Best One Mic Position For Drums? (Shure SM57)

Comment your favourite positions 😁
Raw Examples:
1:14 Room Mic Pointed Down
1:48 Corner Room
2:21 Mono Overhead
3:00 Low Room
3:37 Wurst
Mixed Examples:
4:08 Room Mic Pointed Down
4:34 Corner Room
5:00 Mono Overhead
5:25 Low Room
5:48 Wurst

[@malegria9641]

I just got my first SM57 and it’s the only one I could afford, this is what I’ve been looking for! Thanks!

[@andrescen7577]

I like the Wurst position

[@CaseyJust]

Awesome! Thanks for posting this video.

[@DonalBowens]

Appreciate it Casey. Thanks for watching 😀

[@wOhst]

The Low Room position has some nice Kyuss vibes! Thanks for this nice video.

[@wOhst]

Which position would you recommend for a SM58? Budget setup here :)

[@DonalBowens]

@@wOhst I don’t own a 58 myself but apparently they’re nearly the same. So whichever position you dig 😁

[@sebastiandior1315]

room pointed down! yeah buddy!

[@spirodrums]

Awesomeness, I’m actually going to buy one soon 🔥

[@DonalBowens]

Sweet, it's a famous mic for a reason 😀

[@ji_yink]

Love this comparison. I find the corner room to be the best suited for supplementing a close miked sound, but the wurst gets the most clarity and information for a true one mic setup

[@DonalBowens]

That's a really great synopsis. Cheers for the watching and commenting 😁

[@zikizirax]

Damn, this test is very interesting! The microphone in the corner of the room gives an interesting sound for grunge or classic rock, but it still has a very characteristic "room" sound. The low room its veeery nice! I think that mono overheads are easier to work with different styles.

[@DonalBowens]

Thanks Wallace, and I totally agree about the corner room. I’ve tried that position with some rock drum tracks. Great for adding some size and some thick gushy glue for your close mics.

[@davidreidy5750]

They all sound good except the corner method.The low one was impressive I have to try that.

[@GrizzlePaws]

A good sounding room helps too. I'm ensconced in carpet.

[@dbmdrums1105]

I like the wurst mic! I record my covers like that. Overhead mono is also great. You should try the Glynn John's mic technique.

[@DonalBowens]

I love the wurst too 😁 thanks man

[@jamieremus277]

I liked the Wurst position best, but I will try it with a condenser mic on an omni pattern. 🙂

[@homedaddies]

How is it?

[@DZNTZ]

Cool vid. I’ve heard it many times, but I’m always surprised at how GOOD just one 57 can sound! One of my favorites is one I saw on Creative Sound Lab - pointing into a metal garbage can! Yeah, it sounds trashy.... No, but seriously it’s a cool sound.

[@DonalBowens]

Thanks Dan, I’m definitely gonna check that out. I love that channel 😁

[@Prizmatic1658]

Is a shure 57 can pick up drums that good pointed away from the drums at the wall, I'm sold. Thanks man.

[@thmp3r]

Quote the good backwoods American accent at the beginning. Your real voice was a shock after that. Great group of techniques well.

[@DonalBowens]

😂 thank you. Yeah I'm actually Irish so must of sounded weird 😂 Thanks for watching, much appreciated 😁

[@WastedGoatFR]

The low room setup was shockingly good! My problem was that you could barely hear the kick, the crash and ride would sometimes overpower the entire mix and ruin entire recording sessions. When I use the low room setup my kick is much more clearer and the crash and the ride are more in the background than in your face like they were before. Thank you very much for the helpful tip!

[@DonalBowens]

It surprised me too. Always fun to experiment with mic placement. Great to hear you’re getting some great tones 😁 Thanks for watching

[@bandninkasimusic6484]

Great video Donal. Have you tried this technique with a whole band in the room too? I'm looking to use 2 microphones for recording band rehearsals. Perhaps a mono overhead for the drums and a condenser to capture everyone else? 🤷‍♀️

[@DonalBowens]

Hey Paul, that sounds like a good set up for two mics. Will there be any vocals?

[@bandninkasimusic6484]

@@DonalBowens there will be a drum kit, bass amp, 2 guitar cabs and lead/backing vocals. Vocals via the PA speakers.

[@DonalBowens]

@@bandninkasimusic6484 I see yeah I’d focus on the vocal and go from there with the second mic 😀

[@michaelclark5020]

I thought the out front pointed down and the mono overhead sounded best all around but the others were also very usable. Could you do a sm 57 in multiple positions and 1 mic just on the kick so a 2 mic set up but still using the 57 and then maybe another 57 just for the kick added to the mix and maybe also an actual cardioid for the bass drum

[@DonalBowens]

Thanks for checking it out and the suggestion. Definitely wanna try that now. Cheers Michael.

[@commonbirdsband]

How far away, in feet, is the low position? That's useful for live sound.

[@luisfernandodelunaalejo9715]

Do you recommend use the overhead technique to play in a little bar? Along with a bassdrum mic

[@DonalBowens]

I think just a bass drum mic is enough in a small bar. But if you’re not hitting too hard it would be cool to give a shot 😀

[@BobSchoepenjr]

Wurst is German for sausage, just sayin’. Great video 😊

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

Better than the wurst...LOL choosing the best version is like choosing which cymbal you like best, all nice, just depends what you want on a specific project

[@DonalBowens]

😂 So true! All project and vibe dependant. All have their own character. Thanks for watching 😀

[@BarbellThor]

The "Wurst" sounded best for the drums themselves, just cymbals almost didn't exist.

[@DonalBowens]

Great observation. I think you’re right. I was playing the cymbals pretty mellow too. I think if I brought my right hand up a bit in volume the balance would be better.

[@Sychopated]

Jesus, i was just talking to my brother about this exact topic.

[@DonalBowens]

Haha that’s crazy. Thanks for watching Eduardo 😁

[@Sychopated]

@@DonalBowens No, thank YOU for keeping up such amazing videos, found you by your American Football's covers, im trying to make some of my own, hoping you put out some more too, keep at it! Have a nice day.

[@DonalBowens]

@@Sychopated Haha you must be thinking of someone else. I'm yet to cover American Football on my channel. But I love them so you've just reminded me I need to 😁

[@Sychopated]

@@DonalBowens looool, my bad, i've been listening to their whole discography these past 2 days, that comment was semi-automatic, i found you through your Careful drum cover, superb drumming and killer sound, Careful is ip there in my list of soon-to-cover songs.

[@DonalBowens]

@@Sychopated 😂😂 I love American Football and Paramore so all good with me 👌 Thanks for the support dude and share any covers you post with me 😁

[@sm_4859]

Hey man which audio interface would be the best for this mic under $100?

[@DonalBowens]

Audient evo 4 is a great choice. I think it’s around 100. 2 channels so you could add a second mic later too if you want 😁 Behringer interfaces are really cheap too and get the job done also 😁

[@sezitos]

line 6 hahahahahahaahahah..............come on