Getting “sounds like a record” drum sounds can seem like a tall order if you’re on a budget, but it’s still possible even with budget mics and some simple plugin moves. We show you how…

Getting A Great Drum Sound

Although this is a bottomless subject, most top engineers will tell you that a great drum sound happens long before it hits the mics. The quality of the drummer, the tuning, and the sound of the room are probably the holy trinity of things to get right.

If those elements are in place, all we need are some mics, an interface, and the knowledge to use them. Beyond that no amount of fancy gear can substitute a great source being expertly engineered.

What Makes A Good Drum Mic?

When it comes to a set of dedicated mics for drums, they need to do four things:

• If they clip on to the drums they need to stay on and in position.

• They need to be able to take the odd stick hit.

• They need to be able to handle high sound pressure levels.

• A set needs to be able to cover a wide frequency range.

The sound of the mics themselves is a matter of taste, but with the right positioning we can make informed decisions about whether or not that mic is right for the source. The hope is that a dedicated drum mic will suit its drum more often than not.

MAG7 7-Piece Drum Microphone Kit

The MAG7 7-Piece Drum Microphone Kit has enough mics in it to close-mic a 5-piece kit with two overhead mics for stereo, all coming in a tough moulded plastic carry case. You could of course mix these uses up, with for example an under snare mic or kick in/out mics on a 4-piece kit, or mono overhead with hat mic, for example.

In the set, you get a lot for your money:

• 1x - MAG7-BD1 - Bass Drum Microphone

• 4x - MAG7-ST4 - Snare & Tom Microphones

• 2x - MAG7-P2 - Pencil Condenser Microphones

• 2x - MAG7-P2 - Pencil Condenser Microphone Clips

• 2x - MAG7-P2 - Pencil Condenser Microphone Foam Windshields

• 5x - Drum Rim Mic Clamp

• 1x – Hard/Carry Case

Mics, Recording, And Mixing

The MAG7 mics themselves have all-metal housing, and the ST4 snare/tom mics have a hypercardioid pickup pattern which is a real bonus for rejecting sounds from adjacent drums and/or cymbals. This pattern also gives a hefty low-end thump when used close up.

I was able to get some pretty convincing drum sounds straight out of the back of the MAG7 mics. As well as this, the clamp mounts did not fall off the drums or lose position at any point, although I think their affordability means they should be handled with some care to ensure their longevity. They cannot match the flexible positioning of the ubiquitous Sennheiser E604 mounts, but you can do the same trick of inverting the threads to get the mic further out on smaller drums.

In the mix, some gating or expansion is often needed to reduce any errant cymbal spill or spill from other drums in the mics- the trick is always to set the threshold as low as possible without unwanted sounds creeping through. If you’re compressing, ask yourself whether you’re trying to create a particular sound or solve uneven playing (or both). If it’s the latter, avoid a lot of snare compression if the snare’s too quiet. Too much will only bring up hi-hat and other spill in the snare mic(s).

EQ is a more personal thing. If all is well, your sounds will need little more than some gentle shelving to bring out some top end or play down boominess. Some mid range scoops can help kill any ‘nasties’ on the snare or toms. All situations are different, but a gentle wide cut at around 1k can tame trashy hi-hat spill in the snare mic and has the added bonus of rewarding your snare with some extra low mid weight and top end fizz. Another classic move sees kicks’ low mids scooped and beater click lifted.

In the video you can see how I shape a produced sound from the MAG7 mics using some simple EQ, gating and compression .

Final Thoughts

At £149, the MAG7 7-Piece Drum Microphone Kit from Imperative Audio represents incredible value for money considering everything you get in the (very useful) carry case. You also get a mic set that can be used on anything… Vocals, guitars, piano, you name it.

It just goes to show that with pretty minimal processing, an affordable drum mic set can indeed deliver a produced drum sound that can hold its own in any mix. Head over to Studiospares to check the MAG7 drum mic set out.