Mic'ing Drums - For Live Performance -

©Gordy Gale 

Microphone selection.

This is a very subjective area, and every engineer (and drummer) has his or her preferences. Here is a list of commonly used mics and their applications, not in any particular order.  See some here

Kick

  AKG D-112E, or the earlier D-12E. Electrovoice RE-20, Beyer M-88, Sennheiser MD-421U, Shure Beta-52, Shure SM-91(regular or beta versions), Audio Technica AT-4060. 

Snare

Shure SM-57, or SM-56 (same as 57 but has tilt mount), Audio Technica AT-4053, Audix D-3, AKG D-1000E.

Toms

Sennheiser MD-421U, Sennheiser E-604, Shure SM 98 (or 98-A), AKG 408, Ramsa S-5, Audio Technica AT-4053

Overheads-HiHat

Shure SM-81, AKG 451, or 460, Audio Technica AT-4051.

Placement

Now let's talk placement. These would be starting places but actual placement would depend on how it SOUNDS, now how it looks. And you also have to take into account the comfort for the drummer (as big mics can be intimidating to relaxed playing), and what kind of kit set up present, and what kind of stands you are using.  

Kick

If there is a hole cut into the front bass drum head, then the mic is inserted about 2" inside the hole and aimed just off center to the beater. If there is no front head, then place the mic inside the drum about 1 foot in front of the strike head again aimed just off center. Personally, I have had good luck with an AKG D-112E, or EV RE-20 at the hole and a Shure SM-57 placed inside mixing the two mics together. 

Snare

For live sound, I generally don't mic the bottom of the snare so let's talk about top snare placement. With a Shure SM-57, I place it over the snare, next to the mounted tom, almost flat across the drum head, angled down slightly, with the capsule about 1 inch over the head. Any more, and it will get damaged by a stick hit.

If you find it necessary to use a bottom snare drum mic, feel free to.  Some guys like it to get extra buzz from the snare strainer, or even a different midrange tone. I suggest that you place it under the snare drum, aimed up at the drum at an angle, about 6 inches away from the drum. Keep in mind that this is just a starting place, and you will have to experiment. Make sure you put this mic out of phase if you are using it in addition to a top snare mic.

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.

EQ'ing

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 80 hz 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 clubs 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

Gordy Gale - September 1999

For those of you who may not know me, I am a drummer and live sound engineer. I have toured all over the world and both played and mixed in many many clubs, theatres, high schools, sheds (outdoor ampitheatres), and concert halls. You can see both my drumming and soundman resumes at http://www.gordygale.tripod.com