Crotch Mic

[Mystic Steamship Co.]

I've seen a lot of people make references to this setup. From what I've gathered its a mic right above the kick facing right at the drummers crotch. What does this microphone typically add to the sound of the kit? I think i remember reading somewhere that it's often ultra compressed or distorted. It would be cool if somebody could explain this technique a little bit, I only have a vague understanding of it.

[A.David.MacKinnon]

AKA the heart mic.
I often use an omni here (EV 635a). It will give you a very present and quite balanced picture of the whole kit. I'll often use a distortion pedal as the pre (usually a Ross or MXR). When I do this I end up just sneaking the crotch mic in under the rest of the drum mix. The result is quite similar to using very aggressive parallel compression on the drum bus. It will reinforce the kit sound and give the kick and snare some extra attack and presence.
It doesn't work as well on cymbal heavy tunes though. It will tend to make cymbals harsh and splashy.

[drumsound]

It can really help the BD punch through a mix even when not terribly loud. If it's distorted and hyper compressed (either from the nature of distortion or with an actual compressor) sometimes it can even be the basis of the drum sound with the close mics and OH as the supplement.

Click http://www.myspace.com/wiplot and listen to "Not Much Left" the last song. Most of the drum sound is crotch mic.

[JWL]

I love the crotch mic technique. I've often used a 57 (or other similar mics that I prefer to a 57), placed between the kick and the underside of the snare, pointed at the drummer's crotch.

Compress the heck out of it, add distortion, etc. Experiment with placement, sometimes it's cool to have it also pick up the hihat well, along with kick and snare. Sneak this in underneath the mix, etc etc.

[Z-Plane]

Fascinating. Is there an ass-miking technique out there as well ?

(insert suitable drummer joke here)

[MoreSpaceEcho]

i don't have a joke, but a pzm under the drummers throne can be cool. sounds weird by itself, but mixed in with everything else it adds a nice realism.

[casey campbell]

Fascinating. Is there an ass-miking technique out there as well ?

(insert suitable drummer joke here)

i've got one:

how do you get a drummer off of your porch?
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pay him for the pizza! har dee har har har

[Scodiddly]

Fascinating. Is there an ass-miking technique out there as well ?

Actually yes, and to add humor points it's been attributed to that Albini guy. Put a mic on a short stand right behind the drum stool, run it through the usual crappy compressor.

[cgarges]

Fascinating. Is there an ass-miking technique out there as well ?

Actually yes, and to add humor points it's been attributed to that Albini guy. Put a mic on a short stand right behind the drum stool, run it through the usual crappy compressor.

The guys at Reflection in Charlotte have been doing it for years. I don't know whether it was a Don Dixon creation, but it tends to get attributed to him a lot around here. Many NC guys use this technique. I think I first heard about those guys doing it in like 1989. They call it the "butt mic."

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Spindrift]

Fascinating. Is there an ass-miking technique out there as well ?

There is actually. I like to put a mic (often a 57) behind the throne, between the throne and the tom, pointing perpendicular to the kit.

I once did a live recording and there was a guitar amp miced by the kit for a different band. That mic became the core of the drum sound for the band I was recording. The next time I was in the studio, I set up a 57 in the same position, but facing the kit. It was cool, but ended up sounding way better when I once again turned it away from the kit.

a.

[drumsound]

Fascinating. Is there an ass-miking technique out there as well ?

(insert suitable drummer joke here)

Chris Mara-CJMNASH has a specific mic he uses as the ass mic!

[cjmnash]

yes i do! it's called the ass mic. lol it took me a few years to figure out where to put it...turns out a crappy mic right below the drummers' ass is a great spot.

besides, i love having track sheets with "ass" written on them.

-chris

[mojobone]

PZM on the wall behind the drummer-right at ass level gives you a good balance of kick and snare, higher up gets more cymbal, not as good if you're going to use an LMC-1 or other 'crap it up' compressor for flava.

[A.David.MacKinnon]

The ass mic is out-weighing the crotch mic in this thread. This should have been a poll.

[mjau]

I've duct-taped a crappy Fostex dynamic mic to the bottom of the drum throne, pointing at the kick drum. No need for compression or eq - the mic already sounds awful and distorts easily.