M5 or NT5 for sensible cash and then 1 x large condenser for room mic/vocals

octatonic

Have you tried the D6?
It is a *very* modern kick drum sound.
Consider something like a Beyer M88 as well for those times you don't want to sound like Nickleback.

Also consider an 'outside' kick mic. Most LDC's are a good option for this.
Before I got my U47fet I used a Rode NT1a.

For OH, SDC's are great but I really like ribbon mics. Currently using some AEA R84a's as OH's but there are cheaper ribbon mics available.

Stuckfast

Who wouldn't want to sound like Nickelback?

octatonic

Stuckfast said:

Who wouldn't want to sound like Nickelback?

LOL.
Point taken.

Stuckfast

I like ribbons as overheads too, but they can be problematic in an untreated room with a low ceiling. Not sure they'd be my first choice for metal but brilliant for a more thumpy classic rock sound.

octatonic

Stuckfast said:

I like ribbons as overheads too, but they can be problematic in an untreated room with a low ceiling. Not sure they'd be my first choice for metal but brilliant for a more thumpy classic rock sound.

Fair point.
KM84's or mics based on them are probably more of a natural fit.

chenzman

Thanks for the input gents, although some of these suggestions are probably a bit over my budget and skill set.

The Audix was recommended by a sound engineer friend of mine, who said it would work great on floor toms too, I could also use it for a bass mic if needed.

He has recommended some SDC’s for overheads (well underheads in his current home lockdown setup) plus a room LDC. He mentioned he’s using E604’s for rack toms and AKG D112 for floor Tom.

I’ve seen some se electronics se3’s going for a sensible price, are these any good?

Stuckfast

In my brief experience of the SE3s I thought they were surprisingly good, but I haven't heard them on drums.

I'm not a fan of the D112 on anything though.

octatonic

Stuckfast said:

In my brief experience of the SE3s I thought they were surprisingly good, but I haven't heard them on drums.

I'm not a fan of the D112 on anything though.

Also not a fan of the D112.
I genuinely can't fathom how this became popular.

chenzman

Any recommendations for Tom mics, at a sensible price?

John_P

chenzman said:

Any recommendations for Tom mics, at a sensible price?

As I mentioned by email I now use e604's for toms and they are great if you pick up used ones - if you buy new then a 3 pack works out a good deal rather than buying them separately.   
For super cheap mics I like the shure pg pack - much better than pg vocal mics and very useable imo but I wouldn't go any cheaper.   

octatonic

Probably Audix D2 and D4's.
D2 on rack toms, D4's on floor toms.

I've also used Audio Technica ATM25, Electro-voice RE20, Sennheiser MD421, CAD M179.

AKG 414 and Neumann U87 are good floor tom options too, I know they will be out of budget but worth mentioning.

chenzman

John_P said:

chenzman said:

Any recommendations for Tom mics, at a sensible price?

As I mentioned by email I now use e604's for toms and they are great if you pick up used ones - if you buy new then a 3 pack works out a good deal rather than buying them separately.   
For super cheap mics I like the shure pg pack - much better than pg vocal mics and very useable imo but I wouldn't go any cheaper.   

Thanks John, just responded to your email. I’ll check out the PG pack but may go the E604 route if I can find some 2nd hand

Stuckfast

Not sure if you can still get the ATM25 new but I'd agree that's a good drum mic, works well on kick drum also. RE20s are cool but they cost an arm and a leg and they are huge.

My favourite dynamic mics on most drums are the old AKG D-series -- D202 on kick and/or floor tom, D224 or D19 on other toms. They are long discontinued and not very robust but you can sometimes pick them up quite cheaply on eBay. I bought a 202 for about 50 quid the other week.

octatonic

Stuckfast said:

Not sure if you can still get the ATM25 new but I'd agree that's a good drum mic, 

Only in Japan, I think.
There are always loads on eBay.

robinbowes

I've collected a few mics over the last couple of years for my PA. I've ended up with the following:

Kick: Sennheiser e902 - I deliberately went for this as it is more natural sounding than others, esp. the D6.
Snare: Beyerdynamic M201 - a great general purpose mic. I'm looking for another one of these as I gave mine to our drummer as a leaving present. Also use Shure SM57 - another versatile mic.
Hi-hat: This is next on my purchase list. I'm not sure what I'll get, but I currently use an SM57, which is surprisingly effective.
Toms: Sennheiser e904 - love these on toms. I have three.
Overhead: Presonus SD7 small diaphragm condenser. I had these from a PreSonus FireStudio Mobile Recording Pack I picked up relatively cheaply some time ago. They're surprisingly good. I'm pretty sure they're rebadged Samson C02s.

R.

octatonic

Beyer M201 is my preferred snare mic.
If I can't use that I use an Audix i5.
SM57's are another mic I don't really see the appeal with.

OP- sorry, I seem to have derailed your WTB thread.

chenzman

octatonic said:

Beyer M201 is my preferred snare mic.
If I can't use that I use an Audix i5.
SM57's are another mic I don't really see the appeal with.

OP- sorry, I seem to have derailed your WTB thread.

Haha no worries, as I say I’m finding my feet with all this so suggestions are more than welcome 

chenzman

robinbowes said:

I've collected a few mics over the last couple of years for my PA. I've ended up with the following:

Kick: Sennheiser e902 - I deliberately went for this as it is more natural sounding than others, esp. the D6.
Snare: Beyerdynamic M201 - a great general purpose mic. I'm looking for another one of these as I gave mine to our drummer as a leaving present. Also use Shure SM57 - another versatile mic.
Hi-hat: This is next on my purchase list. I'm not sure what I'll get, but I currently use an SM57, which is surprisingly effective.
Toms: Sennheiser e904 - love these on toms. I have three.
Overhead: Presonus SD7 small diaphragm condenser. I had these from a PreSonus FireStudio Mobile Recording Pack I picked up relatively cheaply some time ago. They're surprisingly good. I'm pretty sure they're rebadged Samson C02s.

R.

Thanks for your input Robin

WiresDreamDisasters

What's your budget vince?