Drums provide the backbone of any song and can make or break your mix. Utilizing proper miking techniques in the studio is key to ensuring your sound is on point. Miking your kit is an involved and often complicated process. To help you get the most out of your drum pieces, we teamed up with Charlie Waymire of Ultimate Studios, Inc. to develop our series of recording basics and miking technique videos. This informative guide includes different tactics for miking your kit as well as tips for recording drums on a budget.

Snare Drum

The snare drum is the focal point of your drum kit and capturing the snare sound properly is vital. Getting the right sound is tricky and takes some experimentation. Our tips will get you started in the right direction.  

Hi-Hat

The hi-hat is an often overlooked element of your kit. When miked and recorded properly, the hi-hat can do wonders for your mix. We have five tips to help you capture the hi-hat’s complex sound.  

Ride Cymbal

If you’re looking to round out your drum sound, you’ll want to take care when miking your ride cymbal. Using a dedicated condenser microphone will allow your ride cymbal to be heard through a dense drum mix. Adding this little detail to your track can make all the difference.  

Kick Drum

The kick drum provides the foundation for any strong drum track. There are several methods that can be used when capturing the kick drum, including single mic and dual mic placements. Experimentation can help determine which method is ideal for your recording needs.  

Overhead Drum Mic Setup

Explore three simple techniques for positioning your microphones to capture the overheads. Regardless of musical style or the size of your studio, these tips for mic positioning can be applied to nearly every setup.  

Jazz Drum Kit

Jazz drumming requires a different approach than rock drumming. Jazz drummers typically have smaller drum kits and as such, require different miking techniques. Check out these tips for a simple yet effective way to record jazz drums.  

Recording Drums on a Budget

Setting up drum microphones is often the most involved aspect of the recording process, but it doesn’t have to be the most expensive. These three tips will help you amass a killer recording setup without breaking the bank.  

Room Miking Your Drums

Room mics add depth and ambiance to the overall sound of your kit. Microphone placement is key. The further the mics are from the kit, the more ambient the sound.. Experiment with positioning to find the “sweet spot” in the room and get the exact sound you’re looking for.   We hope this guide has given you a good foundation for recording drums. If you want to see these techniques in action, check out the playlist below. What microphones have you found to be the most effective for capturing drums? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter @USAudioTechnica!