Drum microphones: how to mic kick, snare and cymbals in a rehearsal room

In rehearsal rooms it often goes like this:

"We’ve got some mics and spare mixer channels… but how do we mic the drums without making a mess?"

The temptation is to put a mic on every single piece of the kit, but in a rehearsal room that’s almost never necessary. The goal is not to make a record, but to:

• hear the drums clearly in the band mix;
• give definition to kick, snare and cymbals;
• avoid nasty bleed and feedback.

In this guide we’ll go through, in a simple and practical way:

• which microphones to use and where to place them on kick, snare and cymbals;
• minimal setups that actually work in rehearsal rooms;
• how to set levels and basic EQ on the mixer;
• common mistakes to avoid.

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1. What you really need in a rehearsal room

For most rock/pop bands in a rehearsal space you only need:

• 1 kick drum mic;
• 1 snare mic;
• 1–2 overheads for cymbals and overall image.

Very often a well‑placed 2 or 3 mic setup sounds far better than 8 microphones thrown on the kit at random.

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2. Microphone types in short

Without getting overly technical, here’s what matters:

• Dynamic mics Rugged, handle high sound pressure levels (great for kick and snare).

• Condenser mics More sensitive and detailed, ideal as overheads for cymbals and overall kit sound.

• Overheads Not a mic type, but a role: mics placed above the kit to capture cymbals and the drum kit image.

In a rehearsal room you’ll typically use:

• 1 dynamic mic for the kick;
• 1 dynamic mic for the snare;
• 1 or 2 condenser mics for the overheads.

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3. Miking the kick drum

The kick is the heartbeat of the groove and usually the first drum you want in the PA.

3.1 Basic placement

• Use a dedicated kick drum mic or a sturdy dynamic mic.

• If the front head has a port, aim the mic towards the beater head:

  • inserting it through the hole,
  • a few centimetres inside.

Quick guidelines:

• the further you go inside, the more attack and less room you get;
• the more you stay outside, the more low‑end and ambience you capture.

A good starting point:

• point the mic slightly off‑axis (not straight at the beater);
• keep it 5–10 cm away from the beater head.

3.2 Common kick mistakes

• placing the mic somewhere in front of the drum, too far away → thin sound and lots of bleed;
• extreme EQ on the mixer (all lows and highs maxed out);
• kick channel way louder than everything else.

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4. Miking the snare

The snare is the other element that must always cut through the band mix.

4.1 Recommended position

• use an SM57‑style dynamic mic;

• place it:

  • above the snare head,
  • 3–5 cm from the head, near the rim,
  • angled towards the centre, but high enough not to get hit by sticks.

This helps you:

• balance attack and body;
• slightly reduce hi‑hat and tom bleed.

4.2 Bottom snare mic: do you really need it in rehearsal?

In studios, engineers often mic the bottom snare head to capture more snare wire buzz.

In rehearsal rooms it’s usually not needed:

• it complicates routing and phase;
• one good top snare mic is enough for timing and backbeat.

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5. Overheads for cymbals and kit image

Cymbals and the overall kit picture are captured by the overheads.

5.1 Single overhead (minimal setup)

If you only have one condenser mic:

• place it above the kit, roughly over the snare;
• height: 30–50 cm above the highest cymbal;
• aim it towards the centre of the kit (not just at one crash or the hi‑hat).

This way you capture:

• cymbals,
• some snare,
• the overall kit.

5.2 Two overheads (more complete setup)

With two condensers you can use:

• spaced pair One mic above the hi‑hat side, one above the ride side, both pointing towards the kit centre.

• XY pair Two mics close together, above the snare, angled in a V shape.

In rehearsal the key is to:

• keep overheads high enough so they don’t just capture harsh crash wash;
• check that cymbals and snare are balanced in the overhead mix.

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6. Minimal setups that actually work

6.1 Two‑mic setup: kick + overhead

Perfect for:

• rock/pop;
• drummers with reasonably controlled playing.

How it sounds:

• kick mic gives you the punch;
• overhead delivers cymbals and some snare.

It’s the simplest way to get the drums into the PA without overcomplicating things.

6.2 Three‑mic setup: kick + snare + overhead

This is the classic rehearsal room setup.

Pros:

• separate control over kick and snare levels/EQ;
• overhead fills in cymbals and room sound.

If inputs and mics are limited, this is the sweet spot between simplicity and control.

6.3 Tom mics: when do you actually need them?

In many rehearsal rooms:

• if the room is small and the drums are close to the band, you don’t need tom mics;

• they only make sense when:

  • the band plays very loud and toms disappear in the mix, or
  • you want more detailed rehearsal recordings.

In that case you can add:

• 1–2 dynamic mics shared between toms (e.g. one between rack toms, one near the floor tom).

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7. Mixer basics for drum mics in rehearsal

Once your mics are placed, the next step is the mixer.

7.1 Levels

• have the drummer play alone;

• set gains so channels don’t clip;

• balance faders so that:

  • kick and snare are clear but not overwhelming;
  • cymbals and kit image are present but not harsh.

7.2 Basic EQ

A few simple moves (without getting surgical):

• Kick

  • gentle boost in the low end around the thump,
  • cut some muddy mids.

• Snare

  • light low‑cut to remove rumble,
  • small boost in upper mids for attack.

• Overhead

  • use a high‑pass filter to remove low rumble from the kit,
  • leave the highs fairly open for cymbals, without over‑hyping them.

You don’t need perfect studio EQ. In rehearsal, aim for a clean, readable drum sound.

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8. Common mistakes to avoid

1. Overheads too low They capture mainly harsh cymbal wash instead of the whole kit.

2. Kick way too loud It buries everything and makes it harder for the band to lock in.

3. Snare mic pointed wrong If it’s too close to the hi‑hat, you’ll hear more hat than snare.

4. Ignoring phase If something sounds thin and hollow, try flipping the phase on the snare relative to the overhead.

5. Extreme EQ moves Cranking all lows or all highs rarely fixes anything – mic placement is usually the better solution.

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9. Starter drum mic kit for rehearsal rooms

If you want a dedicated drum mic set for your rehearsal space, start with:

• 1 kick drum mic;
• 1 snare dynamic mic;
• 1 condenser overhead (or 2 if budget allows);
• 3 mic stands (kick, snare, overhead) + XLR cables.

Later you can add tom mics or extra overheads if you start recording more seriously.

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FAQ – Drum mics in rehearsal rooms

How many mics do I really need in a rehearsal room?

In most cases 2 or 3 mics are enough: kick, snare and one overhead. Good placement and sensible levels matter more than having a mic on every single drum.

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Can I use vocal mics on drums?

Yes, especially on snare and toms. They won’t be as tailored as dedicated drum mics, but in rehearsal they work fine. On kick, a dedicated kick mic is strongly recommended for better low‑end handling.

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Where should I put a single overhead mic?

Place it above the centre of the kit, roughly over the snare, 30–50 cm above the highest cymbal, aimed at the kit centre. That way you capture cymbals plus a bit of snare and overall kit, not just one loud crash.

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Do I really need to mic the toms in rehearsal?

Not always. In small rooms toms are often loud enough on their own. Mic them only if the band is very loud, the room is big, or you want more detailed recordings of your rehearsals.

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How do I avoid feedback and ugly bleed?

Keep mics close to the drums, avoid excessive monitor levels and be gentle with high‑frequency boosts on the overheads. If a channel tends to feed back, lower its gain and trim some highs.

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