[zv yoda]

Thanks for all the replies so far...

Originally Posted by albee1952

Here's another suggestion; First, set the kit up so its NOT in the center of the room(a square room will have major issues in the center). Now, assuming the ceiling is drywall(ie NOT acoustically treated), put your overheads on tall booms, spread them apart to observe the 3:1 rule(mics 3 times farther apart as they are from the cymbals) and angle the mics up(45-60 degrees) toward the ceiling. Now raise them as close to the ceiling as possible without actually touching. What this creates is the same effect as a boundary mic and it will eliminate a lot of phasing issues with sound that enters the mics AFTER bouncing off the ceiling(think about what happens ABOVE your overhead mics in a small room).

The kit is off-centre already (as much as it can be in such a small room). The ceiling is semi-treated... I have some Rockwool slabs (wrapped in fabric) acting as bass traps around the edges. I also have a "cloud" directly above the kit.. this is a duvet which has been tacked to the ceiling in a few places directly above the kit. The rest of the ceiling is pine panelling (so as not to have it too dead).

Re the 3:1 rule... I'm trying to do that, but the kit is only about 5' (60 inches) wide, so if I keep to the 3:1 rule the mics can be no more than 20 inches or so above the cymbals (that's if I'm doing this properly?)

Originally Posted by TOM@METRO

Criss crossing a pair of 451s centered about 10-12 feet from the floor at the center of the kit can add some interesting imaging.

If only I had 12' ceilings...

Originally Posted by albee1952

Yes indeed, but hard to do with an 8' ceiling

Originally Posted by EGS

What works for me? To avoid phase issues, I use a single OH mic. I position it over the right knee of the drummer (left for a lefty drummer). I hang it fairly low, maybe 2 feet higher than the drummer's head. Hi-pass at 200hz. This only works if the cymbals are naturally balanced. That is, if one cymbal is louder than the others, you'll have problems. It's powerful and never phasey. Drummers love the sound !!!

That's interesting... I've never considered using just one overhead. I'll give that a try. The cymbals are fairly evenly matched & they're pretty evenly spaced around the kit too.

Originally Posted by TOM@METRO

That's what saws are for.

My studio is in my garage. I live in Ireland. If I cut a hole in the ceiling, I'll need to put an umbrella over the kit to keep the rain off!

Originally Posted by TOM@METRO

That’s what saws are for.

With low ceilings try loosely tacking a few garbage bags or a plastic tarp to the ceiling. This can disturb HF reflections just a little and improve phase anomalies.

I have Rockwool/duvet on the ceiling, so I think the issue is less about reflections & more about the phase issues due to time delays reaching the mics.