SM57 vs Beta57 for live recording rack toms?

[Sixgun77]

We're miking drums to record band practice so it's essentially a "live" recording. I know that SM57s are industry standard, but would the Beta 57 isolate the toms better than the SM57? 2 rack toms, each one close mic'd to try to keep all of the other noise out of those 2 channels.

[xJeremyx]

How are you gonna mount those? Aren't those vocal mikes?

[xJeremyx]

And I would say, choose the mic with the better high ends for your rack toms and snare, and the ones with more depth for your floors.

[Sixgun77]

@xJeremyx:
No, the sm58 and beta 58 are vocal mics. The only real difference is the screen. The 57 has a flatter screen to get the capsule closer to the source.

This is for rack toms only, they'll be clamped to the rim. What I'm mainly concerned with is the cardioid pickup pattern of the sm57 vs the super cardioid pickup pattern of the Beta 57. I'm trying to get a much isolation as I can in our little practice space while recording band practice.

[xJeremyx]

I can't really give advice on this... I have played miked drums before, but never during a recording in a studio.

Also depends on how you want to set them up. The drums I play are set up with mics facing away from each other at an angle, so if that is the case, supercardioid may be a better option. But it will be an issue if you have a cymbal behind the mic, because it does pick up sounds from behind, unlike a normal cardioid.

This is all speculation on my part, by the way.

All I can say is, gotta try em and figure it out, if you are able to test them.

[xJeremyx]

If the mics on two rack toms face away from the other tom, then I would think super cardioid. But its better to consult your recording studio, maybe they have a better idea.

[Sixgun77]

Yeah, unfortunately, I can't rent first (other then the sm 57). Kit has 2 rack toms and a crash on each side. I'm thinking close miking each tom with a super with the back of the mic pointed toward the ceiling as much as good placement for sound will allow.

[Sixgun77]

No studio. This is all in our drummers basement where we practice.

[xJeremyx]

Yea that may make sense. Because supercardioids have two dead zones on either side

[xJeremyx]

So if you can get the dead zone to face the cymbals and neighbouring toms, that may be good

[Sixgun77]

That's what I'm hoping for. Thanks very much.

[xJeremyx]

Do you have electronic triggers for your kit? High-end performance kits are set up with triggers that will play a pre-recorded sample when you hit the drum, so using those may be a good idea. Then you could your kit to pre-record samples of each drum, and add those to your triggers, and adjust your audio mix to include both the live and pre-recorded drums. It may help to phase out interference from the mic picking up other drums.

[Sixgun77]

No, we don't have triggers. I think our drummer is more interested in a better kit before anything else.

[xJeremyx]

You can make a cheap kit sound decently good actually. Really has to do with proper tuning and drum heads. And of course, a bunch of moon gels. Toilet paper and/or tape works too.

What kit does he use?

[Sixgun77]

It's a CB kit he got used for very cheap. He's not ask that happy with it. He got it because he needed a kit fast. He hoping to pick up a Roger's set like his dad used to have.

[xJeremyx]

Get him to try some Evans EC2 pinstripe heads for the batter side. And a Evans EC2 dry for the snare. It might help the tone.

Tune the bottom and top heads to the same tension, so they will be more resonant. Stick some moongels or gaff tape on the drum head until the drum sounds nice and round.

[Sixgun77]

He knows all that stuff, he's still messing with what he's got. He wants to get it to where there's no attack and very little resonance.

[xJeremyx]

So he wants a dead sound. Especially on the floor toms. A ton of gaff tape will do the trick haha

Or he can try muffler rings.

[Sixgun77]

He calls it flat. He really likes the drums in rat salad by black sabbath. He wants the floor tom to be more boomy than the racks, but not like a kettle drum.

[Exterminatore]

Where you been brother? Long time no see.

[Sixgun77]

I pretty much bailed on all social media for a few years. Came back here after getting permanently banned from Reddit.

[Exterminatore]

Lmao. This is the only social media I do because it’s as anonymous as it could be.

Glad to see ya back.