How To Mic A Drum Set

It is time that mic your drum set if you are planning to be part of a recording group, or if you are planning to showcase your drumming skills before a large audience. This will permit the sound of the drums to be heard in details and also ensure that the sound is not lost along with that emitted by the other instruments. In general, people just set up a mic in front of the drum set but it damages the sound quality.

Prior to going ahead with the task, it is vital to choose a suitable microphone which is available as either condenser or dynamic type. For toms, bass, and snares one should opt for the dynamic microphone whose advantage is that it rejects sounds coming from behind. Apart from this, it needs no power source to work. {The condenser mic requires a power supply and it is more sensitive than a dynamic one and can therefore reproduce details faithfully.|The condenser mic needs a power supply, is more sensitive, and therefore replicate details faithfully.|Because of its sensitive nature, the condenser mic can therefore reproduce details realistically, but it needs a power supply.

Setting the mic inside with its head at 45º right or left from the center is the best option for the bass drum. The advantages are definition and weight of the sound, plus isolation from outside noise. Since a pair of microphones permit capturing a stereophonic image of the kit without any phasing problems it is best to use them for the kit. Set up the microphone on top of the snare with the head pointing towards its center to reproduce its sound properly.

The settings for the tom are the same but the head of the mics should be brought closer. For the hi-hats put the mic on the side and 2" to 3" away. This covers the basic options of setting up mics for the drum set. However, one should also look at the advanced options. We had set up a mic on top of the snare which is sufficient to catch its sound, but the sizzle sound of the snare wires can only be captured if a mic is set below the snare drum with its head parallel to the snare wires.

An enormous difference to the sound of the drum can be made by placing a sub mic in front of the bass drum. It is suggested that you buy these mics from music stores who are knowledgeable in this and can consequently provide you with appropriate mics.

By: Alex Lynskey

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