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[Mark Schneider]

I will be doing some recording of a large drum kit, and have the Audix D series mics to use for it.  I have never used Audix mics on toms before and need advice, since I won't have much time to play around and experiment.

I see recommendations that the D2 is best on rack toms, and D4 on floor toms.  The drum kit being recorded has 9 total toms (8" to 15" rack toms, 16" & 18" floor toms).  I've got enough of both D2's and D4's at my disposal to use all of one or the other if I choose, or a combination.

The only difference I can ascertain is that the D4 has an extended low frequency response from the D2.  If I have enough D4's for the full kit, is it better to use those on all the toms, even the small ones?  Or is there something the D2 will provide that is better on small and mid toms than the D4 would?

My thought is to use the D4's on all the toms since I have enough, unless there is compelling reason to use the D2's on smaller toms.  Any thoughts?

[Tim McCulloch]

I will be doing some recording of a large drum kit, and have the Audix D series mics to use for it.  I have never used Audix mics on toms before and need advice, since I won't have much time to play around and experiment.

I see recommendations that the D2 is best on rack toms, and D4 on floor toms.  The drum kit being recorded has 9 total toms (8" to 15" rack toms, 16" & 18" floor toms).  I've got enough of both D2's and D4's at my disposal to use all of one or the other if I choose, or a combination.

The only difference I can ascertain is that the D4 has an extended low frequency response from the D2.  If I have enough D4's for the full kit, is it better to use those on all the toms, even the small ones?  Or is there something the D2 will provide that is better on small and mid toms than the D4 would?

My thought is to use the D4's on all the toms since I have enough, unless there is compelling reason to use the D2's on smaller toms.  Any thoughts?

I'd suggest asking this question in the RecPit recording forum.

[Mark Schneider]

I'd suggest asking this question in the RecPit recording forum.

Yes, I also have plans to use them in a live situation, and failed to note that in my original post.  Same questions apply for that as well.

[Tim McCulloch]

Well I'd suggest experimenting in advance with a couple of different toms, put a D2 and D4 on each and record them straight up on separate tracks.  Listen back and see what you think.

It doesn't matter so much that it's not the big kit you'll record later, you're listening for the difference in mics.

[David Sturzenbecher]

I have seen the hard rock guys use the D6 on all the toms. I have to say, it worked for the genre/band.


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[William Schnake]

The only difference I can ascertain is that the D4 has an extended low frequency response from the D2.  If I have enough D4's for the full kit, is it better to use those on all the toms, even the small ones?  Or is there something the D2 will provide that is better on small and mid toms than the D4 would?

My thought is to use the D4's on all the toms since I have enough, unless there is compelling reason to use the D2's on smaller toms.  Any thoughts?

Mark, we use D2/D4 on toms all the time without any problems.  When we are doing a 'heavy' drummer, we put the mic about 1 1/2" from the head if it is a 'Normal' we generally have the mic 1" from the head.  It is hard to overload either the D2 or D4.  You shouldn't have problems using all D4s if that is what you want to do.

Bill

Bill

[Debbie Dunkley]

I use D2/D4 combo on toms also and get great results - never any problems and really easy to EQ. I stick to the D2 for rack tom and D4 for floor - However, the D4 used to be the  kick mic in the Audix D series till the D6 came out. I have used the D4 on kick and I like it - might also be worth a try.

[Mark Schneider]

Let me better define my question:  Assuming I have enough D4's to use on all the toms (including small and mid size rack toms), why would someone choose to use D2's on the smaller and mid size toms?  Is there something the D2 has that would make them sound better than the D4? 

I'm guessing since the D2 has less low frequency capability than the D4, the lows aren't needed on small and mid size rack toms?  Or is there some other audio quality that the D2 has over the D4 that would make the preferable on those size toms?  Or would the D4 really be the better choice on everything?

[Don T. Williams]

Let me better define my question:  Assuming I have enough D4's to use on all the toms (including small and mid size rack toms), why would someone choose to use D2's on the smaller and mid size toms?  Is there something the D2 has that would make them sound better than the D4? 

I'm guessing since the D2 has less low frequency capability than the D4, the lows aren't needed on small and mid size rack toms?  Or is there some other audio quality that the D2 has over the D4 that would make the preferable on those size toms?  Or would the D4 really be the better choice on everything?

The two mics are "voiced" a little differently, but using a D4 everywhere will probably work.  The kit and how it tuned and played really makes more of a difference in mic choice.  Some mics just seem to match up better to some drums. By that I mean that less (or no) Eq is needed to get the sound you are looking for.  And, that sound may be different for each engineer!  It's not just the mics, not just the drums, not just the drummer, and not just the engineer, it's all of the above.

[Scott Holtzman]

The two mics are "voiced" a little differently, but using a D4 everywhere will probably work.  The kit and how it tuned and played really makes more of a difference in mic choice.  Some mics just seem to match up better to some drums. By that I mean that less (or no) Eq is needed to get the sound you are looking for.  And, that sound may be different for each engineer!  It's not just the mics, not just the drums, not just the drummer, and not just the engineer, it's all of the above.

If you had told me this 5 years ago I would not have understood what you meant.  Even with the experience or running church sound and theater, live sound was completely different.  I never would have been able to make the transition if it weren't for you folks.

What I would share with you is that you establish your kit of drum mics.  I have Sennheiser e604, e904 Audix D2, D4, Shure Beta 98's, Beta 57's and even some PGA's and Audio Technica.  Each one is different.  Learning your mics and how they pair with different instruments and players is key.  I choose from my palette what matches the scenario.  If we do a band regularly I send out what works best for them.

Our "go to" mic is the e604.  Mainly for ease of deployment and general agreeability. 

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