#779574 - 12/21/04 11:38 PM
Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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Dave Sisk
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Registered: 08/30/04
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Hey guys:
Next question: what's the best way to mic a Djembe? Mic in front of drum, slightly above, aimed at head? Or mic underneath? Seems like more low frequencies come out the bottom, while most of the attack is above the head. Maybe mic'ing both is best, but if you only have one, what's the norm?
Thx!
Dave
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Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs.
- Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006
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#779575 - 12/22/04 12:42 AM
Re: Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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Lee Flier
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Depends on how good the mic is. 
If you have a really nice large diaphragm condenser, that's usually all that's necessary. I tend to place it anywhere from 6" above the head to halfway down the drum (depending how hard the drummer's playing and how much bottom you want), and angled toward the floor.
If all you have are crappy condensers and a few dynamics (including cheap large diaphragms), then place your crappy condenser near the top and put something like a Sennheiser MD421 or Beyer M88 on the bottom (or a 57 if that's all you have), and blend to taste.
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#779576 - 12/22/04 01:20 AM
Re: Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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Dave Sisk
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Thanks Lee. I've got an MXL 990 at home (which should be decent for recording), but I believe the live sound rig uses Shure SM-58's...I think...I'll have to check.
My default position would probably be on top, pointing at the head. That way the mic should be "hearing" roughly the same thing I'm hearing...I think...I hope!
Thx,
Dave
_________________________
Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs.
- Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006
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#779577 - 12/22/04 01:26 AM
Re: Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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Lee Flier
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Oh sorry, I didn't realize this was for stage and not recording. If using 58's then I'd say you will probably need both top and bottom... a single 58 is not likely to pick up enough low end.
And when recording you will probably need a bottom mic to go with the MXL, too.
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#779579 - 12/22/04 01:39 AM
Re: Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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sidereal
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Originally posted by Lee Flier:
Oh sorry, I didn't realize this was for stage and not recording.
If they've got a spare D112 lying around, that would also work well as the bottom mic to complement the 58 on top.
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#779580 - 12/22/04 10:38 AM
Re: Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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Dave Sisk
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I'm using this in church, and generally the only thing we mic is vocals...everything else runs direct only (including electronic drums). So, I doubt we have anything other than SM-58's available, but I may take my MXL 990 with me...or do you think that would be too sensitive for live? This week we're doing an "unplugged" type thing...vocalist, acoustic-electric guitarist, and djembe. Ought to be pretty cool...(I'm the bassist, but I also happen to be a drummer too...it's turning out pretty cool to switch up instruments occasionally!)
Thx,
Dave
_________________________
Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs.
- Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006
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#779582 - 12/22/04 05:59 PM
Re: Best way to mic a Djembe drum?
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Dave Sisk
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Actually, it's a very new church without a permanent building yet....meets in a movie theatre for now! They generally record the music (just dumping the live mix to disk, nothing fancy) so that's actually the primary motivation for miking...as well as not having to overplay to balance with an amplified acoustic-electric and amplified vocals.
Dave
_________________________
Old bass players never die, they just buy lighter rigs.
- Tom Capasso, 11/9/2006
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If it's a church with high ceilings, that will provide plenty of bottom end and plenty of volume.
