Topmusicanswers
- What is the best way to mic drums?
- How Many Mics do you need for drums?
- What kind of mics do you use for drums?
- How do you mic and mix drums?
What is the best way to mic drums?
Put the mic between 1″–3″ off the outer head. Placing a boundary mic on a pillow inside the kick is the simplest option if you have a hole in the resonant head. It keeps the bleed from other drums and cymbals to a minimum and will give you lots of impact.
How Many Mics do you need for drums?
Microphone setups for recording drums
| N | Stereo Mics | Spot / Close Mics |
|---|---|---|
| 6-12 | Stereo overhead microphones | One or more microphones for each of the drums in the kit |
| 8-20 | Stereo overhead microphones | One or more microphones on each of the drums in the kit Microphones positioned close to each group of cymbals |
What kind of mics do you use for drums?
Beyond that, the SM57 has long been the go-to microphone for snare drums. For toms, Sennheiser 421 dynamics are extremely prevalent. And the Electro-Voice RE20, the AKG D12 and D112, and the Shure Beta 52A, all of which are dynamic mics, are common models for miking bass drums.
How do you mic and mix drums?
Balance each drum together until the whole drum set sounds natural. Once you have your drum set balanced, you need to balance the drums with the rest of the mix. Unsolo your drum bus, turn the volume all the way down, and slowly mix it in. One trick is to make sure you're doing this during the loudest part of the song.
