Instrument

Tam-tam

Also called gong.

Sources: 6 (5 independent)

Mics sources recommend

11 setups from 6 sources, 5 of them independent of any mic maker. Each mic shows how many sources name it for that role, and how many of those are independent. Listed alphabetically: there is no ranking.

On stage

Close

any (type not named): one mic behind or above the gong, not right next to it1 independent source

The 1 setup behind this: placement and quotes

Close any (type not named): one mic behind or above the gong, not right next to it
stage; gong player's amplification advice (not orchestral)
no need to stick a mic right next to the Gong; close miking gives the Gong without the air; 1 mic behind or above gets both (paraphrase)¹

Studio

Main pair or array

Neumann KM 1841 independent source
Neumann U 871 independent source
Decca tree (two trees)2 independent sources

Room

Neumann KM 841 independent source
Sennheiser MKH 8001 independent source
Shure SM27 maker's advice1 source, 0 independent
Coles ribbon1 independent source

Close

close microphone1 independent source

The 10 setups behind this: placement and quotes

Main pair or array 3 × Neumann U 87
main, centre mic of a three-mic L-C-R array
using 3 Neumann Microphones (L- C-R), a U87 for the centre²
Main pair or array 3 × Neumann KM 184
pair, stereo pair as the left and right of an L-C-R array
a stereo set of KM-184 for the sides²
Room Shure SM27
gong, in the room
Jim Riley: room gong miked with an SM27 (paraphrase)³
Main pair or array 3 × Decca tree (two trees)
main, two Decca trees, plus close, mid and ambient positions (two large tam-tams)
The mic positions include close, mid and ambient, two Decca Trees, vintage ribbon and valve mics⁴
Room Coles ribbon
room, one of three mics on the room-recorded gongs
Wrong Tools have used three mics for capture, in the shape of a Coles ribbon mic, Neumann KM84 and Shure MKH800.⁵
Room Neumann KM 84
room, one of three mics on the room-recorded gongs
Wrong Tools have used three mics for capture, in the shape of a Coles ribbon mic, Neumann KM84 and Shure MKH800.⁵
Room Sennheiser MKH 800
room, one of three mics on the room-recorded gongs (SOS prints 'Shure MKH800'; the MKH 800 is a Sennheiser model)
Wrong Tools have used three mics for capture, in the shape of a Coles ribbon mic, Neumann KM84 and Shure MKH800.⁵
Close close microphone
close, mono close mic
Close Mic - Mono⁶
Close 2 × mid-layer pair
pair, stereo mid-layer mic
Mid Layer Mic - Stereo (L/R)⁶
Main pair or array 3 × Decca tree
main, Decca tree as main/room mic (12 mics in all in the full library)
Main/Room Mic - Decca Tree Stereo (L/R) ... Decca Tree Mono (Center)⁶

Advised against

Close Shure SM57
close (the usual drum mic)
you can use an SM-57 but it will short change your sound; drum mics are not gong mics (paraphrase)¹

Frequency bands

hum	120 Hz – 180 Hz	strong partials at about 136 and 272 Hz
roar	250 Hz – 1.6 kHz	dense inharmonic partials
shimmer	1.6 kHz – 5 kHz	falls to -40 dB by about 5-6 kHz in this recording

Own analysis: 1/3-octave band levels of the first second after the hit (dB re loudest band), plus a 12 ms attack window and spectral peak picking. A band is listed where the level stays within about 10-15 dB of the loudest band (weaker bands are given with their level). "tone" = clear spectral peaks; "noise" = dense or broadband energy. Measured from: VSCO 2 CE gongHit_f and gongHit_mf.

Sounds it makes

Single strike	slow swell to full roar over the first second, rings for a minute or more
Roll	soft mallets: growing roar
Scrape / bow	high shrieks and squeals

The sound

A large flat bronze plate with no boss: its many modes couple nonlinearly, so the sound blooms after the strike instead of starting at full level.

Recording it

Where: 1–2 m or more away; very loud, and it rings for a minute or more⁷

Estimate: Not found in the sources checked (general practice): Where.

Playing techniques

Soft mallet: tempers the attack, a deep roar
Scraping: high, scratchy
Bowing the rim: a quiet, sustained squeal
Damping: dry, dull metallic sound⁷

Sources

The Way of the Gong (percussionist Michael Bettine): Miking Your Gongs/Bells/Bowls In Larger Rooms, Part 3engineer · thewayofthegong.blogspot.com
KVR Audio: Patchpool Gongland (Kontakt library) product page (Wuhan tam-tam 45 cm)engineer · kvraudio.com
Shure: Beyond the Basics, Drum Mikingmanufacturer · shure.com
Sound On Sound: Spitfire Audio Abbey Road Orchestra: Metal Percussion review (Dave Stewart, Oct 2023)magazine · soundonsound.com
Sound On Sound: Wrong Tools Torus review (Dave Gale, May 2022; Feng gongs, room-recorded section)magazine · soundonsound.com
Vienna Symphonic Library: Synchron Cymbals & Gongs II (tam-tam 70 cm, flat rim; Synchron Stage A)engineer · vsl.co.at
Vienna Symphonic Library Academy: Tam-tameducational · vsl.co.at