Dynamics for overheads

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 4:43 pm

{Actual question underlined at bottom.}

Aiight, last request was re kick mics; I took the advice of many and a great price from a fellow TOMBer and got a used Senn e602 (series 1) and am loving it.

And I like my 58 on the snare and my old AT PR sompin' on the floor tom.

And, I like using a LDC (MXL 1006) for mid room and (Samson C02 in omni) for far room.

The problem is, I record drums on the Zoom R16 and that only gives 2 phantom- powered channels what I use for the room mics. (I'd rather not bring a power unit or outboard pre as I'm tryna do K.I.S.S.)

Also, we are in a low-ceilinged and lively basement, and so I'm digging the inexpensive (Digital Reference DR-GX1, cheapos from Audio Technica) dynamics I use as overheads, but am wondering if I can get some improvement there.

So, anyone have any great results with using dynamics as overheads, and whatcha's use?

(As always, I'm tryna keep the price down so I have more money for whiskey and CD's.

)

kickoldman · Post by **kickoldman** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:03 pm

I like the EV 635a as an overhead, or out in front of the kit.

A.David.MacKinnon · Post by **A.David.MacKinnon** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 6:29 pm

No always cheap or easy to find (even harder to find a working one) but I do like AKG D224's on OH. Otherwise ribbons, ribbons, RIBBONS. What-ever you've got or can get is worth a try.
+1 on the 635a although I prefer it as a crotch/heart mic on the drums. RE15s can be pretty great too. They were the OH on some of The Band's records. You could do worse than Levon's sound.

E.Bennett · Post by **E.Bennett** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 7:15 pm

electro-voice re55 or pl9. both omni. the re55 works on nearly anything.

jgimbel · Post by **jgimbel** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 8:28 pm

As others said, the 635a is definitely a good choice for this. When I first started recording/messing with using more than one mic at a time, for drum overheads I just used my cheap Nady vocal mics (Starpower series I believe, I think they were all under like 20 clams). I moved on past that, upgraded all sorts of things and got a lot of experience. Well at one point I listened to some of those very old recordings, and despite the fact that there were issues with most of the sounds (vocals ear-splittingly bright, muddy guitars, etc) the drums actually really didn't sound bad at all. I haven't really tried doing the same thing again since then, but I honestly don't know why.

When I'm recording just some random ideas for songs at home I usually just put up an SM7b straight up from the bass drum aimed downish toward the snare. It's a surprisingly pleasing sound that I definitely plan on using in full production at some point.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:09 pm

Thanks, guys!

I am happy, actually, with the sounds I'm getting, as is the drummer.

Just on that ever-present quest to improve.

The 635a sounds like mebbe sompin' to try, the others seem to be US$200 and up, each ...

I do have a ribbon (NOS R2) that I love on guitar amps - it's my go-to, and so I'm not sure I want ribbons on the OH's as I'm using one all the time ...

Is the omni characteristic of the 636a key? Is there a theoretical superiority of patterns for OH when they are dynamics? I use Recorderman mostly, sometimes Johns, but I'm wed to nothing (I like M/S, also, but the drummer doesn't.)

I even bought a "stereo bar" recently, tho' I haven't tried it yet ...

If I hadda describe what I'm looking for, it's a little more of the "silver-jingle" of the cymbals, but I still have to control the reflective low ceilings (which makes me question the suitablility of the omni 635a), and wanna avoid the need for outboard phantom power. It's like, I want the most "condensor-ish" of dynamics, and cheap.

accordion squeezist · Post by **accordion squeezist** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:32 pm

I picked up an E.V. RE-10 cardioid dynamic for about $100.
Something cheap like that, maybe?

Brett Siler · Post by **Brett Siler** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:52 pm

I took the transformer my 57 and tried it as an overhead and I really liked the sound. Very mellow, lots of low mids and very soft highend. Sounded very "vintage".

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:01 pm

Great info, y'all!

Snarl 12/8 · Post by **Snarl 12/8** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 9:33 pm

If what you really want is a condenser with no 48v needed, maybe you should consider one of the battery powered options. Like a RadShack pzm or the TapeOp DIY Omni. Are you at all DIY friendly?

Tim A · Post by **Tim A** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 11:18 pm

there are a bunch of condensers with their own power supplies. i would probably opt for some ribbons though.... bit of variety in the mix

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:39 am

I've used 635a, AKG D119es, TOMB ribbons and way back when Stedman N90s for OH.

trodden · Post by **trodden** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 10:58 am

drumsound wrote: Stedman N90s for OH.

Yes! Takes me back 12 years when the one n90 was the "nice" mic amongst a group of us. We used it for mono OH often. That very same mic is still with me and regularly used for under the snare duties.

joninc · Post by **joninc** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:59 pm

635 doesn't seem to be insane picking up tons of the room and has a surprisingly smooth sound. not ideal for quiet sources but for anything med-loud it's good.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:39 pm

We are pretty loud.

I am DIY friendly, but don't have the time to do extensive projects.

I already mentioned my thoughts re ribons.

Now that I think onnit, I do have a C-1000S, but really, I like the dynamics I'm using, just wondering if there are better options in that regard.

I s'pose I could always go with 57's, and do the transformer mod, and tie a 9v. battery to it with some hair-ribbon.

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Dynamics for overheads

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