Overhead mics for drummers

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You may expect it to feel quite heavy, but you’ll be surprised when you pick it up. This one is a large-diaphragm mic, meaning it has a larger body and a huge dynamic range.

This mic is inspired by AKG’s popular C414. Two low cut filters effectively reduce stage noise, or if you want to reduce the capture of the kick drum on the overheads.

The sE Electronics sE8 is a well-loved stereo pair that never disappoints.

Two low cut filters effectively reduce stage noise, or if you want to reduce the capture of the kick drum on the overheads. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

“Huge sound” is usually achieved from giving as much dynamic range as possible to a given element.

They make your drums sound incredibly crisp and clean, and they easily bring out all the subtle nuances that you may play around the kit.

I found them to compete quite closely with the Earthworks SR25 mics. When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

The sE Electronics sE7 is a back-electret small diaphragm condenser microphone designed with versatility in mind.

While many studio condensers hover around 130 dB, which works fine for moderate playing styles, I’ve found this leaves little headroom for those explosive fills that make recordings truly come alive.

Phantom Power Requirements

Before you even think about connecting those shiny new overhead microphones to your audio interface, phantom power requirements demand your attention because one wrong assumption can leave you with expensive paperweights instead of functioning recording tools.

When looking for drum kit mics, you need to get ones with very high SPL levels.

Drum kits can produce up to 130 decibels, so you need to get microphones with SPL numbers that are higher than 130.

All the microphones that I’ve listed above have high SPL ratings, so you’ll be safe with any of them, but keep this aspect in mind if you choose to get other microphones to use as overheads.

Condenser microphones with small diaphragms tend to have the highest SPL handlings, whereas large-diaphragm condensers have slightly lower SPL handlings.

Body Shapes

As I mentioned earlier, you get two main body shapes for overhead drum microphones.

Some mics have switchable dB pads to raise the SPL handling when you need to, while others have other features that alter the pickup pattern somehow.

Weight

Weight is a fairly minor feature to look out for, but it’s something that can make a difference if you plan on hitting the road with your overhead mics.

Most condenser mics range from 0.2 lbs.

Its ability to capture the entire drum kit, focusing on the balance between cymbals and drums, ensures that the overheads contribute to a seamless and unified drum sound when combined with close-mics.

Specifications

  • Type: Condenser
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 136dB SPL, 156dB (with pad)
  • Sensitivity: 19mV/Pa (-34.5dBV)
  • Maximum SPL: 136dB SPL, 156dB (with pad)
  • Dynamic Range: 121 dB
  • Equivalent Noise Level: 16 dB(A)
  • Power Requirements: 48V Phantom Power
  • Connection Material: Not specified
  • Weight: 0.28 lbs.
  • Extras: Microphone Clip and Wind Screen

Frequency Response and Polar Pattern

The Best Overhead Drum Mics Under $1000

Perfect for high-quality, detailed overheads

Gearank Opinion

These mics offer superb clarity and low self-noise, delivering a polished, professional sound that’s ideal for studio recordings.

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That makes the mic very reactive, which is a fantastic quality to have.

Another thing to mention about this mic is that it’s a lot lighter than it looks. This includes online retailers where you can buy the overhead mic straight from your browser. It also stops them from distorting.

The mics also have 3-position pads that allow you to adjust the SPL depending on what instrument you’re using.

The lower this noise level, the better in the majority of circumstances.

overhead mics for drummers

They give you a good sense of stability and durability.

Overall, the Shure KSM137s are some of the most reliable overhead microphones you can get.

Polar pattern: Cardioid

Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz

Max SPL: 159dB

Weight: 0.22 lbs.

Earthworks SR25 – Premium Option

The Earthworks SR25 Microphones (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) are some of the highest-tier drum mics that hundreds of drummers are using at the moment.

However, they’re still a fraction of the price of all the other high-quality mics on this list. Condenser microphones require power, and if you do not use it then the signal will be almost imperceptibly low. And that is exactly what the sE8 is for, a small mic with a wide dynamic range that you don’t normally see in a small diaphragm “pencil” condenser mic.

This wider dynamic range allows it to better capture sonic details and dynamic nuances, which expands the use of this pair from overheads to being a good multi-instrument mic.

Its low noise design enables it to be used on quieter, more nuanced sound sources while its high headroom with two selectable pads gives you leeway to mic even the most aggressive drummer without compressing or distorting at the circuitry level.

This is measured in SPL or “sound pressure levels”.

Notable Insights

  • Look for condenser microphones with wide frequency response (20 Hz – 20 kHz) to capture the full spectrum of drum kit sounds.
  • Choose microphones with cardioid or super-cardioid polar patterns to minimize bleed from other instruments and focus on overhead capture.
  • Ensure your audio interface provides 48V phantom power, as most quality overhead condenser microphones require it to operate.
  • Consider matched pairs like the Samson C02 for accurate stereo imaging with sensitivity matched within ±0.5dB between microphones.
  • Select microphones with high SPL handling capabilities and switchable pads to manage loud drum transients without distortion.

G7 7-Piece Wired Dynamic Drum Mic Kit (Whole Metal)

The G7 7-Piece Wired Dynamic Drum Mic Kit stands out as the all-encompassing solution for drummers who need complete mic coverage without breaking the bank, delivering everything from kick drum punch to overhead cymbal clarity in one metal-constructed package.