Drum Overheads
 

I currently have this setup. The PZM's have been with me for years and wanted to try them before I make a decision. I have recently been building a home studio and think I need to invest in some decent Overhead mics for my 1972 Hayman drum kit . A pair.

2 x PZM on the ceiling (overheads)
1 x SM57 snare
1x SM57 Tom
1x SM57 Floor Tom
1x Shure Beta 52A Kick Drum Mic

http://i.imgur.com/SXMwV6Yl.jpg


These mics are fed into a Roland Octa Capture audio interface and recording in Pro Tools 12.5

I have been looking at either the 2 x Rode NT5 Stereo Pair £229, 2 X Audio-Technica 20 Series AT2035 £270 and 2 x Audio-Technica ATM 450 £320

Any Advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Re: Drum Overheads
 

With PZMs being omni, they're probably more like room mics up there, and being that close together means your image is fairly narrow.

I use my PZMs as rooms, further out and a little further apart. Then I use my Schoeps MK4s which are cardioid as overheads. Great combo IMO.

Re: Drum Overheads
 

My 2 cents(all replies here will be based on opinion:rolleyes:).
B52 on kick is okay, but the Audix D6 and Telefunken M82 are a lot better
SM57 on snare, hard to go wrong with that(maybe add an under-snare mic)
SM57's on toms, not great at all. Sennheiser 421's are a great choice(but expensive). Alternatives that I love are Audix D6(rack toms) and Miktek PM11(floor toms)
Overheads; I think most any condenser will be a step up(the Rode's would be my choice of those you listed. I use Miktek C-1's here), BUT(great big BUT) the ceiling is a huge factor. If it is a hard surface(like painted drywall) you should try 2 options. #1-with small condenser mics, aim them at the ceiling, around 45 degrees and get the capsule as close to the ceiling as you can without actually touching it(this will act much like the PZM, but with better sound). I know many will roll their eyes at this, but it works quite well. #2-suspend a cloud to dampen the reflections from the ceiling into the backs of the mics.

More recommendations: 1-more corner treatment(fill the corner top to bottom, and treat the "corners" where the wall meets the ceiling)
2-turn the kit so it faces out from the corner(IOW, place it in the "VEE" of the corner). Right now, you have a serious acoustic imbalance between left and right:o

Re: Drum Overheads
 

yeah those PZM overheads are definitely not following the 3:1 "rule" of stereo pair placement.. How does it sound with just one, directly over the center of the kit?

Can you save up for a pair of AKG C451B or similar? If not, are you adverse to trying out a pair of CAD M179? Maybe even just one M179 in omni would sound really good.

Re: Drum Overheads
 

+1000

Shure SM81s second hand? Lovely mic and very versatile.

Re: Drum Overheads
 

A bit off your post topic, but I bet the kit would sound a lot better away from the corner/walls.

Re: Drum Overheads
 

U87's are magic for OH's. But, that would be a huge investment. More in the real $$$ world - SM81's.

Re: Drum Overheads
 

Drum over heads - many options. Neumann TLM103's aren't too shabby (I have a pair), and neither are a pair of AKG C414's (I only have one). Another good choice is a decent ribbon mic. Ribbon mic's by design are figure 8 so properly setup overhead that'd work and so would the C414 in figure 8 mode. I wouldn't use SM57's as their off-axis response sucks big time and you need that for overheads.

As to spacing from the rear wall - not only what others have said but also think of the reflections coming off that wall and screwing up your timing (not to mention your hearing. There is an option if you can't move the kit - deaden the daylights out of the room especially that back wall and depend on reverb in your daw for ambiance. I know that's going back in time but if moving the kit isn't an option it could help out.

I'd also worry about the resonances/sounds coming off that space heater off to the front/side of the kit.

Re: Drum Overheads
 

Nothing wrong with any of the above suggestions for overheads. The reason I did not expound past the mention of Miktek C-1's is that I thought they were likely more $$ than the OP wanted to spend. But for the price of a pair of U87's, you can have a pair of C-1's(or better yet, a pair of C-7's), a couple of D6's, a used AT3031(the best hat mic for under a grand) and all the other mics I mentioned(with money left over for preamps):o

Re: Drum Overheads
 

Yes it does. For that reason I do not use a 57 on the snare, but rather an SM81 with the 10 pad engaged. The hat bleed into the snare mic is now interesting and useful. Try it!!!