I might be inclined to go with some variation on set 1. No other mics available?

I'm using a 4 mic setup most of the time myself.... unless the song / drummer is big on using his toms... I find a hi-hat mic is good only sometimes, since I usually am fighting the bleed from the OHD and snare... A room mic is nice, but only if you have the time to move it to the right place - otherwise it does more damage then good. So for most things that I have been doing, 4 mics can sound really good...

The M147 makes sense for the kick. Take time to get the right position....

I would use a SM57 rather then the U87 on the snare, cuz it saves the chance of getting hit by the drummer, and the U87 is rather brite.

I use KM184 for overheads. Again position is critical. I like the method that others have posted regarding placing one mic directly over the snare at a distance of 2 drum sticks straight up. Then the 2nd mic to the drummer's right shoulder at a distance of 2 sticks from the snare's center. Then move each a bit to compensate in having the same distance from the kick's beater spot on the kick (use a mic cord to gauge the distance). Then move point the head of the OHND mic so you get the snare and kick in the center, by usually twisting the right side mic. It helps with phase and gets a nice full sound. Move all mics an inch or so if you need to fine tune...

really brite

i usually do a pair of matched overheads + kick + snare

forget the hi-hat

the two-stick method (thanx, recorderman) sounds like the go, i'm going to try it next time around

Ang1970 : I might be inclined to go with some variation on set 1. No other mics available?

The limit is that I have only four mic-pre on a drawmer 1960 and an amek 9098.
I can eventually rent a pair of sennheiser md-421.

I have become a fan of using 4 mics on drums. Last night a group arrived with a 1970's wood finished Yamaha drumkit, 6 toms, 9 ply shells, wood snare, all with new heads and well tuned. I used a 57 on the side of the snare, EV868 just inside the edge of the kick off axis to the beater spot, both thru a Flamingo and a pair of 414's about 30in off the snare to the left and right of the drummer's throne thru a 2022. The drummer and the band loved the sound.

I like a matched pair of large condensors for overheads in a 4 mic setup. I think they offer better depth for the toms. Good idea about the 147 on the kick...a bit out in front. They'er back tonite and I'll will wire that up for a try.

Steve

Originally posted by lracca:
The limit is that I have only four mic-pre on a drawmer 1960 and an amek 9098.
I can eventually rent a pair of sennheiser md-421.

I didn't mean to imply that only using 4 mics is bad. I meant are those the only mics you have in the studio?

You might have better luck with set one. If the drummer hits hard, a 184 is going to overload on a snare. In fact, I can hardly use a 184 close mic'd on a drum, they are just too hot. As over's they are nice, but in a 4 mic setup, I prefer a large diaphram (2 even better). A U87 will give you a better overall image of the kit. It might have to do with the pattern.

Try this: get a 57 on the snare, 184's as overs, 147 on kick (outside the drum with some isolation) and throw that 87 in omni and put it along a wall. Even if it's a small room, omni close to a wall up high sounds OK, sometimes better than a big room. Omni gets rid of a lot of the phasey, comb wierdness, like a PZM.

I've never mic'd drums before, but I will have to pretty soon.

The mics I have are:

Royer 121 x2
TLM 103 x2
Shure SM57 x2
Neumann/Geffel UM57 (SPA modified w/ 1.5)

That's it.

Will I be able to get a decent "rock" drum sound? By rock I guess I mean full tone?

I've got a bunch of pres:

UA 2-610 (2 chnl)
GML 8304 (4 chnl)
Cranesong Flamingo (2 chnl)
API 3124 (4 chnl) - don't have atm, will in about 4-6 months

And a for the comps- trakker (x2), distressor (x2)

Any reccomendations? Any sub $2k mics I can pick up that might help me get a better drum sound? Please don't reccomend a U47FET or the above mentioned Neuman UM157 or whateveritwas because those are both too much cash.

You should be able to get a good sound with those mics if the drummer is good and has a good kit. If those aren't in place you're kind of fucked.

I'd start with a 57 on the snare and rack tom, 103 on the floor and kick and the Royers as overheads. Use the Geffel as a room mic.

I agree with the above, but maybe get a dedicated kick mic D112, Audio Technica At25 etc. Also play around with the pres you have they will all offer something diferent so find which you like best.

Maybe I should start a new post, I don't know. But I was wondering, when tracking drums, is it standard practice to use 3-6 mics, and record to a stereo pair, or would I want to record each mic to it's own track?
Would I gain any thing at mixdown, if I used several tracks?