A newb mic question

[Toast Tee]

What kind of mics are typically used for room mics? I know next to nothing when it comes to mics.
Type?
An affordable model?

 

[TonyVazquez]

I've had some decent results with a
pair of SM58 mics, and at other times
with a pair of MXL990 mics when
recording, and I only add a touch of
compression to normalize the volume...

Recorded flat (no EQ),
and then adding EQ and some effects
in the final mix, but just in bitsy
gradual increments. Go easy on it.
Too much EQ and effects could
ruin the final mix.

Lately I haven't been using any mics;
I just record my band rehearsals
with my Samsung Galaxy A10e phone,
as its mic does a good job in the room.
And then I export the video file to
my PC where I can touch up the
audio track in my video editing software.

 

[TPC]

Condensers and ribbons are generally your best bet for room mic’s.

My favorite budget versions are:

Condensers
Audio Technica AT3035 (discontinued)
Apex 435

Ribbon
MXL R40

 

[Toast Tee]

I've had some decent results with a
pair of SM58 mics, and at other times
with a pair of MXL990 mics when
recording, and I only add a touch of
compression to normalize the volume...

Recorded flat (no EQ),
and then adding EQ and some effects
in the final mix, but just in bitsy
gradual increments. Go easy on it.
Too much EQ and effects could
ruin the final mix.

Lately I haven't been using any mics;
I just record my band rehearsals
with my Samsung Galaxy A10e phone,
as its mic does a good job in the room.
And then I export the video file to
my PC where I can touch up the
audio track in my video editing software.

Thank you.

I like the sound I get from my iPad as well. It more of a true sound.
I have 1 extra 57, or something like it I could try. I'm not sure how much of a difference it will make, but I guess it's worth a shot. I'm even considering trying the EAD mic as a room just to see what kind of noise I can make with that

 

[snaretemper]

My all time favorite room mic is the AEA R88. It sounds awesome pretty much anywhere near a drumkit

 

[Whitten]

You can use anything. The Aston Spirit is very good.

 

[Seb77]

I'd say just use the Sm57 and try various locations/directions. If you use close mic'ing and OHs as well, drum room mic'ing isn't that critical Room is often added to add a little dirt, so the mic doesn't need to be extra clean-sounding either. It's also often menat to soften the edges, that's why it's placed at a distance, so you don't need the fastest transients, as might be the case with OH and close mics. If you compress it heavily, even the overall dynamic repsonse doesn't matter that much.
In contrast to that, with an orchestra the distant stereo pair is usually the main mic, carrying the weight of the sound; that's why people use their best condenser mics in that position. If you want to record a drumset as a "drum orchestra" with a very unfied sound, that might be similar.

 

[BlueFlame]

All good advice here, but remember the Al Schmitt rule - if your room doesn’t sound good, you have to take it out of the picture, not emphasize it. Have someone play your drums while you walk around your space and see if a mic in the best sounding spot will add anything to your sound.

 

[MidiFinger]

I use PZMs for Room Mics... they are great.

 

[Toast Tee]

Wow, I really appreciate all of the suggestions, and advice.
I'm going to see how the SM 57 sounds tonight, and as suggested I'll move it around the room. Hopefully the 57 helps, as I'm now having trouble justifying purchasing any more equipment.
As was mentioned, I do like the sound of my kit just using an iPhone mic, but it has to be in a particular spot, as stated earlier.
I'm finding myself spending a whole lot more time tuning my kit. I'm trying to avoid pillows, tape, and other deadening tools. I suppose I can try that if it comes down to it.
I don't know if this is helping me play any better, but I'm having fun with it, and it's a tool that might help me out some day.
Although I wouldn’t say my kit sounds great with me micing it, I do hear progress. That's a start

 

[EyeByTwoMuchGeer]

The placements will always be more important than any particular mic selection. So, whatever mic you can use, just put it out in your room and hit record. Keep the track recording, and move the mic around. But make sure to talk and say where the mic is. This way, when you listen back, you’ll be able to quickly compare mic positions to locations. Figure out what sounds best to your ear. Then, just put the mics there, and you’re good to go. Typically for room mics in an untreated or less-than-ideal room, you’re gonna wanna cut out a lot of low end, maybe like 50hz and below, and probably more. Maybe 100hz. Etc. Also will probably want to cut out a bit of extreme high end, and then maybe a gentle dip from 300hz-800hz. Like a few dB.

 

[Pat A Flafla]

I liked using super cheap Nady ribbon mics. With some minor surgery I got them sounding pretty good.

 

[Seb77]

Wow, I really appreciate all of the suggestions, and advice.
I'm going to see how the SM 57 sounds tonight, and as suggested I'll move it around the room. Hopefully the 57 helps, as I'm now having trouble justifying purchasing any more equipment.
As was mentioned, I do like the sound of my kit just using an iPhone mic, but it has to be in a particular spot, as stated earlier.
I'm finding myself spending a whole lot more time tuning my kit. I'm trying to avoid pillows, tape, and other deadening tools. I suppose I can try that if it comes down to it.
I don't know if this is helping me play any better, but I'm having fun with it, and it's a tool that might help me out some day.
Although I wouldn’t say my kit sounds great with me micing it, I do hear progress. That's a start

Ah, it seems as if you want to record your drum kit with one mic only? Oftentimes, these days people use close mics on each drum for the core sound and then a "room mic" for additional room ambience, that term might have caused some confusion.
If you want to use only one mic to record the whole kit, check out some youtube videos on that topic. The main problem might be getting both bass drum and toms represented well since they acoustically "point" in different directions. Oftentimes, people put up one overhead and one mic in front of the bass drum to solve that problem.

Or... you go the "Wurst" route!

 

[Toast Tee]

Ah, it seems as if you want to record your drum kit with one mic only? Oftentimes, these days people use close mics on each drum for the core sound and then a "room mic" for additional room ambience, that term might have caused some confusion.
If you want to use only one mic to record the whole kit, check out some youtube videos on that topic. The main problem might be getting both bass drum and toms represented well since they acoustically "point" in different directions. Oftentimes, people put up one overhead and one mic in front of the bass drum to solve that problem.

Or... you go the "Wurst" route!

Some great advice. Telling myself where I placed the mic probably saved me from having to do it twice

I've been working on micing the entire kit, and I have a few extra mics. I haven't been happy with the sound I've been getting, and have always liked the way my iPad sounded from across the room. I figured I'd try adding a room mic to the mix, and hopefully add that room sound to my mix. For kicks, I may see how the EAD mic would sound, but I don't have my hopes up.

I've been really putting time into this of late, and I'm starting to realize it doesn't sound as bad as I thought, but I'm still not close

I have been thinking of cutting it down to 3 mics until I can get a good core sound? Any thoughts? OH, Kick, and snare.

 

[Elegant drum]

In general, Condenser mic's are used for room. Ribbons also work well.
More often than not, moving coils are not a good choice for room mic.

Some of the common choices on the high end are:
ELAM251, Coles 4038, KM84. Each offers a way to tame the highs. All take EQ very well.
Out of those, Coles are the cheapest and what I like. The only mic to not change spec in manufacture for over 50 years. That's when you know a design is good, it does not need to change over time.

At the cheapest, old Sony Electrete mic's will get something done
like this:https://reverb.com/item/49126514-so...ondenser-vintage-mics-microphones-please-read
Standard live use would be Shure 137/141 or 32/44
Line Audio CM3/CM4 are decent overheads on the cheap.
High end would be any Neumann tube LDC or high end Coles/AEA
The live standard for high end is AKG414, but those are not as good as they once were and Shure is being use more and more

In general, a single mic as far over the kit as you can get it is the best sound to start with. Then start blending kick and other needed elements in.

With whatever you have, get it going on headphones and walk around the room with the mic. Real time feedback to how each position sounds is critical to a good capture.

If you are shopping for a high end set of overheads but don't want to spend two much. A pair of these are a great value.
CM414

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