Whether in the studio or onstage, an acoustic drum kit is one of the most challenging instruments to mic up well. An acoustic drum kit fills the entire sonic spectrum, and it’s challenging to deal with extremely loud transients while also capturing nuance and detail. So when choosing microphones for drums, how can you get the best bang for your buck? How do you keep from getting overwhelmed by all the possible ways you could mic up this beast?
A purpose-built drum mic kit is the perfect place to start – you’ll have all the mics you need for great drum tone, plus a case to keep them set apart from your other mics. And you’ll even find that many of the mics in these kits will serve you well in other applications besides drums, too. Here are some great drum mic packages available from Sweetwater – we’ve used these and can confirm they deliver what you need for stellar drum sounds.
Shure PGA Drum Kit 7
The PGA Drum Kit 7 packs seven reliable Shure mics and offers great value. You’d be hard-pressed to put together a collection like this at an equivalent price if you picked one mic at a time, and you still wouldn’t have a rugged travel case or mic cables. This kit comes with a PGA52 kick drum mic, three PGA56 tom mics (with rim mounts), a PGA57 for snare, and two PGA81 condenser mics for overheads – everything you need to capture a 5-piece drum kit in detail. And if for some reason you don’t want the overhead mics, the PGA Drum Kit 5 is available, which drops the PGA81 condenser mics for an even lower price.
Audix DP7 Plus Bundle
Based on their best-selling drum mic bundle, the Audix DP7 Plus Bundle includes everything in the DP7 pack plus a bit more. Each of these eight mics is optimized for a specific application – you get the D6, Audix’s flagship kick drum mic, two D2 mics tuned for rack toms, one D4 with a slightly lower midrange emphasis for floor tom, the acclaimed i5 for snare, and three ADX51 studio condenser mics for overheads and hi-hats. And while all of these are studio-quality mics, this bundle includes a rugged aluminum road case for live sound applications. Dflex clips are included for easier mic positioning.
Sennheiser e600 Drum Pack
Sennheiser chose the mics for the e600 Drum Pack to deliver maximum sound quality while also keeping in mind your setup and tear-down needs. Specifically, the four e604 dynamic mics for toms and snare are ultra-compact and feature built-in rim mounts, helping you set up fast and keep things tidy. The two e614 supercardioid condenser mics are perfect for overheads and are also visually unobtrusive. The e602 II dynamic mic delivers powerful kick drum tone, and it’s also a great mic to have around for any bass-heavy instrument application. This pack includes a road-ready aluminum case with foam interior.
Samson DK707 Drum Mic Kit
For stage and studio alike, this Samson DK707 Drum Mic Kit takes the guesswork out of miking drums. Four Q72 mics for toms and snare feature tension-mounted rim clips for faster setup and also reduce the number of mic stands you’ll need to use. You also get a Q71 kick drum mic and a pair of C02 pencil condenser mics for overheads. All mics feature swivel adapters to help you fine-tune your mic positions. A hardshell carrying case is also included.
Telefunken DD5 Drum Mic Set
This Telefunken DD5 Drum Mic Set equips you with legendary Telefunken sound, with performance-focused features that’ll help you achieve better sound in any scenario. The M82 kick drum mic features a switchable Kick EQ filter plus a separate switchable High Boost function – between these you can access four distinct voicings to suit any drum or bass-heavy instrument. One M80-SHB mic for snare and three M81-SH mics for toms all come with both metal and plastic rim mounts, and this kit also includes five XLR cables with right-angle connectors, which help keep your setup tidy and visually unobtrusive. A hardshell flight case is also included.
Still not sure which drum mic package is right for you? We’re here to help – we’ve spent countless hours recording drums and miking them up for live performances here at Sweetwater, and we’re confident you can achieve a great drum sound in almost any venue with these mics and a little know-how. Give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700, and we’ll be happy to help you find the best drum mic package for your needs.
