LESLIE ORGAN SPEAKER
• Place a cardioid dynamic mic with a presence peak a few inches from the top louvers. Use two mics angled apart for stereo. Add another mic on the lower bass speaker. Turn up the organ fairly loud to override the rotating-horn noise.
• Place a mini mic a few inches from the top louvers. Use two mics spaced apart about 1 foot for stereo. Add another mic on the lower bass speaker. Turn up the organ fairly loud to override the rotating-horn noise.
DRUM SET (TOMS AND SNARE)
• Place a cardioid dynamic mic with a presence peak about 1 inch above the head, 1 to 2 inches in from the rim for toms or even with the rim for snare, angled down about 45 degrees. Clip-on drum mics are another alternative. Tune the heads with equal tension all around. If the drum rings too much (unlikely), tape some gauze or a folded handkerchief to the head, or use damping rings.
DRUM SET (CYMBALS)
• Using one or two boom stands, place flat condenser mics 2 to 3 feet over the cymbals. The mics can be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart, mounted XY style for mono-compatible recording, or angled 90 degrees and spaced 11 inches apart. Or use a stereo mic.
DRUM SET (HI-HAT)
• Take a flat condenser mic with low-frequency rolloff, and place it 8 inches above the outside edge of the hi-hat aiming down or at the bell. Usually the snare mic and overhead mics pick up enough hi-hat.
DRUM SET (KICK DRUM)
• Remove the front head or go inside the hole cut in the front head. Inside, on the bottom of the shell, place a pillow or blanket pressing against the beater head. This dampens the vibration and tightens the beat.
Place a cardioid dynamic mic with a presence peak and a deep low-frequency response inside a few inches from the beater. For extra attack or click, use a wooden beater and/or boost EQ around 3 kHz to 6 kHz. Cut a few dB around 400 Hz to remove the papery sound.
DRUM SET (SIMPLE MIKING)
• For jazz or blues, sometimes you can mike the drum set with one or two flat condensers (or a stereo mic) overhead, and another mic in (or in front of) the kick. You may need to mix in another mic near the snare drum.
• Clip a mini omni mic to the snare-drum rim over the drummer’s right knee. Position the mic in the center of the set, about 4 inches above the snare drum. With a little cut around 250 Hz, the sound can be surprisingly good. Put another mic in the kick.
METAL PERCUSSION
• Place a flat condenser mic or mini mic about 1 foot away.
BONGOES OR CONGAS
• Place a cardioid dynamic mic with a presence peak midway between the drums a few inches away. Or mic both drums up close.