You probably asked yourself why dynamic mics are popular among drummers all over the world. These mics are designed to take all the brightest hits, lowest kicks and cracking snares without breaking your sound. They can handle the hard knocks of gigging, but is easy to achieve a decent result in the studio. Inducing punch, clarity and reliability, a decent dynamic mic will provide you with all this, no matter which kit you are playing on, whether in a live setting or recording your drums at home.
Why Dynamic Mics Are Great for Drums
- Low Distortion: There is no distortion when recording loud drums.
- Built to Last: Made to handle drops, fringe, and stage abuse.
- Feedback Resistance: Tight pickup patterns help cut down on noise and bleed.
- Cheap and Reliable: They are usually cheaper than condensers or ribbons and less likely to break.
1. The Legendary Workhorse – The Shure SM57
The Shure SM57 has been used for many years in studios and on live shows. For snare drums, toms, and even guitar amps, it works well because it is flexible. The SM57 has a tight cardioid pattern and can handle high SPLs. It gives off a clear, sharp sound with little bleed.
- Best for: Toms and snare drums
- Why it’s great: Proven ability, sturdy, widely available
- Price range: Average
2. The Audix D6 – The King of Kick Drums
The Audix D6 is one of the best when it comes to low-end force and thump. This dynamic mic is tuned to sound great with kick drums and floor toms. It has deep lows and a clean attack. This microphone’s VLM (Very Low Mass) diaphragm picks up fast changes without losing clarity.
- Best for: Floor toms and kick drums
- Why it’s great: Tailored frequency response for bass-heavy sources
- Price range: Mid to high-end
3. 5CORE Drum Microphone Kit – Powerhouse for the Money
5CORE makes a great selection of drum microphones that are known for being durable and affordable. These microphones are becoming more and more popular among players and engineers.
Best for:
Capturing tom and snare drums with clarity in live shows and studio sessions.
Key Features:
- The cardioid pattern reduces background noise
- Clear sound: 50Hz–16kHz range
- Durable metal body
- Adjustable mic holder
- XLR output for easy setup
Why it’s great: A cheap, long-lasting, all-in-one answer
Price range: Easy on the wallet
4. Sennheiser e604 – Compact and Powerful
The Sennheiser e604 is a small dynamic clip-on mic that works great with toms and snares. It’s great for live performances and close miking because it has a tight cardioid pattern and a high SPL capacity. You don’t need a stand because it comes with a drum rim clip for easy attachment. This saves room on stage or in the studio.
- Best for: Rack toms and snares
- Why it’s great: Small size, quick reaction to changes in voltage, and easy installation
- Price range: Average
5. The Beyerdynamic M201 TG
The Beyerdynamic M201 TG is a hypercardioid dynamic mic that does a great job with snare drums but is often missed. Details like a condenser, but tough and long-lasting like a dynamic. It cuts down on bleed from hi-hats and other drums thanks to its great off-axis rejection.
- Best for: Snare, hi-hat, and percussion
- Why it’s great: Clear sound, little bleed, and a small size
- Price range: High-end
How to Use Dynamic Mics to Record Your Drums
- Snare and Toms: Use a cardioid or hypercardioid mic, like the SM57 or 5CORE tom mics. About 1 to 3 inches away, point towards the middle of the drumhead.
- Kick Drum: Pick a mic with a low-end sound that fits your needs, like the Audix D6 or 5CORE’s kick mic. Position it inside the drum, close to the beater for attack or farther back for boom.
- Overheads and Hi-Hats: Condensers are usually better, but some dynamic mics with clear high frequencies, like the M201 TG, can work fairly well.
Conclusion
Dynamic mics are the preferred mics in the drum world due to being tough mics that can accommodate loud sounds easily and outstanding ability to isolate unwanted ambient. Having a good collection of dynamic mics is the most essential to get good drum sounds, in case you are just a novice or you are an experienced pro.
So the brands such as Shure, Sennheiser and Audix continue to dominate the market but hide 5Core. Their drum mic kits are well priced yet have good construction and could be a wise choice, just in case anyone requires some good quality drum mic kits without spending a fortune.