Page 24 - Drum Tyme Advertising Book February 15th Updated to Slide Version June 17th 2020

Snare Drum

Microphone choice has a huge impact on the sound of a snare drum.
Popular options for live or recording uses are the Shure SM57,
Telefunken M80, and Audix i5. To find out about other great snare
mics and even hear what they sound like, check out my article “Best
Mics for Recording Snare Drums”.

* Over – The typical way to mic a snare drum is to put a mic slightly over the snare
and you’re done. While that will definitely work, a great deal more finesse can and
should be applied. My typical starting position is placing the mic about 1.5″ above the
head, 2″ inside the rim, and aimed down at the center of the head. If I want less low
end, I move the mic farther away from the drum (higher) or farther from the center of
the head, which diminishes the low end due to diminished proximity effect.

* Over/Under – If you want more buzz or more snare sound (the wires that run
under the bottom head) from the drum, adding a second mic beneath the drum is a
great idea. Point the under-snare mic at the snare wires from a few inches away.
Listen to the under-snare mic combined with the over-snare mic, and switch the

Hi-hat

Depending on the drummer and the musical style, hi-hats can be so loud that some engineers don’t
even bother miking them, but put a mic on them just so you have the option of using it if you need it.
When miking the hi-hats, put the mic above the top cymbal, about 3″–4″ above, and about halfway between the
center and the outer edge. If you get too close to the edge of the cymbals, you’ll end up
with a cuppy sound that accents the opening and closing of the hats. If you put the mic too close to the
bell, you end up with a pinging sound. If you mic hi-hats from the sides, you’ll get a rush of air every
time the hi-hats close together. Experimentation with placement is critical, and each drummer’s hi-hats
will sound different (brighter/darker) along with their technique, so try different placements and mics depending
on how they play. Some of my favorite hi-hat mics include the Shure SM81, AKG C 451 B, Neumann KM 184, and
Audio-Technica AT4051.

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