How to Record Drums at Home
To record drums at home, start with one mic about 12 inches (30 cm) above the drummer's right shoulder aimed at the snare, then add a kick mic, a snare mic, and a second overhead as you get more inputs. Four mics (two overheads, kick, and snare) cover the whole kit, and you need one interface input per mic.
1, 3, and 4 mic setups
Every mic you add pulls one drum closer. Placements are from Lewitt's 1 to 4 mic drum guide.
1 mic
Overhead
About 12 inches (30 cm) above the drummer's right shoulder, aimed at the snare's right edge.
3 mics
+ kick, snare
Kick mic just inside the port hole, pointing straight in. Snare mic two fingers or so above the rim.
4 mics
+ overhead
A second overhead makes a Recorderman pair, both equidistant from the snare.
Mic picks are on best drum mics for home recording.
Overheads: the Recorderman pair
The Recorderman setup puts both overheads 32 inches from the center of the snare, according to Shure's stereo drum miking guide. One points straight down at the snare. The other sits near the drummer's right shoulder, aimed at the snare.
Shure says the kick must also be the same distance from both mics, so kick and snare reach both at once and stay in phase. Pan the two tracks left and right.
Kick, snare, and phase
Shure's drum recording guide gives these starting points and a phase check:
- Kick. Inside the drum for beater attack, farther back or outside the resonant head for more low end. A pillow inside stops ringing.
- Snare. Near the rim and angled at the center. Shure starts about 4 inches from the drum; Lewitt goes as close as two fingers above the rim.
- Spacing. Keep mics at least three times as far from each other as from their source, the 3:1 rule.
- Phase check. Bring up the kick alone, add each track in turn, flip its polarity, and keep whichever sounds fuller.
Noise and neighbors are covered in soundproofing a drum room. The rest of the song is in how to record music at home.
Related questions
Can you record drums with one mic?
Yes. Put one condenser about 12 inches (30 cm) above the drummer's right shoulder, aimed at the right edge of the snare, to capture the whole kit.
How many inputs do I need to record drums?
One mic input per mic, so a 4 mic kit needs an interface with four preamps. A 2 input interface limits you to the 1 mic method or one overhead plus a kick mic.
Why do my drum mics sound thin together?
The mics are out of phase. Bring up the kick alone, add each track in turn, flip its polarity, and keep whichever setting sounds fuller.
More answers: Home recording FAQ