Drum Mic Reccomendations

[guitarguru777]

The drummer in my band is looking for some new mics for his kit.

He is currently using CAD TM211's on his toms ( Rack12, Rack14, Floor16, Floor18). We are using an Audix i5 on the snare. In his kicks he is using Beta 52 mouonted with the Kelly Shu system.

We are looking for some new tom mics specifically and have come down to choosing e604 Sennheiser's or CAD TM411's

The 604s seem to have a better frequency response and the Hum Canceling feature is nice. The TM411's dont seem to have as much in the low frequencey range which will reduce rumble and we wont have to EQ it out. But hey Im still pretty new to this so whats your reccomendation?

 

[musickey]

The e609's are good mics.

 

[fade_2_black]

Woah I had never heard of that Kelly Shu system, does it work well?? Sorry for changing the direction of the topic a little

 

[guitarguru777]

Dude the fucking thing is AMAZING.

I get the sickest kickdrum sound with those Beta 52 with the shu. Its pretty awsome. I never worry about the kicks live EVER cause of it.

 

[Sloan]

Killer, I had read about that a while back, nice to hear from someone that has actually used it.

 

[guitarguru777]

It just makes things so easy. Getting that sweet spot on a kick is a pain in the ass wioth a boom stand. My drummer is using a StarClassic Custom from Tama all maple, really great kit and the SHU just makes things hella easy. We set up the mic once when we installed the SHU and let me tell yo uthe kicks sound exactly the same from gig to gig. Set it, forget it, your done.

They are currently working on a similar system for Tom's so keep your eyes out for that aswell.

 

[KeithTidd]

e604's are really solid tom mics.

 

[John_C]

How does the kelly shu thingy attach to the bass drum? i'm guessing there's some screws or something??

 

[fade_2_black]

Woah a Kelly Shu system for toms?? That would be cool, cant imagine how they would do that though, would be very interesting to see once it has been fully developed.

 

[Trevoire520]

604's are pretty good and cheap, but can lack a little bottom end in my experience, nothing you cant eq in later on though. 904's come across as a more balanced 604.

609's are really good tom mic's. I think Andy uses them actually.

I5's are also nice, have a decent balance between attack and resonance.

Alot of people on Gearslutz are swearing by CAD M179's on toms. Which is impressive given how cheap they are and what attitudes are normally like on that forum towards low end gear.

Audix's D2 or D4 also do a decent job, but to me they seem very pre-eq'd. I'd rather have something a bit more natural and eq it myself later.

I've used 57's and though they're not the greatest mics for toms they do work, I just prefer something else if its available.

 

[guitarguru777]

How does the kelly shu thingy attach to the bass drum? i'm guessing there's some screws or something??

(To mount internally)

Basically you take the lug hubs off your kick (well the screws inside the kick anyway) and attach a little leather strap then screw it back in. You dont have to drill your drums at all. It all mounts to the existing hardware in the kick drum.

(To mount externally)
You just attach the hooks to your lug screws

Here is a photo of a TOM witht he SHU in it (he removed the bottom head permanently. The are working on a way to get the cable out of the drum without drilling. They are thinking of selling an XLR system that you make your own XLR cable to attach to the mic then run the other end of the cable through the existing hole in your tom.

 

[guitarguru777]

604's are pretty good and cheap, but can lack a little bottom end in my experience, nothing you cant eq in later on though. 904's come across as a more balanced 604.

609's are really good tom mic's. I think Andy uses them actually.

I5's are also nice, have a decent balance between attack and resonance.

Alot of people on Gearslutz are swearing by CAD M179's on toms. Which is impressive given how cheap they are and what attitudes are normally like on that forum towards low end gear.

Audix's D2 or D4 also do a decent job, but to me they seem very pre-eq'd. I'd rather have something a bit more natural and eq it myself later.

I've used 57's and though they're not the greatest mics for toms they do work, I just prefer something else if its available.

Thanks man, he has actually decided on the 411's, they are giving him a great price on them. I am just hoping they dont suck. The 211's were ok, but really colored the toms. I am hoping the 411's are an improvement.

 

[beyond dead]

wow, thats super cool!

 

[guitarguru777]

Ya its great never having to THINK about the kick drum Mics, I know when we set up and run to the board they are gonna sound great. Theres no rumble in the 80hz so I get to boost it at the board and get a good thump in the rib cage live .... I LOVE IT!!!

No stage noise AT ALL.

 

[John_C]

thanks guitarguru, it looks really cool