Overhead mics for drummers

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When mixing mic types, I ascertain phantom power availability for condensers without worrying about affecting dynamics. You can also apply high-pass filtering during recording and ask your drummer to play cymbals more dynamically.

What’s the Ideal Stereo Spacing Technique for Drum Overhead Microphone Placement?

I’ll position my overhead mics using the XY technique for tight stereo imaging or spaced pair method with 3-4 feet between mics for wider soundstage, ensuring equal distance from snare.

Do Overhead Mics Need Pop Filters or Shock Mounts for Drum Recording?

I don’t recommend pop filters for overhead drum mics since you’re not capturing breath or vocal plosives.

The supercardioid pickup pattern provides excellent gain before feedback while rejecting unwanted stage noise, and the universal drum mounts work with most rim configurations using standard XLR connections you already own.

Best For: Drummers and recording enthusiasts seeking a complete, budget-friendly microphone solution that covers their entire drum kit with professional-grade metal construction and versatile mounting options.

Pros:

  • Complete 7-piece kit includes everything needed for full drum coverage from kick to overheads with all mounting hardware included
  • High-performance supercardioid pickup pattern delivers excellent gain before feedback and superior noise rejection for stage use
  • Versatile compatibility with standard XLR connections and universal drum mounts that work with most rim configurations

Cons:

  • Some users reported compatibility issues with certain drum rim clips despite universal design claims
  • At 6.34 pounds total weight, the kit may add noticeable bulk when fully mounted on a drum set
  • 15 KHz frequency response ceiling is lower than some premium microphones that extend into higher frequencies

View Latest Price

7-Piece Drum Microphone Kit for Stage & Studio Recording

Budget-conscious drummers who need extensive microphone coverage for their entire kit will find exceptional value in this 7-piece drum microphone collection, which delivers professional-grade recording capabilities without the premium price tag that typically accompanies studio-quality equipment.

You’re getting what you pay for, though, and I’d say that the C-2 mics are a bargain considering the fact that you can get amazing drum sounds with a bit of work.

Polar pattern: Cardioid

Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz

Max SPL: 140dB

Weight: 0.2 lbs.

sE Electronics sE7

The sE Electronics sE7 Microphones (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) are amazing value mics that won’t set you back much, but they’ll give you amazing sound and build quality.

The real trick involves maintaining equal distances from your snare and kick drum when using spaced pairs, creating balanced stereo imaging while avoiding phase cancellations that rob certain frequencies of their punch.

Budget Vs Performance

Although I’d love to tell you that expensive mics automatically guarantee professional results, the reality involves balancing your recording goals against financial constraints while understanding that smart budget choices often outperform careless high-end purchases.

Choose based on your specific recording environment, budget constraints, and desired sonic characteristics.

What is an overhead drum mic and how does it function?

When micing up a drum set, there are many different microphone configurations. Pencil condensers are very light, so they’re the easiest to travel with.

You should also consider all your other microphones and how heavy they are.

You’ll get cardioid, omni, and super cardioid capsules that easily mount and remove, letting you adjust pickup patterns based on your drum kit’s configuration and room acoustics. It can also be used for field recordings thanks to its compact size. They don’t take up much room, and you can maneuver them to fit almost anywhere.

Large-diaphragm microphones are a bit trickier to manage, as their bulky frames make them difficult to position in tight areas.

While omnidirectional mics capture sound from all directions, they’re typically problematic for overhead applications since they pick up excessive room noise and can create phase issues when combined with other drum mics, ultimately compromising the clarity you’re trying to achieve.

Frequency Response Range

Understanding frequency response proves absolutely critical when selecting overhead mics, since you’ll need equipment capable of capturing the complete tonal spectrum that drums and cymbals produce across their wide dynamic range.

These microphones are carefully calibrated to provide balanced sound and consistent performance, ensuring accurate and well-matched recordings. You’ll avoid the phase issues that come with mismatched gear, and you’ll be surprised at how much more “real” your drum recordings feel. A solid pair of drum overhead mics can give you a better reference point when mixing and save you a lot of EQ headaches down the line.

Even if you’re using a multi-mic setup, a great matched pair of overhead drum mics makes a difference.

overhead mics for drummers

I’ve found that positioning overheads 2 to 3 feet above cymbals delivers the sweet spot between direct impact and natural ambience, though experimenting within 1 to 3 feet allows room-specific adjustments. It makes them easy to work with, but you’ll also find that they have a bit of a low-frequency dip in certain areas. It shares many of the same features, but it comes at a much more affordable price.

It gives unique sounds from your bass drum and floor tom if you don’t close-mic them.

The other thing to mention about these mics is that they’re very small. Remember though, none of what you’ve learned will matter if you don’t know how to get your music out there and earn from it.

Dynamic microphones have their pros, too; they don’t require power whereas condenser microphones will require some sort of phantom power from batteries or from the desk.

This gives a balanced overview of the kit and allows the microphone to pick up sound from the whole kit rather than just focusing on one area.

Two microphones are usually set up, and these can capture the left and right of the kit in more detail and give a wider stereo field for engineers to play with when it is time to mix the drums.

Features to consider when choosing an overhead drum microphone

What features do you need to think about when you are looking to choose a drum microphone?

It just depends on what overhead you’re using for that.