Top Drum Mic Kits – Guide & Comparison
If you are in a hurry and you don’t have the time necessary to search through all the drum mic kit reviews, here you can find a guide that will help you select the best drum mic kit out there. We have evaluated the quality and value provided by some of the most acclaimed products in this category and we concluded that the Shure PGADRUMKIT7 is the kit that you should be looking for. It consists of seven professional microphones, it offers a clear tone with no noise and it’s highly versatile. If you are unable to find this kit, we recommend the Audix DP7 one.
Comparison Table
Our Top Choice
The following tools can be seen in the box: the premium PGA52 Cardioid Dynamic kick drum microphone, the PGA56 for the snare drum, and other mics that are going to transform your concerts into mind-blowing experiences. You'll also receive all the necessary cables and three drum mounts. Moreover, the seller also throws in a case so you can store everything easily.
As a downside, people usually don't appreciate the lack of mounting accessories.
The Shure microphones have always been praised for their unmatched sound quality and durability, and they are tailored for performers of every level. Others appreciate that they don't use a lot of energy to deliver impressive results.
2nd Best
For the right price, this set offers you not one but seven microphones ideal for many types of drums. The collection also contains the famous DVICE gooseneck clips for rim mounting, which are going to save you time when preparing the stage for an exhausting concert. For easy storage and transportation, you also get a heavy-duty aluminum road case that can fit everything comfortably.
As a setback, we'll mention that the cables you'll find in the box are of lower craft quality.
The set is designed, assembled and tested by the brand in the USA, which is a sign of premium quality. The overhead condensers provide detail and dimension, and the mics are ready for recording sessions in the studio and live shows at the same time.
This kit contains everything an expert drummer might need: the Samson DK707 drum mics, two mic stands, and many other little accessories that are going to save time and money. The seven-microphone set is a collection of professional units designed to provide excellent sound for close-mic performance and for a diverse range of recording environments.
Some buyers weren't too thrilled about the mic stands, as they seemed to have poor quality.
The four Q72 instrument mics and the Q71 kick drum mic are bound to record even the faintest of the notes you play, while the two CO2 pencil condenser mics are ideal for overhead miking. Needless to say, the set doesn't lack in any area.
Highly Recommended Choices – Reviews & Comparison
In order to make the best selection, our team has spent time researching all the consumer reports and professional reviews of drum mic kits, they have analyzed sales figures and they have created this top consisting of six quality and highly sought-after drum mic kits.
Shure PGADRUMKIT7
Containing seven microphones, this professional kit will provide excellent sound for live performances and studio recordings. The set includes a kick drum microphone, three drum mics, and three instrument ones. In the package you also receive three drum mounts, seven XLR cables, and a stylish carrying case.
The microphones are known for delivering reliability and quality for stage performances and studio recordings. Made to meet anyone’s needs, the set consists of a complete family of different microphones. The design resembles an industrial style, with metallic covering. Microphone feedback and background noise are reduced through the cardioid polar patterns.
The different mics make it possible for the player to obtain versatility in the sounding tone of the drums. A great sound is ensured by the excellence of the drum kick microphone. The drum clips are adjustable and will allow you to set up the mics how you want.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($499)
Audix DP7
The Audix DP7 is a kit designed for tracking or recording and it provides the highest value when the drum kit is good overall. Made for a seven-piece setup, this one is superior to other kits because it’s a premium model and because Audix specializes in developing drum microphones. If you choose this kit, you will reap the benefits of a reliable set for many years.
Other sets will put together some microphones made for different purposes, but not this one. This set’s included microphones are each made for a specific purpose in drumming. You can find the same mics separately so you don’t have to worry if you lose one — you can always find a replacement.
When discussing accessories, it should be noted that the clips are durable, will not cause problems and they’re also easy to set up. They’ll attach well to any drum kit, will not come in the way of your drum throne and they won’t go loose.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($999)
Samson DK707
A compact plastic carry case gives a good look to this set of seven microphones. There are four dynamic tom or snare mics, with fixed stands attachments and four drum mounts. The set also includes a kick drum microphone that has a rubberized stand mount so the unwanted rumble isn’t transmitted to the mic.
The clips can be removed and replaced with others if wanted. Completing the set, there are two condenser microphones built in a pencil style. They can form an overhead pair or they can be used for the high-hats. The clips do a good job to isolate the bad vibrations but they might have issues if the drum set is placed on a wooden floor.
These microphones offer a good sound across the board. The large diaphragm kick microphone gets out a large sound volume and the high frequencies are covered by the quality condensers. For more flexibility, the tom and snare microphones offer two additional tone controls.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($339.99)
Sennheiser E604
This package includes three Sennheiser E604 microphones. At its core, this mic is one built for a snare drum or a tom and it has a good frequency range, between 40Hz and 18kHz. That means that it’s also suitable for the lower frequency sounds that the kick drum produces.
It is capable of capturing sounds directly from a specific source, using tight cardioid polar patterns. This makes the mic good at canceling surrounding sounds. That means this microphone is especially good for recording. Although the mic was made for drums, it’s versatile enough to register the sound of other instruments like guitar or bass.
Despite being so small, this microphone model is extremely durable. The shell is made of glass-composite and it will endure drops and stick hits. The clip is detachable and it provides a good amount of movement so you can position the mic how you want. All these features make it suitable for a drum set for kids.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($349.95)
Pyle PDKM7
Another seven-piece drum mic kit, this one contains five dynamic microphones, two condenser ones, and accessories for drum mounting. They all come in a lightweight carry case that offers easy transport and the means for a quick setup.
The mics are constructed so they fit all the standard types of microphone stands. Calibrated to capture low-frequency sounds, the big drum microphone is meant to be used for bass drums. The set contains four microphones that are suitable for tom or snare use. Taking care of the overhead sound, there are two condenser mics that are designed to capture sensitive vibrations.
Sound clarity is something that this kit delivers. The bass mic has a good frequency range and it will capture a large array of sounds. These microphones are intended for people that don’t want to make a huge investment in the microphone department and as a result, the quality of the materials used isn’t the highest.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($130)
Telefunken DD5
When discussing appearance, this set has a classy look – it comes in different shades, the drum kick mic is black, the snare one is dark grey and the toms a lighter grey. All of them give the feel of sturdiness. The bass mic has a frequency of 25Hz to 18kHz and it can support sound levels of 150dB.
Holding all the microphones, the mounting devices and the cables, the carry case is large and sturdy. The plastic clips hold on great and they are easy to set up; that’s why they are excellent for live performances and they’re a great choice for a beginner drum set.
A focused cardioid pickup pattern ensures that the mics register no unnecessary background sounds. The manufacturer designed these mics so they register as little noise as possible, but that sometimes comes with the disadvantage that they don’t capture the whole volume of the sound. For live sound reinforcement, this kit will work great, but for larger venues, you will need additional overhead drum mics.
Buy from Amazon.com for ($1349)
Yearly Guide & Report
A drum kit is one of the most challenging instruments to mic up. When trying to record its sounds, in a live play or in a studio environment, the drummer must make sure that his or her mic kit provides the best sound possible.
How many mics?
Depending on how many drums you have in your kit and how many of them you want to amplify, you will get a kit that suits your needs. Some people like to get everything that they could ever need, and purchase kits that contain mics suitable for any drum, while others will settle for a couple of microphones.
If you are going for price efficiency, getting a whole seven-piece kit will prove a better option in the long run. But you might also want to consider getting a set of three microphones and in time adding some overhead ones to those. Another advantage when buying a whole set is that it comes with all the accessories needed to mount each microphone and most often they all come in a nice suitcase.
Some microphones that come in drum mic kits are also great for recording other instruments, like guitar or bass. Usually, a set of fewer pieces contains dynamic close proximity mics, but the ones with more options offer condenser microphones that are great for positioning overhead and they will make the whole drum set sound more complete.
You must make sure that your kit contains dynamic models because those need to be used for the toms, hats and snare drums. The mics should have a sturdy construction to withstand occasional hits from your drum stick and they need to be able to precisely capture mid-range frequency sounds. These microphones usually come with special modifications that make the drums sound better.
Clips and accessories
A good drum mic kit is of no use if the clips that attach it to the drums are poorly designed or poor quality. That’s why you need to make sure that the clips are easy to install, that they will last for a while and they will not loosen up. The mic mounts enable you to position the microphones closer to the drums and they are attached to the rims or edges of the drum kit. For tom or kick drums some of the microphones come with stands.
The carrying case is another important component, as it provides you with the means of transporting the equipment and maintaining it safe and clean. XLR cables are included in some drum mic kits, to make the setup easier.
Quality and purpose
A set of drum microphones must be intentionally made for recording the sounds that come out of the drums with the best accuracy. The mics need to be able to capture the depth of the original notes and offer quality in recordings and live appearances. That is why you should always invest in a kit of drum mics, and avoid the use of improvisations.
Drum mic kits are particularly useful for those drummers that want to become professionals. Look for the sets with great reviews and if you have the possibility, try some microphones before purchasing them. Although this is a stereo age, if you are just starting to use microphones for your drum kit, you can settle for the sound that you get when using a smaller set of quality mics that don’t include two overhead pieces.
If you intend to make your drums heard in a live environment, the dynamic microphones are the ones you should choose. Make sure to get the best ones you can in terms of reliability and noise suppression. Fortunately, most kits include dynamic models so finding them won’t be a problem. These kind of mics are very versatile so if you have too few of them, you can always switch them around, depending on what part of your drum kit you want to be heard more.
Some drummers like to record themselves while playing. To do that, you need one or two overhead, condenser microphones. Cheap drum mic kits that include such mics are not great for live performances because they tend to capture the sound of the audience as well. But they are made for studio recordings and they excel at that. In addition, they are easier to set up.
Each mic has its mission
The reason why you can find so much variety in drum mic kits for sale is that each drummer likes to make his or her drum set have a specific sound. Some people like to have a kick drum that sounds like it’s louder, while others want to emphasize the mid-range notes of the snares.
Either way, the best mic kits for drums should be able to provide what the player wants. However, it is recommended that you pay special attention to the mic that you want to use for your kick drum. Its ability to capture low-end frequencies is crucial because the kick drum is the one that most often suffers because it can’t be heard.
Fortunately, almost every kit has a dynamic microphone that is particularly made for capturing lower frequency sounds. These mics are designed to accentuate the tones and eliminate the vibrations that make the kick drum sound bad.
The second most important mic is the one that covers the snare. A dynamic model should be used in this case, as well. The sound that good dynamic mics bring out is equally impressive in live performances and in the studio.
If you are lucky and your kit contains two condenser microphones, you can use those as overheads for a great, wholesome sound. That is the basic setup of a drum mic kit, but some sets include even more dynamic mics that can be attached to the hi-hats and the toms. With a mic kit that has seven pieces arranged like this, your drumming efforts will be heard brilliantly.
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