The R92 is an ideal mic to capture the sound of your toms because of its detailed and pronounced mid-range, balanced low end, heavy protection, and near-field nature. It’s thick lows and balanced sound from up close are what make it great for capturing toms. With a different sound for each side of the mic, the R92 gives you tons of options.
Due to the R92s near-field nature, it can be positioned similarly to how you would position a standard dynamic microphone, right up against a tom. This is because the R92 mechanically rolls off the low end before it hits the ribbon giving it a balanced sound from 2 – 16 inches away from the source. The R92 is very well protected and loudness will not hurt it though direct blasts of air will. Before miking your toms, do what we call the hand test.
The Hand Test
To ensure that the R92’s ribbon will not be damaged by strong blasts of air from your instrument, place your hand near the source and move it away until you can’t feel moving air, then place the R92 in that position. As an additional precaution, you can tilt the R92 slightly upward, thereby relieving the ribbon of some tension and allowing it to accept slightly greater air impact. A pop screen between the mic and the source is another method for preventing potential ribbon damage.
