Hi Steve,I'm often embarrassed with Cymbals omnipresence in the mix. I use ribbon mics for as blumlein stéréo, and OH (bumblebee RM5/6 for both), Oktava MK012 for ambient (delayed).I 'm quite happy with the blumblein stéréo with gives me a nice image of the drums. But sometimes the presence of the cymbals makes me moving the mics a bit lower and further. But I don't find OH mics very useful. I note that they are very low in the mix and I finally wander if I didn't waste my time at the recording (as a routine). Also, the cymbals are omnipresent in the ambient mics (the oktava mk012).So my questions are:Do you sometimes record drums without OH mics and can we have an example of your recording you made without OH? In all videos I can see, you use OH mics but you specify not doing it as a routine.Do you use other mics like ribbons for examples for delayed ambient instead of oktava?Finally, do you use compression or Eq to attenuate the presence of the cymbals (after moving or changing mics)?Thanks

Obviously not Steve...Are you familiar with the following video? If I have a decent grasp on the issue you are describing, I believe may potentially be something that could address the issue you mentioned.

Are the Oktava's the ones with the omni caps? Typically I'd use an omni for room to get a better low end response. I also tape them to the floor, as it gives you more of the resonant/bottom head of the drums and you get a fairly even cymbal response. For small rooms the removal of the floor reflections and the fact that you've kept the 1st and 2nd reflections as long as possible is also a plus.

This issue is really on the drummer to ensure the kit has a good acoustic balance as a single instrument. You won t fix technique in a session, but you may be able to recommend cymbal selections that balance better. Typically, thinner cymbals, with their relatively lower fundamental, will sit better in situations like you describe.EDIT: Also, didn't mean to imply there aren't many other ways to address this, so much as saying as a drummer I've had good results at the source, addressing cymbal choices.

@garthplinko , this may ne a good solution. I just find it too big. It might obstruct the sound more than necessary. I would try sound screen like vocal sound screen on mic stands. They are smaller and pretty cheap.

Tell the drummer to hit the shells like they mean it. That'll sort it out.

Record the cymbals separately!Kidding, although people do this.