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Floor TomSnareTom Tom cutaway view of
Tom Tom so snare
mic placement can
be seen behind use condenser
mics for overhead
cymbal pickup.
cutaway view of
front Bass drum
head. Place mic
inside drum using
front port.
MIC PLACEMENT
Ask any studio or live sound engineer and theyll have their own preference on how to
mic a drum kit. There are numerous ways to close-mic, distance-mic or stereo-mic a
drum kit. The drum kit and drummer can also be a large factor in how it will sound.
The one hard rule is whatever works for you is correct.
For beginners here is a quick overview on how to close-mic a drum kit.
KICK (BASS) DRUM
For a tight punchy sound place the D44mic inside the drum at a distance of approxi-
mately 1 to 6 inches from the beater head. Move the mic until the desired sound is
obtained. Placing a blanket or small pillow inside the drum is helpful to reduce rattle
and help muffle a bass drum that resonates too much.
SNARE DRUM
The D42 snare drum mic is placed just above the top of the head with a 2 to 6 inch
distance. Distance and angle can vary. Very thin or snappy sounding snare drums
may benefit from a mic placement with a minimum of 4 inches from the actual snare
head. If a drummer is not consistent with the attack or power in which they play their
snare, a compressor is extremely helpful to provide a constant level for recording and
helps smooth out transient signals that could cause clipping or distortion.TOM TOMS
Tom Tom drums can have D42 mics placed just above the drum head. Pan the Tom
Toms slightly in the mix for a stereo effect. For Tom Tom drums that have top as well
as bottom heads, be sure to tune both heads for optimum performance. A loose bot-
tom floor Tom Tom head can create unwanted low frequency resonance that is unde-
sirable for both live and recording purposes.
OVERHEADS (CYMBAL MICS)
The D42/D44mics are intended for miking drums. Carvin also makes Condenser mics
that are ideal for miking cymbals. The CM90Eis ideal for overhead placement of crash,
splash and ride cymbals. It is also excellent for hi-hat use. Some engineers also use a
pair of these mics for placement over the entire kit to add the sound of distant mics to
the mix. Be aware that other instruments in the same room can bleed through into the
overhead mics. Other high-end condenser mics available from Carvin are CM87Sand
CM98ST. These two mics are primarily used as studio vocal mics but can also be used
for recording percussion.
One final note. Always try to accommodate the drummer. If the drummer is likely to
smack the mics while playing or if the mic stand is in the way, move them into a better
position. Perfect mic placement must also include a set-up that will allow the drummer
to play comfortably.
D44 D42D42 CM90ECM90E
CM90E
