What are Drum Overheads?

Drum overheads are microphones placed above a drum kit to capture the overall sound of the drums and cymbals. These microphones record the full kit from a higher position, providing a balanced and natural representation of the performance.

Overhead microphones are typically positioned above the drummer, often slightly in front of or to the sides of the kit. Their main purpose is to capture the cymbals, stereo image, and the combined sound of the drums rather than focusing on individual drum components.

In many recording setups, overheads are used together with close microphones placed on specific drums such as the kick drum, snare, and toms. While the close microphones capture detail and impact, the overheads provide the spatial character and overall blend of the kit.

Overheads are commonly arranged as a stereo pair, allowing engineers to capture the left and right sides of the drum kit. This stereo recording helps create a wide and realistic drum image in the final mix.

Drum overhead recordings are imported into digital audio workstations such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro, where producers balance them with close drum microphones to shape the final drum sound during the mixing process.