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The Shure SM81 and mic'ing drums

70.17.37.83

Posted by quantumeffect on January 8, 2005 at 20:31:36

I was wondering if anybody has any experience mic’ing drums. The method I have been using for awhile now involves close mic’ing the snare, bass and toms and then using Shure SM81’s as overheads to capture the cymbals. The SM81’s are typically a few feet above the cymbals.

When I record, the bass drum is assigned a track, the snare is assigned a track, the toms are sub-mixed then assigned track and the overhead mic’s are sub-mixed and assigned a track … for a total of 4 tracks for the drums.

I find that this is a reasonable balance between mixing flexibility and tracks consumed. This is a home studio and I am using a 1st generation Layla, Cakewalk 9.0 and a Dell from 2000. All considered dinosaurs by today’s standards.

Here is my issue and question. I would like to isolate the snare from the overhead mic’s and I was thinking of close mic’ing the cymbals by mounting the SM81’s upside-down under the cymbals. Do you think it is OK to close mic a percussive instrument with an SM81?

Any opinions, suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

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