Sontronics Drumpack
A dedicated set of drum mics can be a useful addition to anyone’s live or recording setup.
Capturing a good drum sound can be a challenge, and with the high SPLs and potentially awkward mic positions involved, a set of dedicated mics can make a lot of sense. So, in this month’s Spotlight, we round up a variety of all‑in‑one mic bundles designed to capture a whole drum kit in all its glory. A bonus to investing in such a set is that in addition to their obvious use, the models included often come in handy for other sources, too — kick mics tend to work well on bass amps, for example, and a good pair of small‑diapragm capacitors can do far more than simply sitting above a drum kit!
AKG Drum Sets
AKG Drum Set
The AKG line‑up includes three Drum Set packages: Session, Concert and Premium. Session combines a P2 kick mic with four P4s designed for snare and tom duties, while overheads are taken care of by a pair of P17s. Concert then relies on a D112 MkII and four D40s for kick, snare and toms respectively, and includes a pair of C430s for overheads. The flagship Premium set includes a D12 VR kick‑drum mic along with four D40s, but adds a C451 B that can be used as a dedicated hi‑hat mic, plus a matched stereo pair of C214 overheads. All three kits come supplied in a hard carry case with an assortment of mounting hardware.
£375 to £1895 including VAT.
$485 to $2399.
Audix
Audix DP7
Audix cater to a wide range of applications and budgets, with no fewer than 10 dedicated drum sets on offer! The cost‑effective FP5 is a five‑piece kit that comprises a selection of the company’s Fusion series mics designed for kick, snare and toms (f6, f5 and f2), while the FP7 adds a pair of f9 overheads. The DP4 then combines a D6 kick mic with a trio of i5s intended for snare and toms, while the DPQUAD includes a D6, an i5 and a pair of ADX51 overheads, and the DP5A bundles together a D6, i5, D4 and two D2s. Opting for the larger DP7 will gain you a pair of SCX1C overheads, and the DP8 also includes an SCX1HC for hi‑hats, while the flagship DP Elite 8 kit includes a pair of SCX25‑As for overheads. If that’s still not enough choice, there are MICRO variants of the DP5 and DP7 that feature the company’s MicroD capacitor mics. All of the kits are supplied in a hard case with the appropriate clips and mounts.
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/audix-dp7
£315 to £2250 including VAT.
$319 to $2649.
Avantone CDMK
Avantone CDMK‑8
Avantone’s CDMK (Complete Drum Microphone Kit) series comprises five sets that bring together second‑generation versions of the company’s dedicated drum mics. All five employ the Mondo and ADM for kick and snare duties, combining them with a range of different choices for the rest of the kit. The CDMK‑4 and CDMK‑5 add two and three ATOM tom mics respectively, while the CDMK‑6 includes a pair of ATOMs and two CK‑1 cardioid capacitor mics intended for overheads. The CDMK‑7 retains the overheads but adds a third ATOM, and finally, the flagship CDMK‑8 benefits from a hypercardioid version of the CK‑1 that can be used as a hi‑hat mic. All five kits are housed in a vintage‑style tweed case that also comes loaded with all of the necessary clips and shockmounts.
£554 to £993 including VAT.
$499 to $899.
Behringer BC1200 / BC1500
Behringer BC1500
There are two all‑in‑one sets in the Behringer line‑up: the BC1200 and BC1500. The former includes a KM1200 kick mic along with four TM1200s that can be used to mic up snares and toms, and a pair of CM1200 small‑diaphragm capacitors designed for overhead use. The latter places a C112 on kick duties and includes four TM1500s for snare and toms, while overheads are taken care of by a pair of CM1500s that provide a little more flexibility than their lower‑cost counterparts thanks to onboard high‑pass filter and ‑10dB pad switches. Both sets are supplied in a hard case, and come complete with a set of clips.
BC1200 £99, BC1500 £165. Prices include VAT.
BC1200 $129, BC1500 $189.
beyerdynamic TG Drum Set Pro
beyerdynamic TG Drum Set Pro L
Available in Medium and Large variants, beyerdynamic’s TG Drum Set Pro kits bring together a selection of mics optimised for use on drums. Despite their names, both are seven‑piece kits that include a TG D71 boundary microphone and a pair of TG I53s that can be used for kick drums and overheads respectively. As for snare and toms, the Medium set relies on a set of four TG D35s, whereas the Large kit includes two TG D57s and a pair of TG D58s. Both sets are supplied in a padded carry case and come complete with mounting clips.
Medium £614, Large £1009. Prices include VAT.
Medium $699.99, Large $999.99.
north-america.beyerdynamic.com
CAD Audio Stage
CAD Audio Stage7
CAD Audio’s Stage4 is a four‑piece kit that includes their D10 and D19 kick and snare mics, along with a pair of D29s that have been designed for use on toms. The D10 and D19 both feature an integrated clip that allows them to be mounted directly onto a stand, while the D29s sport a built‑in rim‑mount clip. Opting for the Stage7 will gain you a third D29 and a pair of C9 small‑diaphragm capacitors that can be used as overheads. Both kits come packaged in a padded carry case.
Stage4 £229, Stage7 £269. Prices include VAT.
Stage4 $179, Stage7 $199.
DPA DDK4000
DPA DDK4000
Supplied in a durable Pelican hard case, the DDK4000 brings together a selection of DPA’s renowned high‑end instrument mics and promises to capture a natural and precise drum sound. A 4055 kick drum microphone is joined by a 2012 cardioid microphone and a trio of 4099 Core instrument microphones — models that boast high SPL handling figures and are recommended for use on snares and toms — while overhead duties are taken care of by a pair of 2015 wide cardioid microphones. The kit includes a full complement of accessories, including three drum microphone clips, a set of MicroDot to XLR cables, and adaptors for the 4099s.
£4140 including VAT.
$5150.
Earthworks DK Series
Earthworks DK7 Gen 2
Earthworks are renowned for their accurate, neutral‑sounding mics, and their range currently includes two sets designed specifically for drums. First up is the DK6, a six‑piece kit that includes the company’s DM6 kick drum mic, three DM17s designed for use on snare and toms, and a pair of SR20 Gen 2 overheads. The set is supplied in a premium hard case along with mounting hardware. The company’s flagship offering is the DK7 Gen 2, which takes a no‑compromise approach to drum miking, combining the DM6 with four of Earthworks’ miniature DM20 Gen 2 mics and a pair of SR25 Gen 2s. The latest iteration of the kit benefits from optimised internal electronics, a newly designed rim‑mounting system for the DM20 Gen 2s, and a smaller, more durable carry case.
DK6 £1798.80, DK7 Gen 2 £2998.99. Prices include VAT.
DK6 $1499, DK7 Gen 2 $2999.
Gear4Music / SubZero
SubZero 7 Piece Drum Microphone Set
Providing everything you need to record a drum kit on a budget, Gear4Music’s own seven‑piece kit includes a set of mics capable of capturing a kick, snare and three toms, and includes a pair of small‑diaphragm capacitors for overheads. A more recent introduction to the company’s range falls under their SubZero brand, and once again brings together seven mics designed to capture kick, snare, toms and overheads. Both packages are supplied in a hard carry case with a full complement of mounting hardware.
Gear4Music £99.99, SubZero £129.99. Prices include VAT.
Lewitt BeatKit / BeatKit Pro
Lewitt BeatKit Pro
LEWITT’s BeatKit range offers four‑ and seven‑piece sets designed specifically for capturing drums live and in the studio. The entry‑level BeatKit places the innovative dual‑capsule DTP 640 REX on kick duty alongside an MTP 440 DM snare mic, while a pair of LCT 040 Match small‑diaphragm capacitors tackle the overheads. Stepping up to the BeatKit Pro supplements the kick and snare mics with a trio of DTP 240 TTs designed specifically for toms, swaps out the LCT 040 Match for a pair of LCT 140 AIRs — which come equipped with pads, high‑pass filters and two switchable voicing options — and packages the mics and their assorted hardware into a sturdy carry case.
BeatKit £429, BeatKit Pro £945. Prices include VAT.
BeatKit $449, BeatKit Pro $999.
PreSonus DM‑7
PreSonus DM‑7
PreSonus say that their DM‑7 kit provides everything you need to capture an authentic drum sound, as well as being versatile enough for use on guitar amps, percussion, pianos and more. It includes a BD‑1, which boasts a frequency response tailored for kick drums, along with a set of four ST‑4s that have been designed with snare and toms in mind, plus a matched pair of OH‑2 small‑diaphragm capacitor mics aimed at overhead use. The kit comes complete with clips and windscreens for the OH‑2s and a set of rim mounts for the ST‑4s, with everything tucked neatly into a hard carry case.
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/presonus-dm-7
£239 including VAT.
$299.99.
sE Electronics V Pack
sE Electronics V Pack Arena
sE Electronics’ V Pack line‑up includes three drum sets that cater to a range of different requirements. The flagship model, the V Pack Arena, combines the company’s popular V Kick mic with a set of three V Beats that can be fixed to toms using the included V Clamps, a V7 X snare mic and a pair of sE8 small‑diaphragm capacitors for overheads. The V Pack Club Standard scales things back slightly with two V Beats/V Clamps and a pair of sE7 overheads, while the V Pack Venue Standard — which is aimed at those looking to supplement their existing mics — loses the overheads entirely. All three sets are supplied in the same hard carry case with the appropriate mounting hardware.
www.soundonsound.com/reviews/se-electronics-v-pack-arena
£599 to £869 including VAT.
$749 to $1149 including VAT.
Sennheiser e 600
Sennheiser e 600
Designed to provide everything you need to capture a powerful drum sound, Sennheiser’s e 600 kit houses a selection of the company’s Evolution‑series instrument mics in a heavy‑duty case. There’s an e 602‑II — a large dynamic mic designed specifically for kick drums — along with a set of four e 604 clip‑on mics designed to handle snares and toms, and a pair of e 614 supercardioid capacitors that can be used as overheads.
£1102.80 including VAT.
$1049.
Shure PGA / DMK
Shure DMK57‑52
Available in four‑, six‑ and seven‑piece variants, Shure’s PGA range offers a selection of drum‑miking solutions that each feature a selection of their cost‑effective mic models. The PGADrumKit4 includes a PGA52 for kick, a PGA57 for snare and a pair of PGA56s for toms, while the PGAStudioKit4 swaps out the PGA56s for a pair of PGA181 side‑address capacitors. The PGADrumKit6 and 7 then retain the same kick and snare mics, but include either two or three PGA56s and a pair of PGA81 capacitor mics for overheads. There’s also the DMK57‑52, which includes Shure’s flagship Beta 52A kick mic and a trio of the ever‑popular SM57s. All the company’s kits are supplied in a padded carry case with all the necessary mounting hardware, and the PGA sets all include a set of XLR cables.
£309 to £659. Prices include VAT.
$329 to $549.
Sontronics Drumpack / Drumpack Plus
Sontronics Drumpack Plus
The Sontronics range includes two bundles dedicated to drums: the Drumpack and Drumpack Plus. The former is a five‑piece set that includes the DM‑1B kick mic, a DM‑1S snare mic, and a set of three DM‑1Ts complete with mounting clips for toms. The latter then introduces a pair of the company’s popular STC‑10 small‑diaphragm capacitors that can be used as overheads. Both sets are supplied in a rugged ABS flightcase, and offer a significant saving compared to purchasing the included mics individually.
Drumpack £629, Drumpack Plus £799. Prices include VAT.
Drumpack $674.73, Drumpack Plus $857.08.
the t‑bone
the t‑bone DC 4000
There are five possible choices in Thomann’s the t‑bone range. First up is the DC 1000, which includes a BD 200 kick mic and a set of four clip‑on CD 55s designed for snare and toms. The DC 1200 then features a DM1 for kick, four DM2s for snare and toms and a pair of DM3 overheads, all housed in a carry case complete with mounts. Next, the DC 1500 places a BD 300 on kick duty, while four CD65s handle snare and toms, and a pair of EM500s tackle the overheads. The DC 4000 includes a BD 25 Beta and four CD 65 Betas (for kick and snares/toms respectively), as well as a pair of EM 81 overheads. Finally, the DC 4000 Set combines the previous offering with a set of four beyerdynamic MKV 87 snare and tom mounts.
£75 to £431. Prices include VAT.
$94.77 to $544.60. Prices include VAT.
Telefunken Drum Package
Telefunken Drum Package DD5
Telefunken currently offer four sets of mics designed to capture a drum kit, all of which feature their high‑quality M82 and M80‑SH kick and snare mics. The four‑piece DD4 and five‑piece DD5 include two and three M81‑SH tom mics respectively, while the DC6 and DC7 are six‑ and seven‑piece sets that, once again, each come equipped with either two or three M81‑SHs, but also add a pair of M60 FETs that can be put to work as overheads. All four kits are supplied in a hard‑shell case complete with a full complement of mounting hardware and a set of XLR cables.
£1149 to £2655 including VAT.
www.telefunken-elektroakustik.com
$1199 to $2495.
www.telefunken-elektroakustik.com
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