Additional Links

Miking Drums - DPA Mic University

How to Mic a Drum Kit – DPA Mic Uni [VIDEO]

DPA Microphone University presents: How to mic a drum kit

This video by DPA Microphones demonstrates how to effectively mic a drum kit taking into account the ambient sound of the instrument, effective directional mic placement and spill from various parts into the various microphones.

For the purposes of this video the mics used are d:screet™ 4061 Miniature Omni mics along with d:vote™ 4099D supercardioid clip-on microphones. For overheads, later in the video, a stereo pair of d:dicate™ 2011C cardioid microphones is used.

Some Mic Placement tips:

Omni mics give you the freedom to place the mics as close to or as far away as you desire from the drumkit. Place the mics in a stereo position with as much air or presence as you desire for a good stereo image.

Directional (cardioid or super-cardioid) mics focus in on each drum giving you more isolation from the surrounding sound sources.

Kick drum: place a directional mic just in the hole in the drum head, adjust the angle of the mic to affect how much bass attack you get as a result of the proximity effect.

Snare: Bear proximity in mind for the snare drum: moving the mic further away will effectively increase brightness, while moving it closer will accentuate the low frequencies.

Hi-Hat: Angle the mic away from the snare, towards the center of the hi-hat to minimise bleed.

Toms: Aim the mic towards the center of the drum head. Move the mic closer to the drum head to add attack and low frequencies, and to minimise bleed.

Cymbals: Place a stereo pair of overhead mics equidistant from the center of the kit (usually the snare drum), to minimise phase issues.

Links:

DPA d:vote™ 4099D Drum Mic – view details

DPA d:screet™ GMK-SC4061 Omni Mic with Gooseneck Mount Kit – view details

DPA d:dicate™ 2011C Cardioid Mic – view details

, , , , ,