What drum kit did Taylor Hawkins use on My Hero?

Taylor Hawkins used a DW drum kit for the recording of "My Hero." DW drums were his preferred choice throughout much of his career with Foo Fighters and are known for their punchy, focused sound.

How to get Foo Fighters drum sound like My Hero?

Start with well-tuned drums and use close mics on each drum plus overhead mics for cymbals. The key is using dynamic mics like SM57s on snare, a kick drum mic like the AKG D112, and condenser overheads for brightness.

What mics were used on Foo Fighters My Hero drums?

The drums were recorded using Shure SM57s on the snare, AKG D112 on the kick drum, and Neumann U67s as overhead microphones. This combination provided both punch from the close mics and sparkle from the overhead condensers.

Who produced My Hero by Foo Fighters?

"My Hero" was produced by Gil Norton and engineered by Bradley Cook. It was recorded at Grand Master Recorders in Hollywood, California during the sessions for "The Colour and the Shape" album.

How to mic drums like Foo Fighters My Hero?

Use a combination of close mics and overheads - dynamic mics on snare top and bottom, a dedicated kick drum mic inside or at the port, and condenser mics as overheads. Proper drum tuning and mic placement are crucial for achieving the tight, punchy sound.

drums from "my hero" by foo fighters

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Tone Profile

The drum sound is powerful and punchy, with a tight, focused low-end and crisp, bright cymbals. It's a classic rock drum tone, aggressive but controlled.

Shop This Rig

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DW Drum Kit(instrument)
Shure SM57(microphone)
Neumann U67(mic)
AKG D112(mic)

The Story

The drums for "My Hero" were recorded at Grand Master Recorders in Hollywood with producer Gil Norton and engineer Bradley Cook. Taylor Hawkins used a DW drum kit that was miked with a combination of close mics including Shure SM57s on the snare, AKG D112 on the kick, and Neumann U67s as overheads. This setup captured the powerful, punchy sound with tight low-end and bright cymbals that define the track.

Production Credits

Producer: Gil Norton

Engineer: Bradley Cook

Recorded at: Grand Master Recorders, Hollywood, CA

Signal Chain

Instrument: DW Drum KitShop on Reverb

Microphone: Shure SM57Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a well-tuned drum kit and fresh heads.
Use a combination of close mics and overheads to capture the full sound of the kit.
Experiment with different microphone placements to find the sweet spot for each drum and cymbal.
Use EQ and compression to shape the drum sound and make it sit well in the mix.

Original Gear

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Substitutions & Recommendations

Shure SM57Shop on Reverb$100-$120

Alternative to: Shure SM57 snare mic

The exact same mic used on the original recording, still the industry standard for snare drums with its punchy midrange response

AKG D112 MKIIShop on Reverb$180-$220

Alternative to: AKG D112 kick drum mic

Updated version of the original D112 with improved clarity while maintaining the same focused low-end response for tight kick drum sounds

Audio-Technica AT4050Shop on Reverb$350-$400

Alternative to: Neumann U67 overhead mics

Large diaphragm condenser that captures bright, detailed cymbal sound similar to the U67 but at a more accessible price point

DW Collector's SeriesShop on Reverb$2500-$5000

Alternative to: DW drum kit

Current DW flagship series maintains the same maple shell construction and punchy sound character as 90s DW kits

Steven Slate Drums 5.5Plugin Boutique$100-$150

Alternative to: Studio recording setup

Includes samples recorded through vintage Neve consoles with similar punchy, compressed drum sounds from the same era

Sources

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drums from “my hero” by foo fighters | ToneDB