How To Mic Drum Overheads

In a simple setup, a single overhead mic can be placed above the drummer’s head. A more interesting drum sound comes from a pair of overheads panned hard left and right to create a stereo drum sound. The two overhead mics should be the same make and model and have a cardioid pickup pattern. Small-diaphragm condensers are most common, though wide-diaphragm condensers are also a good choice.

Overheads can be set up as a spaced pair, with one mic over each half of the drum kit, or a coincident pair can be used in an X-Y pattern by placing the two mics together at a 90˚ angle to one another. The mic on the left will pick up the right side of the kit, and the mic on the right will pick up the left (see Fig. 139).

Spaced Pair and Coincident Drum Overheads

For more information see How To Mic A Drum Kit.

This is an excerpt from The Encyclopedia of Home Recording, a complete reference for the home recording studio by Mark Garrison. For more information about this book, please visit homerecordingbook.com.