The sound of your drums can make or break your mix, and while there are exceptions to every rule, getting the perfect drum sound is no laughing matter.
I’ve recorded drum kits in both studio and live settings, and while there are plenty of great options out there, the best value for money in my experience goes to the Shure Beta 52A for kick drum, and the Shure SM57 – a versatile workhorse that can cover the rest of your kit. A handful of SM57s alone can get you surprisingly far.
Why you should trust me
I’ve been writing, performing, recording, mixing, and producing music for over 15 years.
I have had experience in a vast array of genres, studio and live settings, and have worked and collaborated with countless artists and brands.
Working with names such as Shure, AKG, Neumann, and Sennheiser, among many others, has lent me nuanced insights into the practical application of audio equipment, and what value it provides users ranging from novice to seasoned professionals.
This list will feature what I consider to be the best microphones for each section of the drum kit. While this is not meant to be a definitive list, I hope that my recommendations can serve as a solid jumping-off point for you as you build your arsenal.
Here’s my pick of the best microphones for recording drums:
- Best kick drum mic: Shure Beta 52A
- Best snare drum mic: Shure SM57
- Best tom drum mic: Earthworks DM20 Gen 2
- Best hi-hat mic: Shure SM81
- Best overhead/room mic: Neumann U 87 Ai
Be sure to check the Honorable mentions for five other microphones that are great alternatives to the ones on my top list.
Best kick drum mic: Shure Beta 52A
The Beta 52A is an amazing microphone. It is more often than not the first microphone I will jump to when recording kick drums and bass cabinets.
It does a great job of capturing a full low end, and its high SPL makes it capable of handling extremely loud sound sources.
This microphone is great candidate for either live or studio performances, and is one of the more reliable options out there for cheap.
Read my full Shure Beta 52A review for more details.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest snare drum mic: Shure SM57
While the Shure SM57 might not be the greatest microphone in the world, it is worth its weight in gold for its reliable performance, durability, and versatility.
It is often the default microphone when trying to record snares, and easily the most commonplace choice in professional settings.
Read my full Shure SM57 review for more details.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest tom drum mic: Earthworks DM20 Gen 2
The DM20 is beloved for a multitude of reasons. It has an unbelievably quick transient response and a wonderfully transparent sound signature. The results sound big, open, and punchy.
There is a certain magic in the honesty of their performance which proves hard to live without after having tasted it for yourself.
At $350, the DM20 Gen 2 is one of the pricier picks on this list, but for what it has to offer, it’s worth every penny.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest hi-hat mic: Shure SM81
The Shure SM81 is a bona fide staple in professional studios. As is the case with many Shure microphones, the SM81 is durable, flexible, and performs wonderfully.
Being a small-diaphragm condenser microphone, its performance is bright and detailed, although it is not nearly as bright as a lot of other small-diaphragm condensers you may come across.
While this may initially sound like a bad thing, the truth is that this is perhaps the very reason why so many people return to the SM81 time and time again. It sounds natural, unhyped, and focused.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonBest overhead/room mic: Neumann U 87 Ai
While it is true that the U 87 Ai could have been listed in any one of these sections, I have decided to list them here as overhead mics.
The U 87 microphones are notoriously warm, bigger than life, and in-your-face. If you’re able to get your hands on a stereo pair of these, your drums will forever sound beautiful and huge.
Beyond their use as overheads, they are equally good in almost any other application you could list. They sound good on vocals, guitars, bass cabinets, are wonderful kick drums mics, and the list goes on.
Read my full Neumann U 87 Ai review for more details.
See current price at: SweetwaterAmazonHonorable mentions
- AKG D112 Mk2. Incredibly versatile, durable, and one of the most iconic kick drum mics. The frequency response is somewhat hyped, but if you’re looking for thud and click, few kick mics compete with the D112 – especially considering its price.
- Beyerdynamic M 88. This microphone has a very open, natural sound. While I’ve mostly used it on snares, the truth is it sounds great on almost everything – even kicks and floor toms. The M88 has a fair amount of coloration, but in a very honest and reliable way.
- Shure KSM32. When it comes to capturing the lower registers, the KSM32 mic shares many attributes to that of a classic Neumann microphone. The midrange remains natural and the high end, while somewhat hyped, is fairly smooth.
- Neumann KM 184. A favorite among audio engineers, it boasts an impeccably balanced soundstage that is open, warm, and, most importantly, musical. Its frequency response has a bit of a boost towards the higher registers which can be brittle in close miking applications. However, if you leave a healthy distance between the mic and the sound source, it will sound natural, full, and never harsh.
- Beyerdynamic M 160. This ribbon mic is articulate, lush, and undeniably beautiful in terms of its performance. The upper mids are boosted ever so slightly, giving everything you record with them a depth and richness that nearly sounds 3D.
Final thoughts
There is no one correct way to mic up a drum kit. The methodology and techniques you’ll need to get your desired drum sound are entirely dependent on the context of the music you are recording.
Sure, if you want to sound like Rush or Dream Theater, you may be looking at a ten-microphone setup. However, that is neither ideal or necessary in the majority of cases.
Plenty of classic recordings have been made utilizing only one or two microphones, so don’t be discouraged if your budget doesn’t allow for a shopping cart of six separate microphones.
A kick mic and an SM57 with proper placement can often do the trick.
I hope that this list has been helpful for you. Good luck and happy recording!
