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Originally Posted by Razvan
I might add I am interrested in how to chose the mics for different types and sizes of drums if that's the case. But chosing the mics in general, regardless of budget.
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I can answer that one. With the assumption that time is not a restrictive nominator, the best way to test it is A/B comparison. Or trial and error. Because it really usually is a matter of taste, this is by far the best way to test it. The more mics the better.
We made a drum mic comparson with my friend about an year ago, because he had a load of different mics, as did I, and he was about to get more mics and he just got a Tascam DM-4800 at his workplace, so we used it as our test platform and learned how to use it. The digital consoles are really superb for this kind of tests, because the meters are really good and menu-adjustable volume-sliders are very accurate opposed to the analog consoles. Do note that you can also do the test within any DAW or analog console, do not restrict yourself to the tools you have. You can even use a Behringer mixer with only two XLR inputs for all I care, if it gets the job done.
So what you need to do, is to place the mics at the same/used distance and preferrable at the same angle. The distance/angle thing is usually pretty easy to do with drums, because they are round objects. Then turn off all dynamics, EQ and anything that affects the sound. Then adjust the gain so, that the input meter is at the same level (We chose -6dB) and set the faders to the optimal noise-to-signal ratio (usually marked as zero). Preferrably use the menus of the console for more accuracy. This way the volume doesn't affect the results ("this one sounds better because its louder"), so its all about the characteristics of the mic. Then just A/B the mics. One channel open, listen, close the channel, open second channel, listen, close channel, repeat ad nauseum and pick your poison.
For example we compared 4 different mics on toms, 3 mics on kick and 6 different mics on the snare top, and along them we compared the t.bone MB75 to SM57. We first thought the MB75 sounded weaker, but then we noticed that it was a bit further away, but when I put it closer, they were pretty identical. But its not rocket science to build an SM57, you know.
Also we noticed that for live use AKG D112 was just a puff, even when put inside the drum pointing at the beater. B52 had a nice balance between snap and low end, but my favourite was e901 (the Sennheiser equivalent to Shure beta91 boundary mic, that you put inside the kickdrum) because it was sounding like it was already processed. Very snappy, altho the low end was bit weakish, but the reason for this is that all the airmass goes over the mic compared to the conventional drummics, where the air travels into the mic.
But do remember, that if you have a very sensitive mic, don't put it in front of a kick drum or something else that very violently moves the air, to prevent mechanically breakage. But still, majority of the modern mics are able to handle high SPL without breaking, but still again; use your ears. Some of them might sound horrible if when they choke and sound like used TP from the high SPL, but then again some might be too insensitive for ghosthits, so choose your mics wisely.
Also if you encounter a situation, where you don't know how you should mic something, use your ears. Run around in the room and listen where it sounds the best, stop where it sounds the best and put a mic there. This method works for a lot of stuff, for example a violin usually doesn't sound the best from the piezo mic, but it sounds very good from a distance, but then again for electric guitar this is usually not the best way to do it, even tho Sunno))) used it. A monkey, sorry, I mean an assistant, is usually a good way to do this. Put some ear protectors to them (or insulating headphones) with a mic on their hand on the recording room, when you are listening in front of your monitors. Make them run around with the mic, then just stop the noise when monkey needs to stop and put the mic in the stand at that position.
Hope it helps