One Kit, Two Mics, Lots of Inspiration

How does one track drums? That’s a common question with a myriad of often-complicated answers... especially in this day and age, when even small 4-piece drum kits often get tracked with two mics each on the snare and kick, mics on every tom, spot mics on the hi-hats and ride, stereo and mono overheads, a front-of-kit mic, room mics, and a mic to capture drum throne squeaks. It’s no wonder many small studios opt for one of the many excellent virtual drum programs on the market.

What is easy to forget is that many of the classic records we love often had the drums captured with four mics or less, and often just two. While this classic approach is making a comeback with many engineers and producers, it does mean giving up the ability to alter the levels, EQ, or panning of individual kit pieces.... or does it?