Sound Advice by Leon Sievers Sound Professional April 01, 2008

Toms

Similar to snare micing, only with more of an angle perpendicular to the floor (or head). Even if I have concert toms, I do not mic from the bottom or inside, as there can be problems picking up all of the audio from floor monitors.

Overheads

Up over the cymbals, left and right (I use two), on stage right between the ride cymbal and 1st crash aimed a little towards the other cymbals upstage. On stage left, over the 1st crash, aimed a little towards the other cymbals upstage.

Hi-Hat

Over the hat almost perpendicular to the floor but aimed upstage a bit.

Equalization

Kick

Generally, I roll off 600-800hz about 6-10db, and boost a tiny little 3.5k for some snap (if it's needed). You may have to noodle around with 2k a bit to keep the punch, but lose the harshness.

Snare

I usually cut 1k about 3db, and roll off anything under 600hz using the high pass filter, in the mids only. Then I select the 80Hz or 100Hz shelf if it's available.

Toms

Very similar to the bass drum settings, only you have to cut the low end to cut down on the sustain of the tom, especially if the drummer doesn't use any muffling. If the low end cut isn't enough and the toms are out of control, I insert a gate compressor and set the gate at it's fastest attack with the release point sounding as natural as possible (just like the drum sustain sounds to the drummer), and I compress it about 3:1.

Overheads-HiHat

Generally I roll off anything below 2k using the high pass filter, or just turning the mids and low EQ's all the way down, and then I select 4k or 5k and boost it 3db-6db. I also select the 80hz-100hz shelf. This works if you want to get the nice high end of the cymbals only, but sometimes I open up the mids a bit if I need to hear some ambience of the toms in these channels too, like if the drummer is using brushes, or Pro Mark Hot Rod type multi dowel sticks. In addition to the above, I have also had success using ONLY a kick mic, and ONE overhead if mics or channels are limited.

Another successful action for me, (but only in venues with carpeted stages) has been to lay a Shure SM-57 on the floor on the beater head side of the bass drum, under the snare, and then used ONE overhead. You'll be amazed how well this works. Don't be afraid to move the mics around and listen to see what sounds best to you. Keep in mind that you are amplifying the sound of the drum kit that has been made available to you. If the kit already sounds bad, you will just end up with a LOUDER bad sounding kit. On he other hand, radical EQ'ing can really make up for a lot, and "create" a good sounding drum kit.

The key to getting a good drum mix is experimentation with the available microphones and various positions. Take the time during rehearsal to implement different configurations and find the one that works for best for you. Experimentation can be fun and the sound can be surprising, nonetheless I hope that these suggestions inevitably provide you with better results.

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A question for audiophile recording Hi Leon,I just finish reading your article on drum micing. I was wondering what you would recommend for a audiophile recording where proper phasing and time delays are critical to create the soundstage during reproduction.Blesssings,John...more Submitted by: John White Location: Orange, CA
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