Ian Schreier's SM57 Drum Mic seminar (AM highlights)

Earlier this month, Ian Schreier led a drum mic seminar at Manifold Recording.
Click Below for Table of Contents
2:11; Understanding the Room
4:09; Recording with one microphone
11:27; Ian adjusts Initial Mic Positions
12:47 Mic 4 A/B
13:50; Ian's Shows 4 Positions with One Mic
16:45; Whole Kit with some EQ
In the morning session, Ian laid out the acoustic principles he wish he'd understood at the beginning of his engineering career, including understanding frequency, phase, position, and what happens when you try to create an image of an instrument as complex as a drum kit with just a single SM57 microphone.
This video is not intended to be a complete transcription of that curriculum, but rather to show what it's like to attend an educational event at Manifold Recording. Nevertheless, still lots of great nuggets of audio engineering wisdom.

[@manatee_flips6811]

As an amateur producer, my best sounding drums, concrete floor, 6’ tall ceilings, Sm-57 on the ground next to the kick, Tascam 4-track, blew my mind and still does 20 years later. I still use them today in my hip-hop productions.

[@Idc.350]

That sweet spot right above the bass drum is perfect

[@drewjonespdx]

Agreed

[@Knutorius]

Could use a bit more HH though. Apart from that my favourite spot, too.

[@jchrizzy6995]

And sick for a small room where you have to fit other instruments too

[@elblopex]

WTF that kick is already sounding kickass. Nothing better to address the importance of pre production and good quality instruments than this demo

[@therajgreek420]

The kick sounds AMAZING! Almost electronic, love it. Great demo!

[@Manifoldrecording]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@drumchanneltunnel5191]

You know its crazy how much the room can impact the sound of cymbals. I've been gigging a lot recently and my two crash cymbals will take turns sounding extremely harsh depending on the room they are set up in. One night one will sound smooth and pleasant and the other will sound harsh, then vice versa. One is a 17" and one is 18"

[@TweedSuit]

A good tool to use is a video camera. Setup a camera that captures as much of the room as possible and walk around the room with the mike, placing it in different locations for 10 seconds at a time. Sync the microphone audio to the video and note the best sounding locations.

[@TimWatsonDrums]

That room sounds great

[@mariaulfah2813]

Tim Watson Drums room is the most crucial

[@Manifoldrecording]

Thanks! Book a session with us to experience it in person!

[@Just_lift_anyone]

I love the sound of drums mic'd at a distance! The kick especially 😍

[@mrake1000]

This was very intresting for recording drums, we just recorded that with my band, so i think this is very helpful for the future.

[@dsan05]

14:30 Love the front mic position. Thanks for posting this. It really is worthwhile.

[@BeniRoseMusic]

This was my favorite as well. Sounded nice and full!

[@thomaskleinhans2384]

Oh Y E S - it´s the position, and the room! You nailed it! Thanx !

[@daveh7050]

Correction: At 14:43 the mic over the bass drum and under the ride is NOT "parallel to kick head" as the caption says. It is horizontal, parallel with the kick drum shell (which is perpendicular to the kick head).

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

Really informative !!! Best advice ever… walk around and listen; ears first brain next !!! I always feel like I’d like to coach drummers to play: two bars of a beat, and then a 1 measure fill (and the EXACT same fill every time) which includes a couple of soft notes and a couple of loud notes, then hit the right crash followed by the left crash…and cycle the whole thing over and over. I have literally watched hundreds of videos on drum recording techniques and I very rarely see a drummer allow me to actually hear the toms with dynamics, or who plays the right and left cymbals so I can check my panning. Please write that on a Post-it note and hand it to the next drummer you see and ask him to hand it to the next one he meets, and so on until we are all on the same page 😉❤️🎶 Great video, I’m off to the studio right now to experiment away !!!!!!!!!

[@ZeusThunderAlistair]

I like this idea

[@andytupaia]

Thanks Ian for sharing this to the engineer community ❤

[@mojito6629]

One of my favourite drum sound on a song was recorded only with SM57s. And it was a world hit, and many people try to recreate the sound regardless their knowledge or lack of it about the microphones that were used.

[@Irapotato]

Best video about recording / engineering ever made. HOW DOES THIS ONLY HAVE 5000 VIEWS???

[@Ibanezman03]

i second that.

[@Manifoldrecording]

Thanks! Now up to 7,000...

[@tannertravis4455]

I just found it. Love it.

[@ianmix1]

Wow! Thanks!

[@John-e4p1x]

Over 100k

[@henryvirgil8188]

If I'm not mistaken, the goal was to pick the best mic position to capture a balanced sound of the entire drum kit. With out any preference, the clear definitive choice for me was at 14:20

[@aZeddPrattFilm]

Agreed

[@CloudObsolete]

Maybe, but no tom toms

[@SonorGeek05]

13:54 - 13:55 That sound was absolutely beautiful. Excellent choice in drums, nothing comes close to a Sonor kit.

[@musicman9128]

Ummm Gretsch supersedes Sonor live and in studio!

[@whophead6837]

Tama Star

[@seppoinnanen5577]

As a Sonor man I'd say that any quality brand kit with good fresh drumheads and carefuf TUNING has a chance to sound impressive

[@matthewshelley1365]

​@@seppoinnanen5577 This is correct. A well tuned Glarry will get the job done.

[@thejmac69]

This is such a good reminder.

[@ValleyOfWillows]

Summary of the sounds from different mic positions: 9:49 - Attendee Mic Position 1 10:05 - Attendee Mic Position 2 10:18 - Attendee Mic Position 3 10:27 - Attendee Mic Position 4 10:34 - Talk about the Attendee Mic Positions 11:22 - Repositoning "Attendee Mic Position 1" 12:46 - "Mic 4", which I guess = "Attendee Mic Position 1" ??? 13:05 - Repositioned "Mic 4" (balanced sound) 13:15 - Talk about Repositioned "Mic 4" 14:00 - Alternative Mic Position 1 14:20 - Alternative Mic Position 2 14:38 - Alternative Mic Position 3 15:07 - Alternative Mic Position 4

[@ianmix1]

Thanks!!

[@mrmanch204]

Very helpful, produced and presented extremely on the money, thank you.

[@skeletonshorror5184]

Love that front mic at 14:30 - thanks for the lesson! 💀🔥🥁

[@nikmarshall2989]

Recently started recording demos from my home, this video has been helpful and affirmed some of my own experimentations. Great stuff.

[@ianmix1]

glad it was helpfull!

[@ThalamusGhipopotamus]

To avoid interference at the frequencies of the kick drum, it is necessary that the distance from the kick drum to the microphone and from the kick drum to the floor and microphone is not equal to half. It is desirable that one of the sides be 1\3 or 1\5 or something between these values. Sorry for my English.

[@malcolmbliss777]

Mic 4 position 2 is golden!

[@kickit301]

I’m so excited about this

[@DrumtunePRODrumTuner]

Very clear explanations & great instructions! Thanks!

[@8L155]

Jesus Christ that room sounds amazing

[@chrisknight3734]

Did this 20 years ago, put the mic (not a 57 but an even cheaper 33-1070c) on the kick drum facing the drummer (me) atop a towel to eliminate rattle/resonance. With a little EQ and reverb it sounded a bit like Surfer Rosa minus the stereo imaging

[@AddiKolb]

Ohhhhh man he’s got vintage Sonor phonic!!! One of the best, I own one in gold.

[@jannetestailee]

This one was so interesting - thank you for the video!

[@yetanothermusicboi]

This video was extraordinarily helpful. And I've been recording for years. Lol. Just when you think you know some stuff.

[@ianmix1]

i learn something new every day!

[@diegoalde2]

Increible video, muchas gracias por todo el trabajo que hicieron! Saludos desde Argentina

[@bigbaby9189]

14:00 for me. Not a lot of room You can add stuff later but that seems the most clear of all the positions to me.

[@ralflang5524]

Great content, interesting and helpful, nuff respect!

[@drewjonespdx]

I casually popped into this video with him randomly saying “for example if you want more low end, you should know which corner of your ceiling to put the microphone in” 🤣 Like OK never mind I don’t even wanna learn anymore if that’s how insane this gets

[@Kizamime]

Lots of good info on this video!

[@BlueBeeMCMLXI]

Height is one-third of distance, except for the under-the-ride position. No-one went for a floor position, just above the surface, like the Shure Engineers explored in the 1970s, it may go back before then. Great way to get a reflected sound off the floor. The Shure people made a cradle to hold the mic at the right angle. There's a paper online as a PDF.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Right angle... okay.

[@plummetplum]

Lovely room, so much air.

[@Czyszy]

I personally like that high tuned bass drum sound.

[@jerrygamez5723]

Thanks for the video

[@guitariste47]

amazing differences, especially between 1st and second position!!

[@TinCanBassMan]

Fantastic! Great information presented in a practical manner. Subscribed.

[@Manifoldrecording]

Thank you!

[@trefwoordpunk2225]

10:06 ... the old mic above the drummer pointed at the snare was an old favourite from back in the 4 track days, although you'd need a mic on kick with it aswell, but record both to one track. None of the other suggestions have enough smack from the snare for me.

[@kevingomezofficial]

Same. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one 😊

[@HR2635]

super video.. would like to see him in a not so perfect room, with close to no ambience.. like most of us have to deal with.. and get his input.

[@ianmix1]

that sounds like a good idea. I recently recorded a band in a yurt. very challenging

[@RReid]

I learned a lot from this, but the instructor never showed where he prefers the mic placed, he had the students decide and then he fine tuned the positions. I would like to see his choice of locations

[@ZeusThunderAlistair]

Im curious too

[@bryondean6264]

This would be great if you put this into a video course.

[@RiotHomeRecording]

A great room, well tuned kit, and good drummer goes a very long way. The snare could use some more bottom wires sound. Great video!

[@hansheld467]

you are true - it's choke because the snare wires too tight - adjustment takes 1 second

[@dbmdrums1105]

I really loved the snappy low end sound !!!!!!!!!! Reminds of a dnb style sounding drums!

[@stephencaines5610]

Thank you, great video.

[@morgendorffer3504]

This is a MUST-WATCH for every drummer or sound enginner. So helpful. In german, in music-jargon we call it "Wurst"... which translates to Sausage... to express that the mic is pointed directly at the drummer's crotch. kinda funny eh

[@StandbyCymbalist]

agreed. I accidentally learned the Wurst mic position when I rested a mic on a pillow on top of my bass drum and it sounded better than anything I'd done previously.

[@ianmix1]

Thank you!

Amazing!

[@biellluuu]

in freakin' creadible video!! rgs. Thank you.

[@ianmix1]

You are very welcome!

[@lonesomelooch5661]

Love this!

[@guitariste47]

very informative video, thanks

[@russwilson2305]

5:48 Butt mic. Glad they used 57s! An ldc would be painful.

[@samoht77]

8:52 drummer getting ready for the butt mic

[@russwilson2305]

@@samoht77 -Haha!

[@kevinmorrison1553]

It sounds very good. I think close micing is much better as it gives you flexibility to eq, compress, whatever to every piece separately. And these things are very affordable and not bulky these days.

[@joelonsdale]

Better? Always depends on the song.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Drums sound better at a distance. That is just facts. Yes, that overly close metal sound is appealing and useful, but not what drums sound like.

[@MeTuLHeD]

I absolutely LOVE the drum sound starting at 3:12! Big HUGE Bonham-ish sound. So that was the two Sanken mics? Can you recall where they were placed in the room?

[@ianmix1]

NotForProfitProphet I will find it and make sure for you... I believe it is the Sanken co100k's. The idea was to capture a neutral un colored sonic snapshot of what the attendees were hearing in the room. This was before placing 57s. They were on either side of the room just above the height of the soffits (10' approx)

[@NotForProfitProphet]

Please and thank you! Because THAT drum sound is amazing. Just add a close miked kick and snare for a little definition and that would make a killer big rock drum sound in it's own right.

[@Wtfdawg321]

Awesome vid

[@throsturthorbjornsson3278]

Great stuff.

[@jackbrown3270]

HOLY FUCK THIS WAS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE!!! i want to cry!!!

[@ianmix1]

Glad you Liked it!

[@NordKeyboardGuy]

Awesome video!!!

[@chrispysaid]

So wait, that last clip where he's showing the single-mic result, is that just using the mic he placed above the kick pointed at the snare splitting the toms?

[@ianmix1]

Yup

[@MidiPunk]

I've always heard that referred to as the "Heart" technique, but not in this video. It's worth losing a tom for and getting used to a higher cymbal in order to place your biggest bestest mic there.

[@uk7769]

Yikes. How far up do you have to insert the butt mic for proper recording? Seriously, thank you for sharing this information. Very cool!

[@philipp47318]

The drummer is sick

[@iiisaaciiiriv8981]

I would have tried one over the ride looking at the center of the snare. That’s my goto setup but with a Blue Microphones bluebird

[@billwhite7883]

Feels like a presentation during covid

[@KarmaPaym3ntPlan]

Kinda skipped ahead to 4:26 and thought it felt like a Tim and Eric sketch I assume this is solid stuff though 🙏

[@sutv6754]

Wow great. What a lesson.

[@DanielS10291]

I wish i could walk around the room as i play 😂

[@impulseproman]

Wow that room

[@seenbelow]

Oh my god that sound 16:38

[@tumducklin3011]

Bravo! Thank you very much

[@Manifoldrecording]

You're welcome :)

[@MrLeeziebee]

Ah yes the Horst Link SONOR....a mighty classic of german engineering.

[@blairthomastoews]

So just to be clear: the audio engineer got that final drum sound with the SM57 position at 14:05? Is that the position he was referring to?

[@Manifoldrecording]

Yes. You can see that the other 3 mic channels (right of the keyboard) and the two room mics (left of the keyboard) are muted. So you are just hearing the one mic at 17:00 (and thereabouts).

[@blairthomastoews]

Awesome! Thank you for the quick reply. This was so cool to see!!

[@Nato61]

first thing i noticed was the Sonor Phonic lugs. Hence .. first you need a good sounding instrument,

[@YanusDV]

good cymbals. If you dont have good cymbals any choice of mics or whatever will be for naught

[@micindir4213]

35% performance, 25% instrument , 20% room, 15% mics , 5% preamplifier

[@digilifepro]

I'm surprised no one is taking into account that when you hit a drum the skin compresses first. But if you're standing in front of the kick, you get an expansion first. To keep everything in sync, behind the the kit at drummers ear level makes the most sense for one mic

[@ArthurStone]

Thank you; much appreciated. Ideas to try with hand percussion :D

[@balderdashsir]

I'm only 3 minutes in and I'm totally being that guy who comments before the video probably says something about it, but I just laughed a little; like 15 people are walking around the room trying to find the sweet spot, which is likely totally changing the sweet spot.

[@Loudberg]

Where would you place two mics to get an stereo impression of the kit?

[@morbidmanmusic]

People in the audience don't hear stereo drums.. just try to get a fulll sound that is balanced. Mono I see fine, if only two mics. If it's jazz, that's may be different. Spaced pair low in front of kit.

[@inUR2teeth]

Great video👍 I know we are talking about drum recording techniques, however I'm wondering if one could apply this technique (ex. no 1 - above kick) to live performances. What do you think?

[@Manifoldrecording]

You can learn about live recording techniques (with TWO kick drums) by watching more videos on our channel. For example, Ian Schreier mixes Carl Palmer, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmTMmICErtx8btU

[@fibboobbif]

To use such a good sounding room is nearly cheating :-) I would probably use the SM57 like in minute 14:00 plus the Sanken Stereo, a bit Delay, depending on the music, and thats it.

[@SteveSteeleSoundSymphony]

Please ask the drummer to include a few more and slightly longer tom fills per mic example. I wanted to hear the tom levels and how well they were projecting compared to the bass, snare and HH.

[@RUSSEL-bb3mz]

I need someone like you to help me record I have original songs and I play all the instruments and I need help with each and every little detail

[@Manifoldrecording]

If the Research Triangle is convenient to you, read this page and get in touch! manifoldrecording.com/planning-a-session/

[@drumhead96]

Where did this take place?

[@thesashboyno1]

14:05 sounds best to me

[@DrewDrums]

Blew my mind.

[@sim0n17]

mic 4 position 2 - 1 mic balanced tone, nice

[@ATreacherousFoe]

I'm hoping the really important information was not included in the KZbin video. Otherwise I'd be super pissed about paying for this seminar if I had attended it lol!

[@Manifoldrecording]

This is only from the morning ;) It was an all day seminar!

[@isaacclark1312]

Yer gay

[@oldnikix]

I survived attempted abortion, and all my mom has to show for it is her prolapsed chuff... And me 😅

[@sharielentertainment9037]

aint no one gonna talk about how they got an inmate to play drums for this video?

[@wayne3340]

Thank you Shariel. Where do these mic demo video guys find these annoying drummers. Same beat every video. Can't do it, sorry.

[@bob4analog]

At 14:07, that's very similar to the 'crotch mic' method, which I personally like.

[@ZeusThunderAlistair]

Teach me about this 1 mic idea on crotch mic / wurst. And how to EQ it pls

[@davidpringuer]

Which Sonor kit is this?

[@RocknRollkat]

I started recording in 1961, with one mic, one mono tape machine, and one basement. It's almost painful to watch you struggle to do something we did every day, normally. Bill P.

[@captainnearly]

What was the position used for the audio playing at the end with EQ?

[@Manifoldrecording]

I believe it was #4: centered on the kick and out in the room.

[@captainnearly]

Sounds great. Would love to hear a blend of that and the mic above the kick. Some good parallel potential there!

[@Manifoldrecording]

Ah...but that would be two microphones! We did evaluate multi-mic setups in the afternoon session of the seminar.

[@captainnearly]

Any joy?

[@GrizzlePaws]

killer vid. highly informative. butt mic got literal there for a moment..

[@njcolvin92]

Didnt know bobby Moynahan taught sound engineering classes too

[@bigbaby9189]

57 best mic ever?

[@fredrickmeyers8076]

Mic that ponytail

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

Very "ear-opening." Nice drumming John.

[@Nullllus]

10:20 my favourite out of all of them