Microphone Placement (Drum Kit)

Drums

First of all for recording a drum set, you will need a full set of dynamic microphones and condenser microphones.

KICK
For the kick drum, as it is there to help establish the primary rhythmic pattern of a song, a low frequency response mic should be used and can then be boosted through the desk. The mic should be placed in close proximity (between 1-6 inches away) facing the beater head from the outside of the kit.  Though the proximity of the beater to the kick drum will all depend on the amount of background noise or room noise that is heard when testing the recording through the sound desk. However if you want less ‘slap’ the mic can be placed just inside the hole on the kick drum.

SNARE

For the snare, as it is the most piercing drum on the kit and also has little or no sustain as it is a transient drum. The mic is to be placed on the top head at the edge of the drum with a cardioid or super cardioid dynamic microphone. This will pick up the most frequencies and by far the most rich sound. However, if you wanted that raspy sound of the actually snare underneath the drum, you could also place a dynamic min underneath on a stand. This will pick up that more rough sounding tone.

HI-HATS

Then the hi-hats, as they are primarily for shot high frequency bursts to keep in time (though can be opened to produce a more loose, grungy sound) rarely need a separate mic as the overheads will provide enough response to record them. If necessary, the mic will need to be placed out of the way of the puff of air that occurs when the hi-hats close and within 4 inches to the cymbals. Sometimes it may be necessary to mic under and over the hi-hat. This will help you pick up a more whole sound from the hats. Ensuring that the mic's are placed far enough away as to not be contacted by the opening hats, but close enough so as that they don't pick up an excessive amount back ground noise.

TOMS

On to the toms, an individual directional dynamic mic can be used on the top head near the edge on each drum. They can then be panned to make some spatial imaging for the listener. However a simpler set-up could be one mic set up just above and directly between the two hi set toms on the kit. Though the best response will come from individual mic's on each tom.

OVER-HEADS
When recording a kit, it can sometimes be easier to use a single set of over head mic's. These two condenser mic's will be placed over either side of the kit, directly opposite to one another but at the same height. This will ensure that the same quality of sound is picked up. In some cases, you may find that the availablility of mic's is better and that you wanted to use two sets of over heads.  

Drum Kit Microphone Placement diagram