Drums

Drum Kits:
For an unbeatable drum sound use the following Oktava microphones to mic up your full drum kit.

Overheads: 2 x Oktava MK 012 cardioid capsules
For overheads set-up the microphones about 2 feet about the level of the highest cymbals situated slightly behind the drummers stool, one at each side of the drum kit facing down into the whole kit at about a 45 degree angle from the front.

Alternatively for overheads: 2 x Oktava MK 219
Set-up the microphones about 2 feet about the level of the highest cymbals situated slightly behind the drummers stool, one at each side of the drum kit facing down into the whole kit at about a 45 degree angle from the front. As overheads the MK 219 creates a feel of perfect spacing. It makes the ride and crash cymbals give a nice roomy sound and the make the toms sound nice and close. The wide High Frequency polar pattern will give a wide stereo sound field.
Try to keep the overheads about the same distance from the snare to prevent phase cancellation wandering of the stereo image

Snare: 1 x Oktava MK 012 tight (hyper) cardioid capsule.
Place the microphone from the front of the kit underneath the level of the hi hat angle the mic downward toward the top head as much as possible (almost perpendicular); this will prevent the hat from spilling over into the snare track. For a nice attack on the snare beats place the mic 6 inches from the skin.

Toms: 1 x Oktava MK 012 or alternatively 1 x MK 219 per tom
Place the mic with the capsule angled down towards the skin about 4 inches from the surface.

Alternatively for toms: If you don’t have enough room or mics to have one mic per tom place an ML 52 microphone between each pair of toms, using one half of the figure of 8 pattern directed towards each tom

Bass Drum: 1 x Oktava MK 319
Place the mic inside the bass drum from the back of the drum. Face the capsule towards the drum pedal keeping the mic just inside the case and angled slightly down towards the floor to avoid excessive SPL The further inside toward the head, the drier and less boomy the sound becomes, and the better the acoustic separation from the rest of the kit

Hi Hat: 1 x Oktava MK 012
For the Hi hat and snare place the mic at about 6 inches from the sound slightly above and source angled down towards it.

Rack Toms: 1 x Oktava MK 219
Place the mic about one foot above the rack toms with the capsule facing down and towards the skins

Bongos: 1 x Oktava ML 52
Set up the bongos with the mic in between the two skins at about 6-10 inches away. Alternatively set-up as room mic, placed above and about 5 foot away will leave bongos sounding particularly natural and clear when placed in the mix

Room (or ambient) Mics: 1 x MKL 5000
The MKL 5000 could be the only mic you need for miking up a full drum kit. The clarity of the top end with colour added by the tube circuitry of this mic will give a wonderfully detailed full and rich sound. Each drum and cymbal should come through clearly and brightly. For the simplistic approach the sound created by this set up is unmatchable even with hours of experimentation on mic placement and application suitability with a bunch of other mics.

Place the MKL 5000 about 1.5 foot above the level of the highest cymbal with the stand about 2 foot behind the drummers stool and face the mic angled down towards the centre of the kit.

Bongos and Congas: The ML 52 gives bongos and congas a clear and unadulterated sound capturing the punchy attack and warm ring of the instrument
Set up the bongos or congas with the mic in between the two skins at about 6-10 inches away. Alternatively set-up as room mic, placed above and about 5 foot away will leave bongos sounding particularly natural and clear when placed in the mix

More Drum Tips:
As overheads the MK 219 creates a feel of perfect spacing. It makes the ride and crash cymbals give a nice roomy sound and the make the toms sound nice and close. The wide High Frequency polar pattern will give a wide stereo sound field.

Set-up the microphones about 2 feet about the level of the highest cymbals situated slightly behind the drummers stool, one at each side of the drum kit facing into the whole kit at about a 45 degree angle from the front.

The MK012 is particularly suited to Hi Hat, overheads, and the mic captures a very nice attack on snare beats. See drum kit applications

For overheads set-up the microphones about 2 feet about the level of the highest cymbals situated slightly behind the drummers stool, one at each side of the drum kit facing down into the whole kit at about a 45 degree angle from the front. For the Hi hat and snare place the mic at about 6 inches from the sound slightly above and source angled down towards it.

If the drum set you're miking has six or more toms, individually miking each tom may not produce the clearest sound (due to phasing). Instead, place an ML 52 microphone between each pair of toms, using one half of the figure of 8 pattern directed towards each tom