Samson DK707 Manuel Du Propriétaire page 4

Microphone Placement
When you position your mics on the drums, it will be easy to get a great sound since, in general,
they are positioned so close to the sound source. You can make slight adjustments to the height
and angle that will have an effect on the sound. The changes in sound may be difficult to notice
at first, especially in live sound applications, however the more you use your microphones
and listen to the sound, the more you will understand, and hear, the effect the microphone
placement has on the sound. As always, experimentation and experience are the best teachers.
Obviously, in live sound applications you can't always hear the final results of the sound you're
getting because most of the time your drum kit will be positioned behind the PA speakers, so
rely on a band mate or sound engineer to help you dial up the sound. In recording applications,
record some scratch tracks and check the sound by listening to your headphones or to the
control room monitors.
Be sure that you pay careful attention to the tuning, and if necessary, the dampening of your
drums. Miking your drums is similar to putting the sound under a microscope. Any unwanted
buzzes and rattles coming from your instruments may be much more noticeable when you mic
the kit.
You'll get a great sound just by positioning the mics close to your drums however, there
are some basic principles and fundamentals that should be followed. The following section
will describe some basic miking techniques for the various drums in your kit. Use this as a
guideline, but remember every sound system, every room, every drum kit and every drummer is
slightly different, so experiment until you find the sound that's right for you.
Kick Drum
The Q71 can be positioned outside the bass drum for more of an ambient sound, which is
sometimes desired for recording, or inside the drum for a tighter sound like in live sound appli-
cations. When positioning the Q71 you will notice that changing the distance the mic is placed
from the head will have an effect on the low frequency response. You can use the proximity
effect to your advantage by moving the mic closer to the head if the sound is too boomy, or try
moving the Q71 back a bit to add more low end. If you want more of the click attack sound
from your bass drum, try aiming the Q71 directly at the beater. Positioning the mic in between
the beater and the edge of the drum will provide a more balanced sound than pointing the mic
directly at the center of the drum head.
Snare Drum
When you mount the Q72 on your snare drum rim you'll be well on your way to getting a great
sound due to the close placement of the mic. You can experiment by changing the angle of
the mic to change sound. If you want to get more stick attack try lifting the mic slightly so
that it is pointing bit way from the rim and aim it more in the direction towards the center of
the drum head. Directing the mic towards the rim captures more overtones. You can use the
proximity effect to your advantage to increase the low-end response by pointing the mic further
downward. For recording and advanced live sound applications try a second Q72 under the
snare drum to pick up more of the sound from the snares. When using the second Q72 under
the drum, be sure to reverse the phase polarity on the mic input, otherwise some of the sound
will actually cancel.