how do you mic for drums?

[Root]

I am new on the drums and was wondering a good way to mic your drums. I tried my vocal mic and it sounds like crap. any suggestions

[AdamCU81]

There are mics specifically made for drums if you have money to spend.

[gregory311]

What is your setup like and what access do you have to different styles of microphones? Certain ones are better for certain sounds.

J.

[Root]

What is your setup like and what access do you have to different styles of microphones? Certain ones are better for certain sounds.

J.

My setup is a basic setup with 3 splashes 8,10, and 12 and 2 jam blocks. I don't have any access to mics but the one vocal mic that I allready have. I guess I was wanting one mic to do the whole job and to sound good with every style of sounds. I say that because I don't really have a style yet.

[jaird]

you are not going to be able to mic an entire kick with just a vocal mic.
when i record in the studio i usually use 8-10 mics. for live you could probly do 5 and get away with it. 1 for the kick (a mic made specifically for the kick like an AKG D112), 1 for the snare, 1 for the hi-hat (vocal style mics like the Shure SM57 or 58 would work), and 1 or 2 overheads to pick up the symbols and toms (cardiod condensers are good. i like the Neumann 184's but those a very pricey :) ) basically the more mics you can get ahold of the better.

[saxman1083]

its a good idea to get one mic for the batter head and one for the resonator head on the snare...makes it sound so crisp and clear.

[gregory311]

you are not going to be able to mic an entire kick with just a vocal mic.
when i record in the studio i usually use 8-10 mics. for live you could probly do 5 and get away with it. 1 for the kick (a mic made specifically for the kick like an AKG D112), 1 for the snare, 1 for the hi-hat (vocal style mics like the Shure SM57 or 58 would work), and 1 or 2 overheads to pick up the symbols and toms (cardiod condensers are good. i like the Neumann 184's but those a very pricey :) ) basically the more mics you can get ahold of the better.

What he said. :)

J.

[Root]

well thanks, but it looks like I will wait until I'm good before I buy all those mics. Just a guess what would you say all those mics would run?

[rawlogicdrumz]

Sm-58's are always going to be about $100, my AKG D112 ran me about $250 a year ago, SM-57's are like 75-85 I believe, but you can buy the shure PG drum mic kit for like $250 I believe, they aren't THAT good, but they'll get the job done.

[Root]

cool, thats not too much. thanks :)

[jester29]

FWIW, I used to tape some bands I was in... just for demo/our purposes. I had a pretty favorable setup with 2 Sm-57s high up behind the kit aimed for a stereo spread (hard pan each left & right), and an SM58 for the bass drum. Sometimes I'd have it out front and aimed, other times with the head almost sitting in the pillow. Mess around with it; you can get some rather effective sounds through some experimentation. (Granted, this isn't the best way... but it may get you by... )