Who's using what on Toms

Let's talk about kits and mics, new and old. What are you using? What do you want? What's the difference?

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Who's using what on Toms

Postby andygriffiths » Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:44 am

Hi guys,

I'm looking at getting some Tom mics. Just wondering whats getting used.

Cheers Andy
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Wiz » Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:57 am

well, I use plain old vanilla Sm 57's


Used to own and use Audio Technica ATM25's and PRO 25's they were cool.


Read plenty about CAD M179 LD condensors getting the guernsey by home studio guys, not tried em myself.


wouldnt mind giving a MD421 a try at some stage, but havent run across a set I could borrow as yet.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby SYOS » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:05 am

Check out the Miktek PM10, i bought the drum pack they do which has three of the PM10 and a PM11 (Kick mic)

http://www.miktekaudio.com/products/pm1 ... microphone

I've used 421's plenty of times and love them but they are fragile and bulky - the PM10 had a lot of the same tonal characteristic but far cheaper, more robust and a little more compact.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby GlennS » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:16 am

U87, U89 and/or TLM103. I would use all U87's if I could.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby ChrisW » Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:23 am

Boring.... but 421's most of the time.
They just sound good.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Ben M » Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:48 am

I've mostly used 421's but in recent times I've been using a couple of ribbon mics with great results.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Kurt » Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:33 am

I use Pro25s. They have proven their robustness and versatility so often I use them pretty much anywhere others might use a 57. Chuck them in front of just about anything and you'll get a usable sound.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby gigpiglet » Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:11 pm

depends on the sound im wanting

but often 441 an 421
or senny 609
or sure Beta98 (i know they are a "live" mic... but man if you want a snappy, poppy tom - they nail it!)
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby andygriffiths » Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:06 pm

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies. I have all ready got an older 421 & a 906 as well. I have just sold my 604's too. I have heard that the cad M179's are good on toms but I am a bit nervous getting them coz they are a condenser mic. Over the years I have had Audix, beta 56's, 604's. I'm just not sure if I should get a few more 421's or the cad's.

Cheers Andy
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Lee Cardan » Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:44 pm

Hey Andy

CAD M179 here, they're great
For me, MD421 sound OK (just ok), the big problem is the nasty off axis response. They sound like plastic too, but the off axis is just real ugly. Then when I EQ for a suitable tom sound, the off axis is even nastier!

The CADs have a real nice natural sound on toms (can't stand them on anything else) - I personally love the condenser on toms thing, trust me! don't for a second let the condenser thing stop you. The result is a much smoother, nicer balance of both dynamic and frequency response. The 421 always seemed like an uphill battle to me

I like AKG C12-Bs on toms too, but found I had to take off some of the attack with transient designer because they're just too quick. the decay is lovely though! I hate to admit it, but I prefer the CADs on toms to the C12B any day. But now that I have a nice U87 pair I can't wait to try that too!

I've heard Neumann TLM102 sound great also,
but CAD M179 three pack is about $500 posted (from eBay or ZenProAudio) - hard to say no

AKG D112 works well on some floor toms, as does RE-20
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Lee Cardan » Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:46 pm

in saying that,

My all time favourite for toms is the AEA R92 (almost a foot away) with Retro 2A3 for shaping :x
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby PeteB » Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:44 pm

Give the ultra cheap AT2020's a go. You won't be disappointed.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby adamcal » Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:33 pm

Lately have been using Audix i5's and a D6 on the floor, good sound, minimal spill, easy to place, and being all metal, robust against stick hits. The D6 can be a bit huge depending on the tuning.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby thephil » Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:58 pm

i use audix d2's for my racks and a d4 for the floor. I bought a drum mic pack ages ago and love them on toms. I used to use nothing but 421's when i had them at my disposal. Having said that I think I would pick the audix over them now.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Chinagraf » Fri Jan 04, 2013 11:26 am

Yes, me too, D2's and a D4 on floor. Very tight patterns, so you can get a good range of tones just from sweeping the mic between the centre of the head and the rim. I hate the rim clips though, if the nuts are the tiniest bit loose you get this rattle that sounds like distortion. I always use stands unless it's impossible. Been using the D6 combined with a fet 47 on kick too, sounds great when you get the phase between the 2 right.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby obutcher » Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:25 pm

Ditto on your mic setup Andy. Been using my D2's, D4 and D6 with FET47 combo for awhile now and you can get decent results relatively quick. If I don't have those them MD421's for sure.

My clips haven't been a problem with my mics yet though, so I use them as much as possible as I hate mic stands being all over the place. I like to keep the floor clear so I can move my overheads around the kit to get a nice OH sound.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Chinagraf » Sat Jan 05, 2013 5:22 pm

Yeah, I love the idea of less stands around the kit, but I seem to get the odd rattle from the clips unless I do them up so tight that my hand hurts. Maybe I'm a weakling?
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Wiz » Sat Jan 05, 2013 5:34 pm

Chinagraf wrote:Yeah, I love the idea of less stands around the kit, but I seem to get the odd rattle from the clips unless I do them up so tight that my hand hurts. Maybe I'm a weakling?



I keep wondering about mounting mic stands to the roof, K & M make some with boom arms and base plates for that purpose, anyone ever done that?
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby obutcher » Sat Jan 05, 2013 6:03 pm

Chinagraf wrote:Maybe I'm a weakling?


I always twist them tight using the mic side. If you tighten the screw with the mic at a 45 degree angle till it's tight then twist the mic around straight for that last turn, it seems to do it for me. I'm pretty weak too so I need to do this to get it just right!
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby walding » Sun Jan 06, 2013 2:19 pm

Yea + 1 on the cads, takes EQ well. Audix is good but sometimes too modern and scooped, the 57 is good as is a M88.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby mylesgm » Sun Jan 06, 2013 2:39 pm

Wiz wrote:
I keep wondering about mounting mic stands to the roof, K & M make some with boom arms and base plates for that purpose, anyone ever done that?


Mic stands on the roof are great! You can put a few baseplates about and then move the boom arms around to suit. You can even run some cables permanently to the baseplate so that all you need is a shortish patch lead to go from the mic to the baseplate. Niko put these in his drum room at Pughouse studios and it's a real space saver and unclutterer but also makes for easy stereo miking tool.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Ben M » Sun Jan 06, 2013 3:59 pm

Apparently the ol Motown studio had quite a few mic stands from the ceiling ready for easy connection and saving floor space. It wasn't a very big room and they did stick a lot of musicians in there at the one time. I've always liked the idea but... you know... time and money...
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby gigpiglet » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:06 pm

im on tour with sharon jones and the dap kings at the moment... there definitely ARNT ANY mics on toms..
kick - 421 (just infront of kick, no hole)
snare - 57 ( sort of low and distant but pointing at the snare)
OH - 421 (pretty well at drummers head/ over right shoulder, pointing across kit)

cool man.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Ben M » Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:43 pm

gigpiglet wrote:im on tour with sharon jones and the dap kings at the moment... there definitely ARNT ANY mics on toms..
kick - 421 (just infront of kick, no hole)
snare - 57 ( sort of low and distant but pointing at the snare)
OH - 421 (pretty well at drummers head/ over right shoulder, pointing across kit)

cool man.


Hahah Love it!
That's two more mics (on the kit) than there studio recordings.
Luxury :))

ps. how many lines all up Gareth?
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby gigpiglet » Mon Jan 07, 2013 5:11 pm

this is the spec.
though what i posted in my last is what they have been using for these shows

1 KICK BETA 52 SHORT BOOM
2 SNARE 421 SHORT BOOM
3 OVERHEAD 421 TALL BOOM
4 CONGAS SM57 TALL BOOM
5 BONGOS SM57 TALL BOOM
6 BASS DI Radial J48
7 GUITAR 1 e906 SHORT BOOM
8 GUITAR 2 e906 SHORT BOOM
9 TRUMPET SM57 TALL BOOM
10 TENOR SM58 TALL BOOM
11 BARI SM58 TALL BOOM
12 FLUTE SM58 TALL BOOM
13 LEAD VOX SM58 STRAIGHT
14 BU VOX SM58 TALL BOOM
15 BU VOX 2 SM58 TALL BOOM
16 BINK VOX SM58 TALL BOOM

the flute is only used in one song
i added a spare vocal on ch 17, cause im that kind of guy and i don't like not having a spare...
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby Ben M » Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:18 pm

gigpiglet wrote:i added a spare vocal on ch 17, cause im that kind of guy and i don't like not having a spare...


That's the special G-man vox channel...for those unexpected FOH harmonies.

Thanks for those specs G.
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Re: Who's using what on Toms

Postby andygriffiths » Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:26 pm

Hey everyone, thanks for pitching in I did pick myself up another older sennheiser 421 sorry to be so boring. Now it's time for my to keep modding my Soundcraft console.

Cheers Andy
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