Budget kick drum mics?

[b mcgibney]

Expanding into recording drums. My mic assortment such as it is consists of

2 Apex 460 tube condensors
AKG 2000B
AKG c-1000s
AKG D 330 bt

sm 58
sm 87

My plan would be to use the 460's as overheads, the 58 on snare and the AKG's as tom mics. This will be to record a old school R+B band so it does not to be massive big, just useable. Any thoughts would be appreciated

B

[rockwithrespect]

I'd go with an AKG D112 on the kick ($200) and ad a SM57 ($79) on the snare.

Kyle

[b mcgibney]

Kyle,

The D112 comes up often as a fave choice so I'll look seriously at it . Re the 57, it has always been my understanding that the 57 and 58 use the same capsule and differ mainly in the physical construction of the mic body. Does the shape alone make such a difference that a 58 is not useable as a snare mic? Also, where can you get a 57 for 79 dollars?

Thanks for your imput, I read the DUC regularly and you posts are always very informative

TIA
B

[Chris Cavell]

The 57 and 58 use different capsules....it's a common "myth" that they are the same.

I'd take a good listen to an Audix D6 before settling on a mic. Most kick mics aren't terribly expensive...so give a bunch of them a shot. I used to use the D112 almost exclusively...now it's the D6 all the way.

[DOUBLE EDGE]

D6 inside

RE20 outside

Sm57 Snare top + bottom ( @ guitar center they run about 79 bux)

[Archmart]

Hey Hey!

Recently picked up an AT AE2500. Amazing.

It's the one with two phase aligned elements, dynamic and condenser.

Plug it in (to two channels) and put it just about anywhere around 'the hole' and it sounds like a Kick drum, exactly the way one would hope and expect.

I've only used it live, and dozens of times, but I'll definitely use it next time I track drums.

Archmart

[Boombatty]

b_mcgibney, they're posting US prices, I got a 57 in Canada for 135 and a D112 for somewhere around 250 I think (can't remember).

Don't be afraid to wire up a nice 12" or 15" LF driver and put that in front of the kick as well... very cheap and easy to do. Not good as the only mic on the kick, but can add some low end.

A large diaphragm condenser in front of the kick will also help to add to the beefiness (make sure you check the phase with whatever is inside).

Hope that helps.

[16yearsjeff]

i love the sennheiser e602 on kick. and i never use anything but an sm57 on snare (although i have tried others) FWIW

[GORILLA]

I do mostly speed/death metal. Whenever I record "real" drummers I slap cheapo mics and run thru my 002's mic-pres'. Because, when mixing I just sound replace the kicks with samples from DFH anyways. I never worry about kick mics. Guess I'm lucky alot of guys like the DFH samples.

[16yearsjeff]

DFH?