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The Six Types of Kick Drum Microphones

Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 | by


I often get asked to recommend kick-drum microphones, and in the process of helping drummers and engineers decide what might work for them, I’ve realized that it is useful to classify the available microphones by type.

AKG Acoustics D 112 Yamaha Subkick Audio-Technica AE2500 Electro-Voice RE20 Sennheiser Electronics Corporation e 901 Neumann U47 fet

  • AKG Acoustics D 112Tailored Dynamics – dynamic mics pre-EQ’d with aggressively scooped mids. The most popular and best-known bassdrum mics belong to this category.

  • Yamaha SubkickSpeaker Transducers – a small group of purpose-built dynamic bass instrument mics created from speaker or headphone drivers. These mics generally excel at pickup of low frequency information.

  • Audio-Technica AE2500Dual-element Mics – Specialized kick mics with two transducers, each optimized for a different sound.

  • Electro-Voice RE20Broadcast Dynamics – High-end dynamic mics with essentially flat EQ profiles, these mics are recommended equally for kick drums and broadcast use.

  • Sennheiser Electronics Corporation e 901Boundary Mics – Also known as PZMs (for Pressure Zone Microphones), boundary mics offer wide polar coverage and clean pickup of transients.
  • Neumann U47 fetLarge-diaphragm Condensers – Your best vocal condenser probably sounds great on bass drums, too.


Needless to say, most any mic could be used on the kick drum, including counterintuitive choices like ribbons. The point of this article is not to suggest that the following are the only reasonable choices, but rather to classify the types of microphones most commonly used for this application.

Note that placement tends to differ across categories of microphones. For example, dynamics are usually placed inside the drum, anywhere from just inside the resonant head to an inch off the batter head. PZMs can lay inside the drum, or on the floor in front of it. Speaker driver mics tend to be placed outside the drum, against the resonant head. LDCs usually stand in front of the drum, as far as six feet away.

Why are there so many types of bass drum microphones?

I suspect it is because the bass drum is difficult to record well. Modern engineers typically want two sounds from one instrument — the round, resonant, low-frequency, sustained tone of the drum (usually 70-100Hz), and the sharp attack of the beater on the drum head (usually 2-4kHz). Reproducing both sounds well arguably requires using two different types of microphones, in two different places.

For example, the best place to hear the attack of the beater is inside the drum, close to the batter head. Mics placed here tend to be fairly well isolated from the sound of other drums, as well as pedal and throne noises. Yet this is a high-SPL environment, where many condenser microphones would overload. Dynamic mics are better suited for this task.

But audience members never sit inside the bass drum. Whatever that mic hears is not what bass drums sound like to most listeners.

A mic placed outside the kick drum will hear a much more natural sound. As with any non-close-miked application, condenser mics will typically deliver superior results, due to their higher sensitivity. Yet in this position, the mic will also hear the snare, toms, and cymbals clearly, as well as every other instrument in the room. Further, the attack of the drum is not as present in this position, which for some music styles is a dealbreaker.

The idea that neither single mic adequately captures both sounds leads many engineers to use two or more microphones on the kick drum. This, in turn, has led the manufacturers to develop specialized microphones. We’ve seen two main developments here — two classes of microphones designed specifically to address the challenges outlined above. Read on for an in-depth discussion of all six types of kick mics, including the problem-solvers I call Dual-element microphones and Tailored Dynamics.

Six Kinds of Bass Drum Microphones #

Tailored Dynamics #

One solution to the challenge of accentuating both the high-frequency click and low-frequency boooom of the bass drum is the class of dynamic mics with built-in “scooped mids” EQ curves. These mics were engineered to simultaneously enhance the attack sound as well as the resonant low-frequency tone of the drum.

But all tailored dynamics are not created equal. Each has its own EQ frequencies, which may or may not be approprite for the drum in question. Further, the amount of HF and LF boost varies significantly across this category of mics.

Microphone LF Peak Frequency LF Boost HF Peak Frequency HF Boost
AKG D112 100 Hz 4 dB 3000 Hz 5 dB
Audix D6 60 Hz 10 dB 5500 Hz 15 dB
beyerdynamic Opus 99 110 Hz 4 dB 2500, 5000 Hz 12 dB
Blue Kickball 70 Hz 4 dB 4000 Hz 12 dB
ElectroVoice N/D868 55 Hz 8 dB 4800 Hz 8 dB
Heil Sound PR-48 70 Hz 12 dB 4000 Hz 10 dB
MXL A55 Kicker 90 Hz 6 dB 2500, 4500, 7000 Hz 8 dB
Shure Beta 52A 50 Hz 5 dB 4000 Hz 17 dB

A drum’s natural resonant frequency depends primarily on the species, thickness, and construction of the shell. For example, birch tends to produce higher frequencies than do maple and mahogany. Thicker shells tend to produce higher frequencies than thinner.

If you’ll indulge me in a brief but fantastic tangent, grain orientation affects pitch too. Check out DW’s John Good illustrating the tonal difference between “horizontal grain,” “vertical grain,” and “diagonal grain,” with color commentary by Neil Peart, in the last minute of this DW video:

What this means is that even one of these specialized, pre-EQ’d microphones might be unsuitable for some kick drums. If the drum’s resonant frequency is 50Hz, the AKG D112 might sound thin — you’d get much more low end from the Beta 52. Conversely, a small jazz bass drum might not be well served by a Beta 52, N/D868, or Audix D6 — whereas the MXL A55 or D112 might shine.

Just for fun I measured the two kick drums I have handy. This illustrates the point that one hard-wired EQ curve doesn’t fit every drum:

Drum Frequency
16×22'' Tama Granstar II, 9mm birch 40 Hz
18×20'' Tama Starclassic Maple, 7mm maple 70 Hz

Broadcast Dynamics #

High-quality dynamic microphones are naturally able to withstand high SPLs, and generally sound good on any loud or close-miked source. I most often see these placed very near the resonant head, unless the drum is ported, in which case the mic is placed through the hole into the drum.

The Electro-Voice RE20Electro-Voice RE20 — aka PL-20 — is probably the best-known example of this class. This microphone is known for its excellent Cardioid pattern control and 15dB worth of rejection for off-axis sounds.

The Sennheiser Electronics Corporation MD 421-IISennheiser Electronics Corporation MD 421 is another common choice. Current production units have a high-frequency presence peak not found on the RE20; this would tend to bring out the attack of the drum.

See also the beyerdynamic M 99beyerdynamic M 99, which provides three selectable EQ curves: flat (for broadcast), presence (increasing articulation and reducing proximity effect, for close-miking), and a low-mid scoop with HF boost (for kick drum).

Large-Diaphragm Condensers #

The low-frequency response of most LDCs extends to 30Hz or below, making these mics very suitable for kick drum. Usually they are placed at least one foot, if not 4–6 feet away from the resonant head.

Because this placement enables the mic to hear the rest of the drum kit, the guitar amp, and the rattling light fixture too, many engineers will build a tunnel or “doghouse” in front of the drum, to create some isolation for the microphone.

I don’t know of any LDCs built specifically for kick drum, but I’d recommend trying whatever LDCs you already have. The limiting factor in most cases is the mic’s max SPL rating; a sensitive mic without adequate padding can easily overload. Check your mics’ sensitivity and SPL ratings in the mic database.

The Neumann U47 fetNeumann U47 fet is possibly the most famous LDC cited for kick-drum usage. Because these don’t turn up on eBay too frequently, you might instead seek out David Bock’s homage to the Fet 47, the Soundelux ifet7, or the Wunder Audio CM7Fet, or the Lawson L47Fet.

The Audio-Technica AT4047/SVAudio-Technica AT4047/SV often turns up in lists of recommended kick-drum mics, both for its 47Fet heritage and its rising low-frequency response.

Similarly, Kel Audio’s Kel Audio HM-7UHM-7U has a boost from 30–50Hz. It can’t handle as high a level as the AT4047, though.

The matte black, transformer-coupled version of the Blue Microphones MouseBlue Microphones Mouse is pricey, but worth considering for use outside the kick drum.

Finally, the Mojave Audio MA-201 FETMojave Audio MA-201 FET draws praise for use outside the kick drum, and — like most of the rest of the mics in this list — also draws comparisons to the U47 Fet!

Boundary Mics #

Boundary mics, and their close cousins PZMs, contain a small condenser capsule next to a reflective metal plate. The capsule is usually a miniature omnidirectional electret; the resulting polar pattern is called “half spherical.” The mic operates on the principle that sound reflected from a surface is in phase with its direct signal, within a few millimeters of the surface (aka boundary). Therefore, the direct and reflected signals reinforce one another, giving a 6dB boost as compared to the level of non-directional or ambient sounds.

Alex Van Halen's long bass drumsI’ve never understood the appeal of boundary mics for bass drums. Physics require that for best low-frequency response, the boundary’s longest dimension must be equal to the wavelength of the frequency to be recorded. For an 80Hz tone, that’s 14.125 feet. I’ve never seen a bass drum that long, except maybe Alex Van Halen’s.

[Update — I’ve studied PZM math somewhat more closely since initially posting this article.

  • A 4'x4' boundary loses 6dB of signal between 47Hz and 178Hz.
  • An 8'x8' boundary loses 6dB between 23Hz and 94Hz.
  • Mounting the PZM near a 90° junction (in a room corner) doubles or triples the depth of the shelf. Near a tricorner, you’ll lose 18dB of LF response.
  • If the PZM is mounted very close to the sound source — closer than the shortest dimension of the boundary panel — the LF shelf disappears.

Moral: if you’re using a PZM, study the math first, and be prepared to do a lot of experimentation.]

So, you could put the mic on a board in front of the kick drum, but then it’s a room mic, and that HF boost is going to capture a lot of cymbal sound, especially considering that most boundary mics have a rising/bright HF response.

I have one boundary mic, a Crown PZM-30GP (aka PZM-30D). Its plate measures 5×6 inches. In the absence of a larger boundary surface, this mic effectively has a shelf filter of -6dB below 2200Hz, because the wavelength of a 2.2kHz tone is about 6 inches. Meaning, if I lay this mic inside the drum on a pad, I’m going to get a great big attack and probably not much else. [Update: subsequent study suggests that by placing the PZM within 5 inches of the batter head, the shelf might disappear.] My own tests bear this out — inside the drum, the PZM produces a nice beater impact, but no tone. On a long shelf board in front of the drum (or on the floor), the sound is much fuller. Listen for yourself; you’ll hear two hits from inside, two from outside, and a repeat:
[audio:http://recordinghacks.com/sounds/samples/kick/PZM-demo.mp3]

(Note that the tighter “inside” samples will sound great over small speakers. Connect a subwoofer to your monitoring environment to hear the “outside” samples come to life.)

This is a general-purpose PZM, not necessarily intended for kick-drum use. But as the mic’s manual states (and the laws of fluid dynamics require), “Low-frequency response depends on size of surface.” This would be true for any boundary mic. Nonetheless, there are several on the market built specifically for kick drum:

The Sennheiser Electronics Corporation e 901Sennheiser Electronics Corporation e 901 is unique among this group for having a somewhat tailored EQ curve built in to the mic, although the LF response depends on proximity (as well as boundary size).

The Shure Beta 91Shure Beta 91 is another popular choice.

See also the beyerdynamic Opus 51beyerdynamic Opus 51, designed primarily for piano but suggested for kick drum too.

Speaker Transducers #

OK, at this point everyone has heard of the idea of wiring a speaker driver to an XLR jack: instant “subkick.” The speaker cone becomes a very large diaphragm that is relatively insensitive to mid and high frequencies.

Be aware that these mics are rarely used alone, because they just won’t capture the impact of the drum. I most often see them paired with a second mic near the batter head.

The Yamaha SubkickYamaha Subkick is the most famous commercial implementation of this idea. The Subkick uses a 6.5'' speaker mounted inside a wooden drum shell.

The Moon Mics, LLC DK27Moon Mics DK20/DK27 uses an 8'' driver. It ships complete with a Pearl drum stand and — usefully — a polarity switch.

Also worth mentioning here is the old, discontinued but much loved beyerdynamic M380beyerdynamic M380, which used a small headphone driver and produced a natural figure-of-8 pickup pattern. This mic’s small size allows placement inside the drum, where the front of the mic could capture the beater, and the rear could capture the shell.

Dual-Element Mics #

Like the “Tailored Dynamics,” dual-element mics are another solution to the challenge of getting two different sounds from one instrument.

Many engineers will put two mics on the drum — a dynamic near the beater, and a condenser outside the drum. This approach presents two problems: one, these two mics are probably out of phase with one another; and two, the outside mic either records lots of unwanted sound, or requires the additional complexity of setting up an isolation tunnel.

Mic manufacturers have responded by combining the two transducers in a single housing. Each capsule has its own output, so these mics require two preamp channels. But their signals are guaranteed to be in phase, because the capsules are aligned. Further, because the condenser is inside the drum, it won’t pick up as much ambient sound.

Will it adequately capture the desired tone, though? I have not tried one of these mics, so I have no relevant experience. I’ll refer you to the reviews of the microphones below — these are the three dual-element kick mics on the market today:

The Audio-Technica AE2500Audio-Technica AE2500 was the first dual-element kick-drum mic. It has a premium price ($699 MSRP; see the mic profile for current street pricing), but its reviews are excellent.

A-T followed the AE2500 with the Audio-Technica ATM250DEATM250DE, using off-the-shelf parts rather than custom-designed components. Be sure to read Andy Hong’s excellent ATM250DE review for tips on placement and proximity effect.

Coming soon is the Lewitt Professional Audio DTP 640 REXLewitt Professional Audio DTP 640 REX, scheduled for US release in the next few months. Nobody has tried this mic yet, but if it is built like the rest of the product line it is sure to be worth checking out.

More kick mic possibilities

This article was not intended as a comprehensive guide to kick-drum microphone choices, but because we’re partway there already :), I’ll mention a couple more that don’t fit neatly into the categories outlined above.

Ribbons are a natural for capturing transients, and their proximity effect can lead to a great low-end sound. The risk is that ribbon transducers are highly sensitive to air blasts. Put a ribbon mic in front of the port on a bass drum, and the element will split.

So, if you’re using a ribbon mic, keep it out of the air blast. Also, tilt it forward 45°. I first saw this idea in a video with Royer Labs’ John Jennings:

Or check out the Shure KSM353Shure KSM353 (formerly known as Crowley & Tripp’s El Diablo), which not only has a durable, guaranteed ribbon made of Roswellite™ acoustic nanofilm, but also is voiced like a U47Fet.

The Ultimate Kick Drum Recording Package

Want to be prepared for any kick drum that crosses your studio threshold? Here’s what you’ll need:

  • An assortment of new drum heads. Face it, 80% of the problem with drum miking is that the drums don’t sound good. And 50% of that problem is due to tired heads. Get some single-ply heads, some two-ply, and some with built-in muffling devices. Also: befriend your local drum tech!
  • Aquarian “Port Holes” – adhesive-backed 5'' diameter rings that serve as cutting templates for porting a resonant head. This beats the heck out of tracing a coffee can with an X-acto knife, although if you’ve already done that, these rings will hide the ragged cut edge.
  • A selection of microphones. No single kick-drum mic will always succeed, so I suggest acquiring several mics that serve multiple purposes:
    • If you have outboard EQ, get a single nice dynamic mic that serves double-duty for VO or bass cab. Any of the “broadcast” mics would serve well.
    • If you instead opt for one of the “tailored” mics, I recommend getting one from each end of the LF EQ range — the Beta 52, N/D868, or D6 for lower-pitched drums, and a D112, A55, or Opus 99 for higher-pitched drums.
    • A high-SPL LDC, ideally with built-in pad. Try the mics you already own, first; if you end up shopping for dedicated mics, check out the LDCs listed previously.
  • A tunnel. Or better yet, a variety of tunnels. Sonotube brand concrete forms are strong, lightweight cardboard tubes available in diameters from 6''–60'' and lengths up to 60 feet. Alternatively, you could construct something out of mic stands draped with moving blankets, or a second bass drum with the heads removed.
  • A high-end mic pre or channel strip, ideally Neve or API. (Paul Northfield swears by Neve for drum tracking.)

If all those parts aren’t in the budget, you could instead buy a library of high-quality drum samples and a copy of SoundReplacer or Drum Rehab. [That’s a joke, sort of.]

How wrong am I?

I’m sure I missed lots of great kick mics and lots of great placement tips and techniques. Please let me know, in the comments!

Update – Kick Drum Mic Shootout

During the summer of 2012, we gathered 19 different kick-drum mics and shot them all out in a very controlled test. You’ll hear mics from Audio-Technica, Heil Sound, AKG, MXL, Electro-Voice, Miktek, Avantone Pro, Shure, Audix, Sennheiser, and Lewitt Audio — all the go-to mics you can name (D6, RE20, D112, Beta 52a) and a couple new contenders you ought to know — A55 Kicker, PM11, Mondo, RE320.

Visit our Massive Kick Drum Mic Review.

This review lets you listen to 28 different samples, blind. Can you pick out the new mic that out-D6s the D6?

Support This Site

If you’re shopping, please consider buying from one of our affiliates. The commissions we earn help us develop more in-depth articles like the one above.

We’ve loaded all the kick-drum microphones above into this shopping tool. The prices are among the lowest we’ve seen. Click the little side tabs to scroll through the list; any one — or to be safe, any two — of these mics will help you get a great kick sound. 😉

Posted in Microphones, Video | 19 Comments »




19 Responses to “The Six Types of Kick Drum Microphones”

  1. evan

    September 9th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    Excellent overview. The importance of drum tuning can’t be overstated. It’s easy to tell when a guitar is out-of-tune, but it takes a keen ear to know when a drum is not right, and when it will adversely affect the recorded outcome.

    As far as other BD mic contenders, the Shure SM7, the radio station staple and counterpart to the RE20, is worth a mention here. You might also be surprised by what a SDC can do, though seemingly counter-intuitive.

  2. Peterson

    September 27th, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    Wow, excellent and comprehensive post.

    I have heard that some engineers believe using a mic on a kickdrum consistently is bound to damage any mic. Therefore, they keep a dedicated kick mic (or mics) and keep the rest of their locker away from the kick drum. What are your thoughts on this?

    Again, really great post, thanks.

  3. matthew mcglynn

    September 27th, 2010 at 8:22 pm

    @Peterson – high SPLs can certainly damage some microphones, especially condensers. But so can spitty vocalists who didn’t brush their teeth after lunch.

    Moving-coil dynamics are, in general, more robust than condensers and ribbon mics, and will more easily withstand the challenges of both kick drums AND moisture. I would not personally be concerned about damaging a moving-coil mic in a kick drum.

    There are some condenser microphones whose diaphragm tension is such that high SPL can cause the membrane to be “sucked” into the backplate, which not only doesn’t sound good, but also can, over time, damage the microphone. Check with the manufacturer before sacrificing prized condenser mics.

  4. Gareth William Schumacher

    October 21st, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    You guys didn’t mention the Beyer M88 – a dynamic originally designed for vocals (I think), but it sounds great on a bass drum. I borrowed one for a project recently and I like it better than my D6. Oh well.

    By the way, great article – wide-ranging, informative and geeky, just how I like it.

  5. Troy

    November 26th, 2010 at 7:59 pm

    I used to use an Audio Technica ATM25 hanging from the tom mount inside the bass drum with a large hole cut centered on the resonant head. I got many compliments after shows on my bass drum sound after shows. Should have never sold that mic!

  6. Jon Cohen

    November 27th, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TROUBLE TUNING DRUMS:
    That blue drum on the snare drum in the video just above here is an Evans Hydraulic head. It is a two ply head with oil in between the two layers. This deadens the sound significantly, helping to reduce bleed, and also helps to hide tuning problems in inexpensive drums, or even drums tuned by someone who is still working on their tuning chops!!

  7. squirrel

    December 18th, 2010 at 2:41 pm

    good use for pzm if pedal is not too noisy is set this near back head (experiment). It gives click if one is looking for it plus overall bleed of snare bottom and floor tom. Then mic of choice is used on front head. Also for making hole find can of desired size and heat on stove burner; apply to head and it gives even unragged edge.

  8. dave

    January 11th, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    My recipe starts with a coincident pair of small diaphragm condensers like Neumann KM-184’s or , for less money Cad e-7o’s. They are in an x-y coincident pair over the share.
    The second mic is a large diaphragm condenser, the Neumann TLM-193, positioned just inside the kick. Add an SM-57 to the side of the snare and a cad e-70 with pads and bass roll-off engaged for hi-hqt micing. Drums wth 5 mics, no gates but put a compressor on the kick.

  9. Schmucko

    April 9th, 2011 at 6:11 am

    Nice to see the N/D 868 get some love. I’m a live touring engineer so I don’t own all that many mics. I also avoid doing endorsements. But after using the 868 once at a festival, I went out and bought one because they’re surprisingly uncommon in the touring world for some reason. Much tighter bottom end than a Beta52 which is the most common kick mic on the road.

    I’ll go between using the 868 and Sennheiser e902 (not reviewed but should be). 868 for the beef anchor or an e902 when I want a more intelligible compact sound that sits easily in a mix with many elements for a more balanced rhythm section.

  10. joe

    December 29th, 2011 at 6:36 am

    Hi,
    I am building a suitcase kit like the one that can be found here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Build-a-Suitcase-Drum-Set/?ALLSTEPS

    I’ve done it before but have always been less than satisfied with the kick. The author recommends using a rubber ball for the mallet, and using a hard plastic shell suitcase for better sound. He also recommends the following to mic it:

    “Amplifying your suitcase
    If you are playing in a venue with a PA system, the suitcase sounds great under a microphone. There’s only one way to do it and get a low thump. Put a mic (preferably a bass drum mic) right next to the spot where the beater hits, 2 inches or less from the suitcase. Turns the highs and mids on the mixer all the way down; really, all the way down. Crank up the gain and the lows, and you’ll be surprised how fat it sounds. It does require a ton of gain, so be careful sending it through monitors. If you send too much through the monitors, you’ll get some annoying feedback.”

    That said, and because this is being done on a budget, I was wondering if you felt this would be well served by the MXL A55. I say this because you recommend it for a small jazz kick, which i am guessing would be the most similar sounding to the suitcase kick.

    Thanks for the great article!

    -Joe

  11. Rick Banman

    January 25th, 2012 at 8:24 am

    I was wondering if you could outline micing a second kick drum placed in front of the first one to resonate the low frequencies. Or perhaps share a link?
    Thanks

  12. Damianos

    January 30th, 2012 at 9:39 am

    Great article!!
    I’m started working in the sound field a year ago and i’m kind of new and learning a lot.
    In the studio where i work the predetermined setup it’s a Beta 91 inside the drum, a RE-20 on the hole a little off-axis and a home-made sub-kick close to the drum, but we often use a AKG 112.
    Again, great article, really helpful for a newbie like me =)

  13. Damianos

    January 30th, 2012 at 9:41 am

    By the way, just forgot to ask:
    I’m looking for a good BD mic for live gigs in the small bar i work in, i was thinking about an MXL A-55 Kicker, any suggestion about it?? I mean, i’ve heard it’s pretty good and it’s actually cheap…

  14. Thomas

    September 27th, 2012 at 1:55 am

    Hi!

    If you built a tunnel. Where do you place the mics?

  15. TJ

    October 16th, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    Great article! I’m a little late to the conversation but thought I’d add some comments regarding double mic’ing techniques. It should be known that I’m attacking this as a live FOH engineer rather than a studio recording engineer. Several years ago I heard a band play on the Tonight Show and was impressed by the sound of the kick. I found contact information for one of the engineers there and asked what they were using. I could see a Beta52 sitting just inside the port on the resonant head and a cable going inside to another mic. The engineer got back to me and said they were using a Shure Beta91 inside the kick on a pad near the batter head. He mentioned that it was the older Beta91. I was already using a Beta52 (which I had switched to from an N/D868) and figured I’d give it a shot. However, based on some negative reviews of the new Beta91’s mini XLR connector, I decided to go with a Senn e901. The idea is that the boundary mic inside near the batter head will give you great definition of the attack of the beater and the large diaphragm dynamic mic in the port will provide the low end boom. After a little eq and compression, the combination of the two result in an amazing full bodied punch. (By the way, I’ve also used the e901 inside pianos in a single mic application and it sings there as well.) As for single kick mic, I’ve had good success with the D6. I’ve yet to find an application where I’ve liked the sound of the D112, but as a drummer myself, I don’t like small kick drums so that might have something to do with my bias against the D112. Again, thanks for the article and updates.

  16. Victor Blakey

    June 28th, 2013 at 5:12 am

    M88 WAS, a great mic, until Beyer “improved” it, now, if you use a new model on kick drum, the SPL WILL kill it.
    I’ve been looking for a while for the ideal Kick drum Mic, Ive tried the D6’s and all the various egg shaped mics
    Always, I try to find a mic that needs the least EQing, currently I am using a Beta 91A (new model, Full XLR connection) inside the drum, and a Blue Encore 300, condenser outside the hole.
    Run up each mic individually and move them forward and backwards until they have the parts of the sound you are looking for then blend them too achieve the magic, but I still need to EQ, usually removing a lump in the 125 to200 Hz region.
    The way they usually end up is with the beta 91 about the middle of the kick drum, inside and the Encore 300 just outside the hole(i usually start with the line of the mic head, lined up with the skin, and usually move it out, rarely more than 2 inches fully out of the line of the skin)
    This gives me the detail, and click from the 91, with a bit of tight thud, and still gives me a bit of ‘weight’ to to the tone from the Blue Mic, without too much overhang.
    I al;so have anm Audix adx 60, I am starting to experiment with, not much body to the sound, but, when inside close to the batter head, gives an almost perfect modern metal sound straight out of the box, (no EQ !)

  17. dave mattacks

    April 2nd, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    very helpful indeed … my favourite combo { at the moment ! } is either an 91 or pr 48 inside , depending on the drum & musical situation – & the yam’ sub-kick outside … but i’m always looking to improve ! thanks again – dm

  18. jackson

    August 14th, 2015 at 11:01 am

    Somebody knows where i can find the hitory of subkick. who invented it, where, how. not only yamaha subkick, any subkick
    thanks

  19. musicaine

    May 27th, 2017 at 10:51 pm

    Great post ! How do did you calculate the drum’s resonant frequency ?

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