Ian Schreier SM57 Drum Mic seminar
The Shure SM57 is a versatile dynamic microphone that is commonly used for a variety of audio recording applications, including miking drums. While it’s not specifically designed as a drum mic, the SM57 is often employed on drums due to its durability, reliability, and ability to capture sound accurately across a wide frequency range.
Here’s how the SM57 can be used effectively as a drum mic:
1. Snare Drum: The SM57 is frequently used to mic the snare drum in both live sound reinforcement and studio recording settings. Its tight cardioid polar pattern helps isolate the sound of the snare drum while minimizing bleed from other nearby drums. Placing the SM57 slightly off-center, pointed towards the center of the drum head, can capture the crisp attack and body of the snare drum sound.
2. Toms: The SM57 can also be used to mic tom drums. Similar to miking the snare drum, placing the SM57 slightly off-center and pointing towards the center of the drum head can capture the desired attack and resonance of the tom sound. Multiple SM57s may be used to mic each individual tom in a drum kit setup.
3. Guitar Amp Mic: While not specific to drums, the SM57 is widely used as a microphone for miking guitar amplifier cabinets. Its ability to handle high sound pressure levels (SPL) makes it suitable for close-miking guitar amps to capture the nuances of the guitar sound.
4. Durability: One of the key advantages of the SM57 for drum miking is its rugged construction. It can withstand the rigors of drumming and frequent setup/teardown in live performance situations, as well as the close proximity to drumsticks and potential impacts.
Overall, while there are dedicated drum mics available on the market, the Shure SM57 remains a popular choice for miking drums due to its versatility, reliability, and affordability. It provides a solid option for capturing the sound of drums in various recording and live sound applications.