That's a snappy septet of snare mics! Which do you prefer? 🎤

Notice how the hi-hat bleed got worse as you moved to the right side of the snare drum. Those mics were pointed at the hi-hats, the left mics had the hats in the null point. Not a super accurate comparison.

Love the DPA 2011C, very balanced and clean.

The SM57 is an industry standard for a reason.

Full Mix 2:15 Shure Sm57 2:21 Telefunken M80 2:26 Audix I5 2:32 DPA 2011C 2:37 Beyerdynamic TG I51 2:43 Sennheiser e 604 2:48 Earthworks DM20 Snare Mic Only 4:02 Shure Sm57 4:08 Telefunken M80 4:13 Audix I5 4:19 DPA 2011C 4:24 Beyerdynamic TG I51 4:30 Sennheiser e 604 4:35 Earthworks DM20 With Music 8:19 Shure Sm57 8:28 Telefunken M80 8:36 Audix I5 8:44 DPA 2011C 8:52 Beyerdynamic TG I51 9:00 Sennheiser e 604 9:08 Earthworks DM20

Nice comparison, but I think you should have put the mics all in the same place because that change a lot in terms of bleed.

i'm on the M80 since 2018, not going back. started using an M88 in the studio and loving it

Very cool compare. The SM57 just always works and most of the others are in the same camp of sound with slight variations. To my ears -- the two that differentiate themselves in terms of sound from the SM57 are the DPA 2011C and the DM20 -- both in a good way. The DM20's been on my wish list for a while,...the DPA 2011C is now on it too.

The Earthworks caught the most hihat bleed, hopefully because of it's position on the snare in this example.

I really like these videos. Nick is such an incredibly underrated drummer but also a really really good and knowledgable presenter for these types of videos.

The 57 is the obvious choice but personally I’ve started using an Audix D4. It sounds virtually the same but is only 1/3 of the size.fits much nicer in my setup than a 57

Using a 12" snare, I was looking for a tiny but good, something that it's almost invisible but give you a nice sound. And that's the Earthworks DM 20! I am really happy for the decision I made.

Digging the Sennheiser 604

Love my SM77 on snare, just sounds amazing on snare and guitar cabs.

Great video, and thanks for including our DM20!

Every time I try something different on snare I always come back to the SM57. It's the most versatile, best sounding (in many cases), and inexpensive.

Great video! I've used the 57 for years, so of course that'll always be the go to mic.. Lately I've been using the Slate Digital M2 as well. Think I may have to get me one of those Audix i5's. For me that one really stood out.

I feel like the sm57 and the m80 would sound amazing blended

The Telefunken m80 and m81 are gonna be sought after in 20 years, mark my words lol. I use the m81 for guitar cabs, I basically do little to no eq in post anymore cause its so accurate to the in room sound. Its a secret weapon, and I definitely recommend it to anyone curious about them.

Telefunken M80 for me.

Hate to say it but the sm57 sounds best in the full mix

I was surprised at how often I favored the Audix. Cool. Might have to get one. My go to has been the Mojave MA-100

Modern mics sound better to me....SM57 is a classic but a lot new brands has good gear, too. I prefer beyerdynamic 201TG It sounds great on snare. But amazing to listen the new beyerdynamic I51 its great. I bought from Sweetwater this product last year and it's amazing ❤️❤️🇨🇴❤️

I found a yamaha mz105be at a music go round. My go to snare mic

Audix i5 and SM57 for me.

I always use audix or sure. Sometimes tho I will throw up a pencil condenser tapped to the normal Mic with capsules lines up for extra top end. Works great. All what u want.

M80 is a BOMB

please, similar shootout for toms and kick drums!

I like very much the Sennheiser 441 too.

Sm57 and DM 20 sounded nice.

What kit is the bass drum from? Looks unreal

Each mic sounded like you changed the tuning or dampened the drums on some, even though you didn’t lol. I’ve always liked the sm57

SWEETWATER ROCKS!!!

no surprise to anyone but the earthworks mic rules edit: the bleed test wasn't fair at all, the mics were all facing different directions

That SD is tight!

My biggest gripe with the industry standard snare mics is the form factor. While they all sound good at picking up a snare, the challenge is in how well they can reject the hi hat. All of the mics in this video have the xlr cable coming out the back which makes it hard to position the hi hat right in the null of the polar pattern. my favorite go-to snare mics are side address, like the Shure Beta 181/C.

NDV is an instant like 🤘

57 Always, but Bayer does sound pleasant to me!

SM57, Earthworks, Beyerdynamic

In the first test the sm57 has more range with highs/mids then the other mics all sound flat after. To me at least.

2011C for me

Faltou o matador de sm57... o M201 da Beyerdynamic!

Definitely the Shure SM57!

Sm 57 very natural for me.

I have several of those mics, sm57, m80, e604, but also others like two vintage Unidyne III and a couple of Avantone, I usually record with the two UnidyneIII or the M80. the DPA left me surprised, I want it

After hearing the off-axis response of the SM-57 and the bleed it got from the hats, I've concluded my own SM-57 is broken and I need to buy a new one.

Shure SM57 All Day!🎶

Pyle pdmic78. Not as muddy as sm57. Made of plastic though so no touring.

I’m curious way you guys chose the 604 from Sennheiser instead of the more expensive 904 or the microphone they market for snares, 609/906. Do you prefer the sound of the 604 over those other microphones?

I have a 57 top and bottom of my snare.

Nick I love your videos and your high energy style! So, because of that, you get a pass on the mullet. Lol. X )

I need a mic system for my drum set. Which is the best one?

Sm57 it is then!

Still like the SM57 out of the rest in this demo. I feel no need to go out and buy any of them.

Only mic that is better than the sm57 for snare is the SE V7X. Just because of bleed polar patterns is tighter and has a bit more frequency range almost condenser type but in a dynamic. You can't go wrong with any of these that Beyerdynamic is so great as well! The go to for almost the whole world is the sm57 lol

Trouble with this is that all the mics are placed at different positions which changes what the microphone is hearing.

DPA 2011c is my favorite. Unfortunately it's also over $800

Honestly you guys should have put the Beta98a/c as a snare mic option because I use them on all three of my DW design series toms but occasionally when I break the kit down I’ll free up the mic placement and try it on the snare and you don’t notice any bleed, super direct, TIGHT snare sound from a Beta98 mic, they’re phantom powered, y’all should review that one or check it out anyways, I love them. My kit mic configuration is Beta 52 - kick 57 or 98 on snare 3 98’s on toms and then two sm81s for my overheads. Hands down, the BEST

Since when does Jon Lovitz work at Sweetwater? Yeah! That's the Ticket!

Audix for me

I really like your videos, but sorry, the hihat bleed can not be judged in this video, because every close mic is at a different distance and angle to the cymbal, which can effect the bleed.

I bet Steve Albini is gonna be watching this

Key takeaway: Nick toured in Europe with his band

57 wins simple

The Sennheiser e604 sounds best to me.

Anyone else come to videos like this, hear the SM57 first, and go "yep, that'll work", with little interest in hearing any of the others ? It's all tedium after that.

Why include the SM 57 when the Beta 56/57 sound so much better?? The Beta series is superior in every way to the older SM series, so much so that the continued existence of the SM series is baffling. I haven't touched an SM for anything in over 20 years. And why the Sennheiser e604 instead of the e904?? Again, it's so much better that the e604 shouldn't even be considered. I'll agree the Audix D series is excellent on drums, but as they are less versatile for other sources than the Shure Beta or Sennheiser evolution series, I hesitate to recommend them to people who need mics that can cover a wide variety of sources. The Shure and Sennheiser mics are therefore my first choices for most purposes.

And then you buy a 57. 😉