Live drums with 3 mics?

[Chandler]

Hi All, We are running sound from the stage with a 9-10 piece band. With our A&H mix wiz 16:2 we have 3 channels available for drums. Currently we are just miking the kick with a AKG D 112, which sounds pretty dam good. But for larger venues the drums are starting to get lost. He uses a pretty standard 4 piece kit. What would be the best way to get the drums in the mix with 2 more mics, overheads, a couple 57 types coming in from each side picking up half the kit? Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[weshunter]

i'd go kick, snare, and overhead

 

[rokpunk]

kick, snare, overhead

 

[weshunter]

57 on snare and something with a bigger spread for the overhead -- maybe a 58 in a pinch

 

[Chandler]

Ok, I can try that as I have those mics available. Where would you start to posistion the overhead? Thanks

 

[NortheastHick]

Why not just pick up a used mixer on craigslist and sum it to the main board??? You could get a used Peavey (for example) unpowered 8-12 channel board for $100 or less..If thats not doable for some reason, then i agree with weshunter.

 

[taez555]

Depending on the style of music, I'd probably focus on the key elements that are getting lost in the mix first.

 

[3dognate]

We do the 3 mic drums often for small joints, or when we run sound for this Indian band we work with some... (They will eat up 24-32 channels easily despending on who shows up. Gotta be creative with drum micing. Esp the hand drummer...)

Audix D6 or Shure Beta52 on the Kick, an Audix i5 or Shure SM57 on the snare as close to the Hi-Hat as you can get and an overhead of your choice.

 

[Chandler]

Why not just pick up a used mixer on craigslist and sum it to the main board??? You could get a used Peavey (for example) unpowered 8-12 channel board for $100 or less..If thats not doable for some reason, then i agree with weshunter.

Yea I though of that, but I would like to keep it as simple as possible as I'm doing most of the set up and running of the system and playing 3 long sets. I need to keep the equipment count down to as it just fits in our truck now, plus it's usually only 2 or 3 of us loading in.

The type of music is soul, funk and r&b with a horns.

thanks

 

[speakerjones]

I've had good luck, particularly with jazz bands, using 3 mics on drums. Try using a kick mic and position the other 2 mics in front of the drum kit instead of over it. Kind of left/right as you're looking at it, a couple of feet away. If it's a really loud stage, this might not work. Or try getting one mic in tight to get the rack tom, snare and hats, and the other one in tight to the floor tom and ride. Crash cymbals are going to carry anyway, and probably get captured by other mics on stage.

 

[chris k]

kick, snare and overhead.

I have also used recorderman technique with good results: http://www.hometracked.com/2007/05/12/recorderman-overhead-drum-mic-technique/

 

[loudboy]

You could also try K, SN and Floor Tom.

 

[rickenbackerkid]

I'd go Kick, Snare, Hats in a funk groove band. The crashes are up higher and are likely cutting through enough already.

 

[335guy]

i'd go kick, snare, and overhead

THIS! I'm using a Audix D6 on the kick ( love this mic ), an Audix I5 on the snare, and a small condenser overhead. I position the overhead as low as I can , usually a couple of feet above the toms. This way, I get lots of the toms in the mix and a little less cymbal. May not be quite as good a close micing each drum, but I've had pretty good success doing it this way.

 

[rokpunk]

k = beta 91
sn = sm57
oh = akg 460
done.

 

[scredly]

It does depend on the type of music but possibly: Kick, Position another mic so it gets the mounted rack, snare and HH and one on the floor tom -aim to get ride cymbal to taste. Kind of a modified Recorderman or Glynn Johns Method. Compression would help level and tighten things up.

OR

Sub mix with a small outboard mixer as someone suggested or get a couple of mic combiner boxes. The combiners do mess with mic impedance but hey, there's always a compromise.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/art-splitcom-pro-2-way-mic-splitter--combiner

 

[Drewboy]

Alot of this depends on your drummers attack and dynamics, but I'd go Kick, and 2 Overhead Condensors, 1 over his left shoulder pointed at the snare, and another near the floor tom pointed at the snare, equal in distance from mic tip to snare drum. And I would try the basic Kick, condensor or 57 in between snare and High hat pointed at center of snare, and one centered overhead. Try both ways and let your ears be the judge. Good Luck.

 

[rokpunk]

a great method for jazz drummers is kick, snare, and an omni pointing up, from around where the snare is located. it does a great job on picking up the mics, and since it's an omni, it kind of fills out the entire drum kit.

 

[Chandler]

Thanks everyone, the next gig is the 11th. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[Chandler]

Ok, I did the kick, snare with a 57 and borrowed a nice condenser mic from my bass player for and over head on the floor tom /ride side. Sound was much improved but could use a bit more hi hats in the mix.

Is there a way to position the 57 to pick up snare and hi hat better?? Really don't want to borrow another condenser just yet.