I used to play a lot of BIG outdoor concerts where everything on my kit was mic,d, even the mics were mic,d...Many years later, playing clubs and smaller venues I can get by with 2 or 3 mics at the most to give me what I want to hear..How about you?..are you mic,d at all? over heads?, all the toms?
How many is enough for you?
It depends on the venue and the sound I am going for. I have played everything from jazz to metal and the drums and mic setups have been completely different. I'll break down what I have used in the past:
Jazz: 1 large diaphragm condenser overhead and 1 large diaphragm in front of the kick drum.
Folk: same as jazz but with a Shure 57 on the snare
Classic Rock: 2 pencil condensers overhead, Shure 57 on the snare, Shure Beta 52a in the kick.
Metal: 2 pencil condensers overhead, Shure PGA 56 on snare and each tom, Beta 52a in the kick (tons of compression and processing!)
By far I love playing lighter and I think a simple mic setup is the best if you can get away with it. When the room is too lively and I get too much bleed over from other instruments I may have to use a couple extra mics and get closer to the drums. Sometimes I don't even need an overhead and I will mic the kick snare and hi-hat. Sometimes just the kick for a little extra low end.
Every place is different, every style is different, every sound guy is different. Overall, the less mics I have to use the better!!
It depends on the venue and the sound I am going for. Every place is different, every style is different, every sound guy is different. Overall, the less mics I have to use the better!!
Exactly. The last gig I did, the room didn't dictate miking up the drums at all. It is a smaller venue and was a blues gig. Guitar players were limited to using no more than a Fender Deluxe and no crazy effects pedals by the house rules. The bass player even brought a dog-house bass! :D And then there was the guy who brought one of those newer all-tube Epiphone amps.....5-watts maybe if we were lucky. Sounded great, and everyone in the room could here him no problem. Usually for that gig I bring a Jazzette/Bop sized kit, its perfect for the room. Great to be able to hear again too! :p
I usually do 1 of 2things...when playing outside..
1...bring my ekit...done..lol
2...mic my snare & Hihats off the same mic (these are usually very close)
....1 mic for both toms ..again both toms are close to each other 1/2" spacing..
....mic my flr Tom & Kick drum is Mic'd.....and a single mic for both the ride/crash.
I usually bring my own Mackie 1202 board so nobody can mess with my boo boom.
Bop iT / Til U Drop iT.
