I had an email session with Stav a few years back and he told me that he ALWAYS double mics the top snare. He uses 2 different as possible mics, a dynamic and a condenser side by side as close to each other as you can without them touching with the diaphragms equal distance from the snare. something like a 57 and a rode NT5 works amazingly well.
He then just mics bottom as usual. (sometimes not at all)
Hope this helps.
Cheers.
common technice.
I've experimented with an AT250DE (does the same thing), but didn't like it.
I'm LOVING a km184 taped to an sm57, but I don't like risking a km184 for snare.
I then went to using the m201 for top, it has some of the qualities of a 57 mixed with a condenser.
It's aso really interesting to mic the shell (instead of the bottom), gives a really nice CRACK to the sound.
I'm actually not a huge fan of the bottom mic...if you're not micing the side or using a consensor on top you'll need the bottom mic, but to me it's always a bit of a "lesser evil" thing. you need it in the mix to get your high end and get rid of the tubbyness, but just a bit too much and it sunds cheap.
also, if the snare-wires or bottom head aren't tuned perfectly you'll be in mixing hell.
I'm still using the 201 on top, sm57 on bottom for 90% of my projects, but I'm definitely not always loving it.
when I'm not using a bottom mic I'll sometimes pull the top mic further towards the rim of the snare...often even a bit outside of it (like 0.5 to 1 inch between rim and mic), that's a bit between the sounds of a side-mic and a regular top mic (which is sitting about an inch inside from the rim).
I'm sometimes doing that and still mic the bottom, but in those cases I find I don't need the bottom mic very much in the mic=win.
I do like a condenser on top (loved 184 and 414), but I don't trust ANY drummer to not hit it.
you should try an m201 pulled a bit further outside.
