When looking for drum microphones, you’ll find plenty of bundle options for mics that work for snares, kick drums, and overheads, but you’ll rarely find a bundle for just the toms.
Toms are always the mics that get focused on last, so it’s natural that there aren’t many package options out there that focus on them. However, it’s good to know that there are a few, with the Audio-Technica ATM230PK Drum Microphone Pack being one of them.
We’re going to break down everything there is to know about this pack, and we’ll help you decide whether it’s a good option for your drum kit.
This microphone pack includes three Audio-Technica ATM230 hypercardioid dynamic drum microphones. They’re intended to be used for toms, so it’s a drum mic pack to be used on your toms.
However, these mics also work on other percussive instruments that have low to mid tones, such as congas and cajons.
These microphones are designed to handle high SPL levels at very close distances, and they have hypercardioid polar patterns that reject bleed very well.
They’re designed with all-metal casings, making them very durable, and the included drum mounts allow you to attach them to the toms without the use of full microphone stands.
On top of that, you get a separate zipped bag for each microphone.
The sound quality you get from each ATM230 microphone is extraordinary for toms on a drum kit. The sounds are very full, and these mics tend to pick up every nuance of your playing.
With rack toms, they do a great job of catching all the attack. With floor toms, they round out the sound very nicely to give you a deep and powerful tone.
These mics will work best if you’ve tuned your drums properly. If the toms are out of tune, they may just pick up the nasty overtones that you don’t want to hear.
They’re only great for toms, though. If you’re someone who is considering using one of them for a snare drum, we strongly recommend that you don’t. You’ll get a boxy sound that lacks a lot of the crispness that you need from a snare. This is only a pack to get for two rack toms and a floor tom, or one rack tom and two floor toms. Check out these Snare drum mics instead.
These microphones are quite compact, making them very easy to position so that they’re out of the way when you’re playing the drum kit. The included rack tom mounts make positioning them even easier.
The metal cases are also extremely durable. Every mic in this pack can easily take a few stray drumstick hits, and it will survive just fine. You can also drop the mics on the floor, and nothing will happen to them. We just don’t suggest that you do that too often, obviously.
While they’re small, they’re a bit heavier than you may expect. Some drummers love that aspect of the ATM230 mics, while others may be caught off guard.
One of the best things about the ATM230 mics is their sharp rejection of bleeding sounds. These mics will very rarely pick up sounds from drums and cymbals around the toms, so you’ll be able to position your drum kit quite close together. Some mics don’t do well for drummers that position their cymbals low, but these won’t pick up those cymbal sounds very easily, no matter how low they’re positioned.
These mics are also very easy to use. Whether you’re in a sound-treated studio or on an open stage, the initial sound you get from your toms will be very rich. With a little EQ tweaking, you’ll get professional tom sounds that are hard to beat.
The ATM230PK Drum Microphone Pack is a perfect example of a value package. You’re saving just under $100 compared to if you were to buy three of these microphones separately. That’s great value for the money!
Compared to other microphones on the market, we also think these ATM230 microphones have excellent value for tom mics. A lot of mics don’t give you sounds that are as good, and many of them cost a bit more.
So, if you’re a drummer looking for the most value possible, we highly recommend this pack.
The ATM230PK Drum Microphone Pack is ideal for studio settings. When recording drums in the studio, you want to get a drum kit sound that is as clear and controllable as possible. The best way to do that is by putting mics on every drum.
If you don’t have tom mics yet, then this is one of the best packages to consider. These mics make your tom tones easy to control, and they tend to make the toms sound very rich and full, which is exactly what you want in studio settings.
If you’re limited during a live gig in terms of how many mics you can use, it’s better to have a snare drum mic, kick drum mic, and overhead mics. You can easily get away without using tom mics, so this pack wouldn’t be as essential as it would be in studio settings.
However, it will work brilliantly if you’re able to have tom mics. You’ll get the same results that you would in the studio, barring the natural reverb you may get from the environment that you’re playing in.
If you already have a snare drum, a bass drum, and overhead mics, getting something like the Audio-Technica ATM230PK package is the logical next step. You get three seriously high-quality tom microphones that will fill your drum kit mix out.
The value for money is excellent, and all the mics are highly durable. We don’t know of too many tom microphone packs that are more attractive than this one!
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
Find useful lessons, tips and reviews for any drummer. From beginners to professionals there’s always something new to learn and improve. Join our Newsletter for exclusive advice!
11407 SW Amu St Suite #ABM436 Tualatin, OR 97062
There may be affiliate links on this website, which means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to our readers.
© All rights reserved Copyright 2024
Subscribe to our ninja mailing list and get a Free E-book!
Subscribe to our ninja mailing list and get a Free E-book!
