How important is it to mic the bottom of a snare?

[Scodiddly]

One thing that consistently blows my mind, is everyone seems to use a 441 under the snare. You put a 57 on top, but the $700 actually great sounding mic goes on the bottom?

It has to do with microphone price and drumstick exposure.

[floid]

Wasn't one of the Stooges' records just an under-snare mic for the entire kit?

[Recycled_Brains]

One thing that consistently blows my mind, is everyone seems to use a 441 under the snare. You put a 57 on top, but the $700 actually great sounding mic goes on the bottom?

It has to do with microphone price and drumstick exposure.

57 head will break way before a 441 will though. Mine has a few dents in it. It can take it.

[Rodgre]

Cool, Cool, Cool. I'm going to do it this weekend

but with a real mic...

How did it go? Inquiring minds want to know!

Roger

[drumsound]

Cool, Cool, Cool. I'm going to do it this weekend

but with a real mic...

How did it go? Inquiring minds want to know!

Roger

Really well. Its a fairly subtle difference unless I crank that mic, but it does add a bit of tone and sustain, just as you described. So... my basic setup is going to have one more mic, it seems. I used an M88, there's basically nothing those things can't do!

Thanks for the tips!!!

[Rodgre]

I used an M88, there's basically nothing those things can't do!

Great choice! I'll have to try that too. I would assume that it would give a great thickness to the snare, judging by what a regular 57 has been giving me. M88s are really an unsung mic. Surprisingly good on everything. Enough bottom end for a kick drum, yet smooth and detailed enough for horns and vocals. Great mic.

Roger

[losthighway]

This makes me want to put my 421 on that duty.

[drumsound]

I used an M88, there's basically nothing those things can't do!

Great choice! I'll have to try that too. I would assume that it would give a great thickness to the snare, judging by what a regular 57 has been giving me. M88s are really an unsung mic. Surprisingly good on everything. Enough bottom end for a kick drum, yet smooth and detailed enough for horns and vocals. Great mic.

Roger

Indeed. M88s are my favorite mic made. I've got 3 and I'm sure will get more in years to come.

[Burnt Ernie]

+1000% on the Beyer M88. Hands down,fave mic ever made. Works on everything. I still have 2 old ones that work,2 others have perished mid-take in the last 15 years. I love the M69 almost as much,but they're nowhere to be found. I've yet to find a Beyer microphone that disappoints. Wish i could find a few of those old EV PL10's. Those are stunning as well. They used to be 75-100,now ,ahem,they're not. There's lots of affordable alternatives out there. Can't enthuse enough about Heil pr40,30,35 (Same large diaphragm,58 ish body). Big body tone,open high end.

[drumsound]

+1000% on the Beyer M88. Hands down,fave mic ever made. Works on everything. I still have 2 old ones that work,2 others have perished mid-take in the last 15 years. I love the M69 almost as much,but they're nowhere to be found. I've yet to find a Beyer microphone that disappoints. Wish i could find a few of those old EV PL10's. Those are stunning as well. They used to be 75-100,now ,ahem,they're not. There's lots of affordable alternatives out there. Can't enthuse enough about Heil pr40,30,35 (Same large diaphragm,58 ish body). Big body tone,open high end.

I have a long-term loan of an M69 and its great. I got 2 of my 3 RE10s free, but haven't used a PL10. They look like mini RE20s. I think I paid around 125 for my PL11, and it is a wonderful mic too. I need to get some of the Heil mics. I've used them at Webster University.

VIVA LA DYNAMIC MICS!!!

[vernier]

I've never tried a bottom mic on snare . . maybe someday.

[roscoenyc]

I mic the bottom all the time.
As I'm getting a huge percentage of my drum sound from the overheads the bottom mic gives me something that the overhead or the top mic does not.
Compressing the bottom mic with fast attack/slow release can impart a lot of space, almost like a reverb.

If you have a track with no bottom mic it's really easy to get that sound if you want to.
The method I use is to put a small amp, like a Fender Pro Jr, on the floor facing upward then place the snare drum on top of that with the bottom head and the snares on top. Mic the snares/bottom head which is on top. You send your snare drum top mic to that amp. The hits will excite the drum and the snares. Instant bottom mic!

[Rodgre]

I mic the bottom all the time.
As I'm getting a huge percentage of my drum sound from the overheads the bottom mic gives me something that the overhead or the top mic does not.
Compressing the bottom mic with fast attack/slow release can impart a lot of space, almost like a reverb.

If you have a track with no bottom mic it's really easy to get that sound if you want to.
The method I use is to put a small amp, like a Fender Pro Jr, on the floor facing upward then place the snare drum on top of that with the bottom head and the snares on top. Mic the snares/bottom head which is on top. You send your snare drum top mic to that amp. The hits will excite the drum and the snares. Instant bottom mic!

What he said....

I've done the snare reamp trick as well. It's a great way to process a programmed snare by the way, to get a bit of "randomness" to the track.

And every studio needs at least one Fender Pro Jr.

Roger

[mjau]

I’m working with some drum tracks now on a few of my own songs where the drummer stereo-mic’d under the snare with a pair of Josephsons, along with the usual top mic. These are fairly sensitive brush tracks, and the snare takes on a 3-D quality as a result. Wouldn’t need it for everything, but in this context, I love it.

[Rodgre]

I’m working with some drum tracks now on a few of my own songs where the drummer stereo-mic’d under the snare with a pair of Josephsons, along with the usual top mic. These are fairly sensitive brush tracks, and the snare takes on a 3-D quality as a result. Wouldn’t need it for everything, but in this context, I love it.

Now that seems interesting! Especially, like you say, on brush tracks.

Roger