Whether you’re recording in a studio or performing in front of a live audience, microphones are an essential component of any artist, band, or music producer’s sound gear. You’ll need them for pretty much everything—not just for your vocalists but also for instruments that may not have audio outputs.
One of the most important sets of instruments that need a good set of microphones is the drums. Due to its broad sound spectrum, it can be very challenging to capture the mixture of sounds coming from an acoustic drum. This means you’ll need specific types of microphones that are designed to deal with short and extremely loud sounds, while also capturing details and accurate drum pitches.
If you’re going to be performing or recording with drums, the best choice is to go for a purpose-built drum mic set with dynamic and condenser microphones. This way, you won’t have to purchase separate mics, learn which ones are best for which type of drum, or spend even more money on mounting accessories. We’ve provided a short list of popular and recommended microphone sets for your drums below to help you narrow down your choices.
What is the Best Drum Mic Kit?
Below you’ll find some of the best drum mic kits that are sure to be worth your money, especially since they can be used for other purposes aside from recording and amplifying amazing drum sounds.
Shure PGA Drum Kit 7
As the manufacturer of some of the best wireless microphones of the past half century, Shure removes virtually all doubt that their PGA 7-Piece Drum Kit is indeed a good and affordable set of microphones for drum recording and live drum performances.
The package includes seven reliable Shure microphones for a 5-piece drum set—the PGA52 cardioid dynamic mic for your kick drum, three PGA56 cardioid dynamic mics for your toms, the PGA57 cardioid dynamic mic for your snare drum, and two PGA81 cardioid condenser mics for your cymbals, hi-hats, and overhead sounds.
As all the necessary mounts, stands, clips, XLR cables, and even the zippered and foam-lined carrying case are already included, the Shure PGA Drum Kit 7 definitely offers great quality and value for your money.
Key Specifications:
- 7-Piece Drum Mic Set
- Cardioid Pickup Pattern
- One (1) PGA52 Kick Drum Mic
- Three (3) PGA56 Tom-Tom Mics
- One (1) PGA57 Snare Drum Mic
- Two (2) PGA81 Overhead Instrument Mics
- Seven (7) XLR-XLR Cables
- Zippered Carrying Case
- Ideal for Recording and Live Full Kit Drum Performances
Audix DP7 Drum Mic Kit
This best-selling drum mic set includes seven pieces of specialized microphones that are optimized for specific applications. The most outstanding pieces include the Audix’s flagship D6 cardioid kick drum mic and the famed i5 cardioid mic for your snare drum. To complete the set, you get two D2 hypercardioid mics for your rack toms, a D4 drum mic with a slightly lower midrange emphasis for sounds coming from your floor tom, and two ADX51 pre-polarized condenser mics for sounds from your overheads and hi-hats.
Completing this set of studio-quality microphones are dedicated MC1 and three DCLIP mic clips, two WS81C windscreens, and a rugged, foam-lined aluminum road case so you can safely and conveniently bring them with you to each live gig.
Key Specifications:
- 7-Piece Drum Mic Set
- Dynamic Instrument
- One (1) D6 Cardioid Kick Drum Mic
- One (1) i5 Cardioid Snare Drum Mics
- Two (2) D2 Hypercardioid Tom-Tom Drum Mics
- One (1) D4 Floor Tom Mics
- Two (2) ADX51 Pre-Polarized Condenser Overhead Mics
- Aluminum Road Case
- Designed for Stage and Studio Use
Samson DK707 7-Piece Drum Mic Kit
Coming from another contending brand that produces quality microphones for podcasting and live performances, the Samson DK707 drum mic kit makes it easy to capture the best percussion sounds to enhance your performance.
This full-range, professional microphone set includes four Q72 mics for your toms and snare drum (with tension-mounted rim clips that allow for quick and easy setup), one Q71 dynamic kick drum mic, and two C02 pencil condenser mics for your overheads.
As a bonus, all seven microphones feature swivel adaptors for convenient positioning. You also get mic adapters, rim clips, and a hard shell carrying case, rounding up all the things you need for touring with your drums.
Key Specifications:
- 7-Piece Drum Mic Set
- Cardioid and Supercardioid Pickup Patterns
- One (1) Q71 Kick Drum Mic
- Four (4) Q72 Dynamic Tom-Tom and Snare Drum Mics
- Two (2) C02 Pencil Condenser Overhead Mics
- Deluxe Hard Shell Carry Case
- Ideal for Stage and Studio Use
Sennheiser E604 3-Pack
Unlike the rest of the products in this list, the Sennheiser E604 3-Pack set includes fewer microphones, but it still very much deserves a spot for offering three of the most top-selling drum mics on the market today. Known for capturing the upper mids and highs wonderfully, the E604 was developed based on the brand’s own acclaimed MD421 cardioid dynamic microphone.
This 3-piece set is the ideal cost-effective solution when you’re recording or capturing sounds from drums as well as other types of percussion and brass instruments. It also includes a quick mount clip-on holder and zippered storage pouch for each mic, plus it features the standard 3-pin XLR output that ensures balanced audio signals for professional-quality output.
Key Specifications:
- 3-Piece Drum Mic Set
- Cardioid Pickup Pattern
- Three (3) Sennheiser E604 Compact Dynamic Drum Mics
- Three (3) Clip-On Mounts
- Protective Zippered Pouches
Telefunken DD5 Drum Mic Pack
Those who chose to invest in the Telefunken DD5 5-piece drum mic set are primarily after the single M82 large diaphragm dynamic kick drum mic, which features two separate KICK EQ and HIGH BOOST switches for tailoring the microphone’s response to different sound sources. This allows the M82 to be used for other applications such as for capturing singing vocals, broadcast voices, guitar and bass amplifiers, brass instruments, or organ sounds.
The kit also includes one M80-SHB mic for your snare drum, three M81-SH mics for your toms, and both metal and plastic rim mounts for all microphones. And for the high price tag, Telefunken ensures you’ll have everything you need, including five 5 meter-long XLR cables with right-angle connectors and a durable hardshell flight case.
Key Specifications:
- 5-Piece Drum Mic Set
- One (1) M8 Large Diaphragm Dynamic Kick Drum Mic
- One (1) M80-SHB Snare Drum Mic
- Three (3) M81-SH Tom-Tom Drum Mics
- Five (5) SGMC-5R 5-Meter Right-Angle XLR Connectors
- FC0 Hard Shell Flight Case
Lewitt DTP Beat Kit Pro 7-Piece Drum Mic Kit
If you’re looking for a drum mic kit that’s specifically developed for professional studio recording, look no further than the Lewitt DTP Beat Kit Pro 7. This higher-end, all-metal mic set not only ensures fantastic audio quality with impressive clarity and punch that’s tailored for percussion instruments, but it also reduces the need for additional effects in the studio.
The whole set includes: one DTP 640 Rex dual-element mic for a rich and powerful, highly-balanced drum sound; one MTP 440 DM cardioid mic with a specially-engineered dynamic capsule for isolating and capturing snare sounds; two LCT 340 mics with interchangeable 0.8-inch small diaphragm capsules for switching between cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns; and three DTP 340 TT supercardioid dynamic mics for maximum isolation and high-volume sounds.
Key Specifications:
- 7-Piece Drum Mic Set
- All Cardioid
- One (1) DTP 640 Rex Dual-Element Dynamic Mic
- One (1) MTP 440 DM Cardioid Dynamic Mic
- Two (2) LCT 340 Cardioid/Omnidirectional Condenser Mics
- Three (3) DTP 340 TT Supercardioid Dynamic Mics
- 3-Pin XLR Output Connectors
- Black Aluminum Carrying Case
- Recommended for Studio Use
