Had this laying around, and thought I'd put it in here for reference on large dynamics for kick drum.

Audio Technica ATM-25– I really like the AT mics, both the ATM-25 and the Pro 25. They give a really nice definition with not a lot of fuss. If you're just starting to learn to mic drums and are building a mic collection, I would recommend this mic [ or the Red5 Audio RVD-1 if you're in the UK ]. Good for classic rock and pop.

AKG D-112 – I like this mic for hard rock. Very solid, round tone can easily be had with this mic. I also like this mic for jazz – where the point is to often get this fluffy, shitty kick sound. This mic is forgiving on less-than-perfect kick drums.

Beta52 – this is a good mic if you're going for an in-your-face sound. It picks up "clicks" well for heavy metal [ metal washer duct taped to kick head at point of impact and struck with a wooden beater ]. Also good for R&B and Hip Hop. It's not the most musical kick mic, but it does pack a punch. There's a sort of a "honk" to it, and I wouldn't recommend for general kick miking purposes unless you want more "smack" than "boom". Good on tight kicks.

EV RE20 – This is a classic and probably my fav kick mic when it works and least favorite when it doesn't. This mic will make a really good well-tuned kick sound great, but wouldn't help the less-than-perfect kick sound as much. It's pretty flat and very unforgiving. This is the one mic that you'll find you get more use out of than just kick drum. It can make a great vox mic on the right voice.

Red5 Audio RVD-1 - a new up and comer. Really nicely defined tone - and picks up the low-end well. Great pop and rock kick mic.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions

[This message was edited by Dot on 10-04-03 at 01:13 AM.]

Thanks Dan,

I've been considering either a Beta 52 or a D- 112 as my first kick/bass mic. After reading this post it's sounding (pun intended) like I'll go with the D-112.

Rocky

Just out of curiousity... for those that have done recordings for jazz trios (drums/piano/upright)...

What specific mics did you prefer on the drums?


Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

The Audio-Technica ATM25 is a nice mic. It works for male dialog as well as we're finding out.

I love the EV RE20. We've had some problems getting all the gain I'd want on it from certain preamps. But, we've been doing dialog. It'd be different with kick.

Here's an interesting kick mic: http://www.audio-technica.com/prodpro/profiles/AE2500.html

--Steve, publisher of Mojo Pie
www.mojopie.com

DOT.

How would you rate the D25 then? I will be using mine soon for the first time on kick and the other one on floor tom as reccommended! How forgiving are they? What sort of sound will it produce? I'm hoping for a full, punchy 70's Jazz-funk sound.

I tried it on vocals today and it sounded pretty sweet!!

kane, I've never used a D25.

Bruce, I'd use what was there. : )

Most of the time on kick it's a D112 or a D12, which I think hold up pretty well as I mentioned on the more traditional jazz kick sound - where you go for this loose fluffy sound. But instead of putting the mic inside the kick, I'd pull it back 2-3' a little off center of the kick. And you can also get the kind of sound that Jazzooo prefers - which is a tighter, more R&B kick. Not sure what mics he uses, but he'll probably pop in here and shed some light on it.

On toms, good ol' Sennheiser M421's have done the job for years, and are still a classic tom mic. Recently, I, Jazzooo and a other engineers have really been going nuts for Studio Projects B series mics on toms - and that's for all kinds of music. Brian McKenzie, who's heavily involved with The Listening Sessions, is nuts about the B3 on floor tom - and I agree. Jazzooo likes the TB-1 on his rack toms. I would have no qualms about putting all B's on the toms for a serious recording session - and that may very well happen and the jazz sessions Jazzooo and I are doing together in early November.

Snare, hmmm, could be 57, RE20, RE27, TLM103. 103 is one of my fav snare mics in the last few years. Ideally, I'd probably go with an RE on top and a 103 on the bottom.

OH, 414's probably would be my default choice. But there's others - KM84's, Microtech Gefell M95's, 87's.

Tons of choices, really.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions

[This message was edited by Dot on 10-02-03 at 12:44 AM.]

I haven't done a lot of jazz before - but I'm working wqith a trio now, so I wondered if there were any favoriates different from the "typical" stuff used in pop/rock....

Thanks for the insight, Dot!


Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

Bruce, what do you have in your mic cabinet?

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions

For what it's worth...I just love bragging about my E/V ND868 kick mic. Good all around kick mic that doesn't overly color the sound, yet gives you everything you need in the mix. I find the eq curves to be a lot smoother in the mix, no real offensive cuts need to be made.

Warren

Some Tuneage I recorded for a friend (me on drums / piano).
My Piano Stuff (fun screw around stuff)IUMA Page

Today's stars are tomorrow's meteor fragments.

I got a Sennheiser e602. It goes "bwwooomf". Hope that helps you all

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dot:
Bruce, what do you have in your mic cabinet?

---

This is what's in my mic closet right now -
• AKG D112
• AKG D12 (vintage)
• AKG 451B (2)
• Audio-Technica 4033 SE
• Audio-Technica 4041
• BeyerDynamic M160
• BeyerDynamic M69
• Groove Tubes AM51
• Marshall MXL2001
• Rode NT2
• Shure Beta 57
• Shure SM57 (5)
• Shure SM58
• Studio Projects C1


And the following setup usually gives me very good results:

Kick - D112 or D12, depending
Snare - AM51 or a 57, depending
OH - 451s
HH - 4041
Toms - SM57s

Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

quote:

---

I've been considering either a Beta 52 or a D- 112 as my first kick/bass mic. After reading this post it's sounding (pun intended) like I'll go with the D-112.

Rocky

---

I found a Beta 52 for $150 and couldn't resist.


Rocky

"And you can also get the kind of sound that Jazzooo prefers - which is a tighter, more R&B kick. Not sure what mics he uses, but he'll probably pop in here and shed some light on it."

Oktava MK012s as overheads
C1 on snare (love it, recommend it)
B1 on hi hats and toms (love it, recommend it)
ATM25 on kick (love it, recommend it)
I have been using the TB1 on my rack toms, but I this weekend I'm going to switch over to two B1s and see how I like it.

Bruce, what are you recording the piano with? Is it a piano trio?

www.dougrobinson.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jazzooo:
Bruce, what are you recording the piano with? Is it a piano trio?

---

The guy's using a Yamamha Clavinova-type thing... not too bad, but not quite the real thing... it's DI'd - as is the bass (electric)...

Talented players though... their timing is unbeleivable!

C1 on snare, eh? Haven't tried that....


Bruce Valeriani
Blue Bear Sound

"C1 on snare, eh? Haven't tried that...."

I think it's a very realistic sound, and I especially like it with brush work or blasticks. Then again, I have no complaints with sticks either.

www.dougrobinson.com

Guy's,

If you're using just a 3 or 4 mic setup (OH's,Kick, Snare) would you choose a large diaphram mic for OH's?

I have only done a few recordings and usually my decision on OH's are made before recordings since I need to be quick.

The last time I recorded I used some Earthworks SR-71's for OH's. It was in a church with high ceilings and I keep wondering what I would have gotten with my C1's or B3's?

So how has your experience influenced your choices?

If it's by ear each time than what do you look for in a given scenerio?

Thanks
conga

“...that there’s something wrong with the world, you don’t know what it is, but it’s there...”

Morpheus – The Matrix

http://www.machinesound.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by congalocke:

If you're using just a 3 or 4 mic setup (OH's,Kick, Snare) would you choose a large diaphram mic for OH's?

---

Most definitely! Good LDC's we've used:

AKG 414 B-ULS
AT 4040
Red5 Audio RV8
Oktava MK-319
Studio Projects B1

Here's a thread on LDC's on OH's I posted at homerec.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions

quote:

---

Hey Rocky, with that set-up I might use something like this:

1-Shure KSM 27 - on kick drum out about 2' from the drum
1-Oktava mc 12 - as a single overhead 6' above the drummer's right knee.
2-Shure sm57 - 1 57 on snare top,
1-Shure sm 58 - room mic out 6' - 10' from kit

1-2 channel presonus blue tube pre - I'd used these for the 57 on snare and the kick mic
1-2 channel aphex tube essence 107 pre - I'd use this for the drum overhead and room mic.

---

Hey Dot. Since the last time I solicited drum mic advice from you, I have added a second MC-12 and a beta 52 to my mic closet. In addition to the above pres, I have two more pres in my Roland digital board. What do ya think?

Rocky

Ha! Hey, Rocky. Did I write that? : )

Sounds like a good selection. You could pick up a few SP B1's cheap and have great tom mics. And try using the the KSM27 on the snare.

Dan Richards
Digital Pro Sound
The Listening Sessions

Dan (or anyone else, for that matter)-

Any opinion or experience with CAD drum mics? I needed to pick up a set of drum mics quickly, and these were the only thing that fit in the budget.

I tend to avoid buying stuff until I can afford what I really want, but in this case, I had to do something fast.