Drum Microphone Mount

Microphones / Miking

Published January 2025

Miking drums is a notoriously fiddly affair. Have Lauten Audio cracked it?

Hot on the heels of Lauten’s recently released Tom Mic and Snare Mic comes the Rim Mount, a fully articulating drum‑mount system designed to enable optimal positioning of a microphone on the rim of almost any drum. It aims to solve most, if not all, of the issues of stability, positioning and isolation commonly associated with rim‑mounted mics. Let’s find out whether it does!

Carry On Clamping

The Rim Mount comprises an aluminium clamp attached to two articulated metal arms, by way of a ball joint that enables the arms to rotate and swivel through 360 degrees. A second ball joint connects to a standard 5/8‑inch threaded mic mount, and a large lever at the ‘elbow’ joint between the arms is used to lock everything in place. The combination of ball joints and rotating collars provides an almost unlimited degree of flexibility, to the point where, with the lever loosened, the Rim Mount takes on an almost liquid quality.

The clamp element features a large, knurled thumb‑screw to operate its jaws, which, when fully opened, stretch to around 35mm — enough to accommodate even the widest wooden drum hoop. The jaws also feature thick rubber ‘teeth’ that not only protect the drum rims but also aid grip and help to isolate the clamp from vibration.

When I say it’s locked in place, I mean it. I was even able to lift the entire drum using the Rim Mount, without it moving!

The best way to use the Rim Mount is to attach a mic to the threaded mount while it’s in its flaccid state, and then attach the clamp to the rim while supporting the mic. You can then manipulate the arms and move the microphone into position. The lever magically tightens ball joints and elbow joints simultaneously, locking everything in place — and when I say it’s locked in place, I mean it. I was even able to lift the entire drum using the Rim Mount, without it moving! To further ease the fitting process, you can disengage the lever, by pulling it up a little, and rotate it to a more streamlined position before re‑engaging it.

Sermon On The Mount

Lauten were kind enough to loan me their Tom and Snare microphones, which, of course, were a breeze to set up with the Rim Mount, but I also tried a range of mics, including the ubiquitous Shure SM57 and a very heavy and cumbersome MXL Cube, as well as a large‑diaphragm capacitor mic. I was able to get each mic into the perfect position and firmly secured. Lauten also suggests the Rim Mount will comfortably hold larger industry classics such as the Sennheiser MD421 and AKG C414, and I have no reason to doubt that.

Drums come fitted with a range of different rims (or hoops), and I found that the Rim Mount attached securely to both triple‑flange and die‑cast rims without impinging on the drumhead. It will even work with S‑hoops and wooden hoops, which are often a problem for rim mounts. With the Rim Mount securely tightened on the hoop, the rubber teeth add a significant level of isolation from unwanted rumble and vibration.

With its well‑engineered metal construction, the Rim Mount has a very industrial look, and the dual‑arm construction and rubber teeth immediately set it apart from any system I have previously encountered. The level of flexibility and adjustment offered by its design is quite astonishing, allowing you to comfortably manoeuvre microphones into positions that not only benefit the engineer but also the drummer. Retailing at just over £100, this isn’t a cheap option but, having used many different rim mounts in the past, I have to say that this is by far the most flexible and solid solution I have seen.