Overhead mics for drummers

While affordable drum mic kits can get the job done, they lack the spatial dimension that the best overhead drum mics can provide.

Compared to an affordable drum mic kit, which might rely on lower-end condensers, the best mics for drum overheads deliver a more spacious and balanced sound.

Their relatively compact design also makes them easy to position in tight spaces. However, I’ve found that performance-oriented overhead mics justify their higher costs through improved sound clarity, reduced background noise, and greater sensitivity that captures essential drum kit details. It gives the microphones a very fast transient response, and that makes them sound extremely clear.

Some matched pairs don’t cost much more than a good t-shirt, while other matched pairs cost as much as an entire professional drum set.

If you’re a beginner player, you’ll have no problem with the most affordable overhead mic options. It has such a durable body, and it’s been kitted with a scratch-resistant finish, along with a dent-resistant grille.

When looking for drum kit mics, you need to get ones with very high SPL levels.

Drum kits can produce up to 130 decibels, so you need to get microphones with SPL numbers that are higher than 130.

All the microphones that I’ve listed above have high SPL ratings, so you’ll be safe with any of them, but keep this aspect in mind if you choose to get other microphones to use as overheads.

Condenser microphones with small diaphragms tend to have the highest SPL handlings, whereas large-diaphragm condensers have slightly lower SPL handlings.

Body Shapes

As I mentioned earlier, you get two main body shapes for overhead drum microphones.

Customer feedback consistently highlights its reliable performance in live settings, though some users recommend EQ adjustments to tame the high frequencies for ideal results.

Best For: Budget-conscious drummers and novice recording enthusiasts who need reliable overhead drum mic performance without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• Wide 20,000 Hz frequency response captures the full spectrum of drum kit frequencies
• Super-cardioid polar pattern effectively rejects off-axis noise with solid 60 dB signal-to-noise ratio
• Sturdy metal housing provides durability for live performance settings

Cons:

• High frequencies may require EQ adjustments to achieve optimal sound balance
• At 14.4 ounces, it adds noticeable weight to drum setups
• Limited to corded electric power source, reducing portability options

View Latest Price

AKG Pro Audio Instrument Condenser Microphone, XLR, Black (P170)

The AKG P170’s switchable 20dB pad transforms this compact condenser into a remarkably versatile workhorse for drummers who need a microphone that won’t buckle under the intense sound pressure levels of cymbal crashes and snare hits.

This results in accurate and balanced stereo placement between shells and cymbals without losing the upper end sheen due to phase issues. A lot of drummers never turn back after trying these mics out as overheads.

Polar pattern: Cardioid

Frequency response: 50Hz – 25kHz

Max SPL: 145dB

Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Behringer C-2 – Best Budget Option

The Behringer C-2 Microphones (compare price on Sweetwater and Amazon) are some of the most popular condenser microphones on the market.

Those two switch features are incredibly useful when it comes to setting these up as drum overheads.

Something to note is that these mics are quite long. These microphones are carefully calibrated to provide balanced sound and consistent performance, ensuring accurate and well-matched recordings. All these brands sell microphones that tend to work very well for drum kits, whether that’s in studios or on live stages.

Shure

Shure is an incredibly popular audio brand, especially due to their SM57 mics being one of the industry-standard drum kit options.

When you click product links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.

The Audio-Technica AT4041SP matched pair is a high-quality set of small-diaphragm condenser microphones designed to capture detailed and clear audio. If you are likely to run long cables, lower impedance will be an even higher priority.

Power requirements

As we’ve already stated in this guide, most microphones on the list need some sort of power going to them.

However, I’d definitely use shock mounts to isolate the mics from floor vibrations and stage rumble during recording.

On a final note

I’ve tested countless overhead mics throughout my drumming career, and these ten options represent the best value across different budgets and recording scenarios.

This current edition was published on 2025.

For this edition, we looked at all the matched pairs of microphones that are being sold by major music gear retailers with a street price of $1,000 or less. By recording from above, these microphones inevitably get a bit of everything when they pick up the hi-hats. You’ll avoid the phase issues that come with mismatched gear, and you’ll be surprised at how much more “real” your drum recordings feel.

Greater distances create spacious, airy tones but risk introducing unwanted room noise that’ll muddy your mix.

Cardioid mics effectively isolate the drum kit while rejecting background noise, which prevents unwanted ambient sounds from cluttering your recordings.