How to choose a microphone for your steel pan drum

How to choose a microphone?

The high-quality tongue drums like RAV Vasts, are very tender instruments. Made of special steel, these musical instruments produce a unique soft and mellifluous sound. If you want to make the records of your playing or perform on a stage solo or with other musicians, you definitely need an amplifier - a mic. Then a good question you might be asking yourself, where can I buy a recording microphone?

First option

Condenser microphones is also known as static microphones are basically used in recording studios. They are sensitive and can pick up even the tiniest nuances of playing standing away from you. The great thing about it is that you won’t need to think about saving a room for your hands. The microphone will catch the tiniest sound.

However, these babes are sensitive to loud sounds and fragile by themselves. So playing thundering heavy-metal with a garage band is not a clue here.

This type of microphone is perfect for home recording or a music studio and can be used to perform on a stage. If you experiment with creating electronic music, mixing handpan with other sounds, static mics will work great for this. A static microphone will pick up the exact tone of your tongue drum and the subtleties of play.

Second option

Unlike their static counterparts, dynamic microphones are stuck directly onto your instrument (it’s usually the bottom part in case of the tongue drums). The main perk of this microphone is that it only picks the vibrations of the tongue drum, so you get a clear solo sound without any surrounding noises.  This mic works great if you jam with other musicians and you want to amplify the volume of your tongue drum.

However, this microphone is really compact and durable and can be taken anywhere. Choose a contact microphone as a pickup for your tongue drum if these two points are essential for you. If you are a fan of percussive playing style, a dynamic mic will also work better for you as it let the basses come through more actively.

How to record with a microphone?

The point is, there’s no need to be a sound engineer to make a good sound record of your play whatever you do it at home or in a studio. Just choose the mic, turn on the REC button, get in the mood and start playing. You will only need some recording equipment (your mobile phone or your PC will work perfectly involving the common sound recording software).

You can make records both in your home or professional studio. You can even experiment with some surrounding sounds, ambient of a morning café or recording the sounds of nature. The tongue drums by themselves have outstanding natural acoustics. Imagine how it can be accompanied by additional sounds! Try to make short records in a different environment: in a forest, near the river or in the city center.

In case you need a summary

So which microphone will adapt better to your drum and provide the finest sound? It all comes down to your personal needs and taste. The tongue drums also differ one from another. Do you play solo with a mysterious E Low Pygmy? Then you might opt for a static mic. Or you prefer to jam with other musicians with your D major RAV Vast? In this case, choose from the dynamic microphones. Experiment with different gadgets to choose the one that is more appropriate.