How To Record Awesome Drums

The Secret To Recording A Drum Kit

Recording awesome drums is not as difficult as you might think, sure there are many elements that need to be considered but below we have outlined two methods that are easy to set up and provide consistent results. When using multiple microphones the main thing to keep in mind is the phase relationships of the mics being used. (Each microphone placed around the kit is going to pick up every sound at a unique time so we just want to be sure that the mics are working together and are in ‘phase’.)

How To Record Drums With 1 Microphone

Believe it or not it is possible to capture a decent drum sound with just one microphone. This is a very easy method and you wont have to worry about phase issues. Here’s how its done: Set up a large diaphragm condenser microphone (such as Rode NT1A) in front of the drum kit about 4 feet away and about 4 feet high as a starting point. Lower the height of the microphone to 3 feet high to capture more of the kick drum and and raise the height of the microphone to 5 feet high to capture more of the sound of the cymbals.

How To Record Drums With 4 Microphones

The one mic set up can work if that’s all that is available however for a fully professional and powerful sound a multi-mic set up is always the best way to go for recording drums. Some people record drums using 12 microphones (or even more) but it really isn’t necessary. This 4 mic set up will always deliver a fantastic sound and is easy to set up.

1. Kick Drum

We will start with the kick. Begin by placing a dynamic microphone (like the AKG D112) just outside the hole in front of the kick. Because we are using just one mic on the kick this position will pick up the attack from the batter head through the hole while also picking up low end from the front head at the same time.

2. Snare Drum

For the snare place a dynamic microphone on the top of the snare. Place the mic about an inch and a half above the drum and just inside the rim. This will capture a well balanced tone.

3. Overhead Microphones x 2

We will use two microphones for the overheads. These will capture the sound of the cymbals and the sound of the drum kit as a whole.

We will use two (preferably matching) condenser microphones in the recorder-man configuration. Just follow the steps below.

The recorder-man mic set-up

Position the first microphone directly above the snare and aimed at the centre of the snare.

Position the second microphone just above the drummers right shoulder and have this one aimed toward the snare also.

Both microphone should be roughly two drumsticks length away from the centre of the snare drum

Both mics must also be an equal distance away from the kick drum and snare drum.

To check this, take a mic cable and hold one end of it in place with the beater of the kick.

Now bring the cable up to the first mic we positioned and hold the cable stretched to just touch the mic (point A), keep the cable held here.

Now with your other hand bring more slack from the cable down to the centre of the snare and hold the cable in place on the snare (point B).

Finally keep the cable held on the snare (at point B) and carefully bring Point A over to the shoulder mic, reposition the shoulder mic so you can just about touch it with the cable at this exact point of the cable.

This is much easier than it sounds to set up and guarantees that there will be no phasing issues with the drum recording.

Now that you know how to get a solid drum recording, why not check out how to record bass.