Overhead mics for drummers

Power sometimes comes from a battery source but in the majority of circumstances it is actually run to the mic through a mixing desk or audio interface using something called phantom power. These can be experimented with to tailor your own unique sound.

Sensitivity

Microphone sensitivity refers to how much of the original sound source the mic pics up and turns into input signal for the desk or other audio input.

This is not likely for drums, but if you use your mics for other purposes, it can be a good added feature.

There are so many microphones on the market that each tries to create a separate, attractive offering with added extras.

While affordable drum mic kits can get the job done, they lack the spatial dimension that the best overhead drum mics can provide.

Compared to an affordable drum mic kit, which might rely on lower-end condensers, the best mics for drum overheads deliver a more spacious and balanced sound.

Microphones should last a long time if treated right, especially dynamic microphones, so look for products with a one or two year warranty if you can just to make sure you can be confident in your purchase over long periods of time.

It just depends on what overhead you’re using for that. A lot of these mics come with clips for connecting to mic stands, as this is pretty standard as additions go.

Other mics include accessories such as cases, which can be used for safely storing and transporting, the Beyerdynamic MC930 is a good example of this. This also makes the pair well suited for ORTF ambient recordings.

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“Huge sound” is usually achieved from giving as much dynamic range as possible to a given element. However, I’d definitely use shock mounts to isolate the mics from floor vibrations and stage rumble during recording.

On a final note

I’ve tested countless overhead mics throughout my drumming career, and these ten options represent the best value across different budgets and recording scenarios.

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.

If you are likely to run long cables, lower impedance will be an even higher priority.

Power requirements

As we’ve already stated in this guide, most microphones on the list need some sort of power going to them. I’ve learned through countless studio sessions that understanding these specifications upfront saves you from disappointing results and expensive do-overs, so let’s examine each factor systematically.

Polar Pattern Selection

Selecting an appropriate polar pattern dramatically affects how your overhead mics capture the drum kit’s overall sound, and I’ve found that cardioid patterns consistently deliver the most reliable results for this application.

This is referred to as equivalent noise level or just “self-noise”. All these brands sell microphones that tend to work very well for drum kits, whether that’s in studios or on live stages.

Shure

Shure is an incredibly popular audio brand, especially due to their SM57 mics being one of the industry-standard drum kit options.