4 Step Guide to EQing Your Overhead Mics

  1. Step 1 – Roll Off the Low End. The first step in EQing our overhead mics is to add a high pass filter.
  2. Step 2 – Cut the Boxiness of the Snare Drum.
  3. Step 3 – Reduce the Harshness of the Cymbals.
  4. Step 4 – Brighten your Cymbals Up.

What are drum overheads?

“Overheads” are the mics that usually stand on top of the drum kit. The most common setup is a pair of condensers…large diaphragm usually…

Do I need to compress overheads?

Make sure the compressor fully releases the overheads as soon as the snare’s attack is finished. This way you’ll have less snare in the overheads, without bringing up the hi-hat. Sometimes, the drummer nails the kick while only feathering the snare drum.

What are overheads music?

Overhead microphones are those used in sound recording and live sound reproduction to pick up ambient sounds, transients and the overall blend of instruments.

Where do drum overheads go?

Position them at a higher elevation for a more balanced sound. The farther apart you position the microphones, the wider your stereo image will become. Wherever you place them, make sure the overhead mics are equidistant from the snare drum.

Where do overhead drum mics go?

Where do overhead drum mics go? They get placed in a way that will allow them to pick up all the sounds of the drums. They would typically go somewhere between the cymbals on each side of the drum kit. Their placement can change depending on how the drum kit is set up.

Why do close mics change the tone of a recording?

Simply having the close mics in changes the balance of the kit which inevitably changes the perspective of the overheads. Additionally, the bleed from the close mics will interact with the overheads and shift the tone.

What EQ should I use for my overheads?

I usually like API-style EQs for overheads. There’s just something about their tone. If the overheads feel thin, a bump around 2k usually thickens things up (particularly for cymbals). If you have a ride cymbal or crash that’s really present, take out a little 1k mid-range to open the sound up.

Why do I need an expander for close mics?

Additionally, the bleed from the close mics will interact with the overheads and shift the tone. If there’s a large tonal shift, or it starts to sound too cluttered, or for whatever reason the close mics aren’t playing nice, I’ll use an expander to reduce the overall bleed.