Drums are one of the most intricate things that you will ever mic in music. The number of microphones involved is higher than almost any other instrument. Selecting the right mics can feel daunting especially when you are new to production. By using one of these options of the best drum mic kit, you can be sure to gain experience with microphones as well as have all the mics you need for live or recording applications!
Best Drum Mic Kit Overview
- AKG Drum Set Session 1
- Shure PGADRUMIKIT7
- Lewitt Beatkit Pro
- Audix DP7
- Telefunken DC7
- Earthworks DK7
Best Drum Mic Kit Options
Drum mic kits can be completely subjective and it’s always a good idea to look up video and audio samples of what they sound like. Try to think of what applications you plan to use whether that be live or recording and try to find samples in those scenarios. These options are simply listed by price.
AKG Drum Set Session 1
Best for: Budget
Price: $469
AKG is a company that is not always my first thought when it comes to drums but I never count them out. I’ve used this kit in particular in a couple of venues. I don’t hate the sound but it is not my go-to choice. That being said, if you replace the kick with a Beta 52 or even with the D112, another AKG mic, it improves the sound a lot.
| Number of Microphones | 7 |
| Recommended Mic Roles | P2 – Kick P4 – Snare and Toms P17 – Overheads |
| Travel Case | yes |
Shure PGADRUMIKIT7
Best for: Budget
Price: $549
Shure is always going to show up somewhere on a list like this because of the impact their mics have had on music. Having used this exact mic kit before, I can say that it definitely is a great option for beginner recordings and even for live venues. None of the kits in this list are particularly cheap but this one is one of the best deals here.
| Number of Microphones | 7 |
| Recommended Mic Roles | PGA52 – Kick PGA56 – Toms PGA57 – Snare PGA81 – Overheads |
| Travel Case | Yes |
Lewitt Beatkit Pro
Best for: Recording
Price: $999
Lewitt is one of those companies that I don’t have much experience with but hold in high regard. I have heard their mics being used on different recordings on their page as well as others. Their kick specifically is extremely unique because of its dual capsules (one being dynamic and one being condenser).
To hear these mics in action click here!
| Number of Microphones | 7 |
| Recommended Mic Roles | DTP 640 REX – Kick MTP 440 DM – Snare DTP 340 TT – Toms LCT 140 AIR – Overheads |
| Travel Case | Yes |
Audix DP7
Best for: Live
Price: $999
Audix is one of those companies that is somewhat underrated especially when it comes to drum mics. The D2 and D4 are some of the best tom mics I have worked with and they are in my personal mic collection. In your case, you have room to grow. You can fit an additional D2 or D4 in the empty slot and even fit another mic like an SM57 in the second open slot.
| Number of Microphones | 7 |
| Recommended Mic Roles | D6 – Kick D2 – Rack Toms D4 – Floor Tom i5 – Snare ADX-51 – Overheads |
| Travel Case | Yes |
Telefunken DC7
Best for: Recording
Price: $2,395
Telefunken is one of my all-time favorite mic companies. In this kit, you get some of the best dynamic mics on the market, the M80 and M81. I have used both of these on drums and always gotten an amazing sound from them. All of the M80 and M81 mics in the package are short-scale versions that fit into smaller spaces instead of the full-sized hand-held versions.
| Number of Microphones | 7 |
| Recommended Mic Roles | M82 – Kick M80-SH – Snare M81-SH – Toms M60 FET – Overheads |
| Travel Case | Yes |
Earthworks DK7
Best for: Everything
Price: $2,999
This is the most expensive option out of this entire list. This is because Earthworks is one of the most detailed microphone companies on the market. I own some of their mics and I have yet to hear them not sound amazing. I love the gooseneck functionality of the tom and snare mics to get the positioning just right. Keep in mind that this entire kit is condenser microphones. So you will get very detailed sound out of each mic.
| Number of Microphones | 7 |
| Recommended Mic Roles | SR20LS – Kick DM20 – Snare and Toms SR25 – Overheads |
| Travel Case | Yes |
Why buy a drum mic kit?
Unless you have experience with a plethora of microphones and know what you like to piece your own set together, it’s too difficult. When I was first getting experience with micing drums, I was pulling from different drum mic kits. Slowly over time, I started pulling pieces out of each kit that I liked and combining them for my favorite sound.
The simplicity and security of having a drum mic kit is what makes them worth it. You know that in your kit you have what you need for everything and what the roles are.
What to Consider With a Drum Mic Kit
When you get a drum mic kit you will normally get some quality mics in the set. It is important to look at it as individual pieces within the kit. When you have the right kit, you can use each piece in the kit for multiple uses. With a good pencil condenser, you can put that on an acoustic guitar, a violin, and many other acoustic instruments. With a kick mic, you can throw it on a bass cabinet. A good dynamic mic can work on a guitar amp. The possibilities only end where your imagination does.
This is mostly applicable if you are using this for recording. If you’re using it live, you kind of get stuck because you have to use the mics for the drums themselves.
FAQ’s
Is 4 mics enough for drums?
It all depends on what your goal is. If you want to mic each part of the kit, then 4 will likely not be enough unless it is an extremely stripped-down kit. But if you are using the Glynn Johns method, 4 should actually be enough.
What mic is best for recording drums?
It all depends on what the sound you are going for with drums is. If you are wanting to use only one mic for the entire kit, a good condenser mic like a C414 or LCT 1040 would be a great choice. If you are wanting a mic for each individual drum then that will take some experimentation and research to find your best option.
How do I choose a drum mic?
To choose the best drum mic you will either need to experiment with your own mics, borrow or rent them, or even watch videos of people comparing each mic.
Determination with Drums
Recording drums is absolutely one of my favorite parts of any recording process. Listening back to what you captured in its raw form can feel so rewarding especially when done right. With these drum mic kit options, you can get professional-sounding recordings with the right applications. Take the time to learn your drum kit and the best placements on it, and you’ll never go wrong.
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