Bass Drum Mics

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Member Since: Apr 04, 2004

I am in the market for a new bass drum mic. I am looking for something in the $50-$150 range. Any suggestions?

Thanks...

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 27, 2005 05:29 pm

The Shure PG52 or their Beta 52 are decent priced kick mics. I know the D112 is also a prefered kick mic around here.

I personally use an Equitek E-100 large diaphram condensor. It can take the high SPL's and doesnt necassarily have to placed in the drum to get a good sound.

crazy canuck
Member
Since: Nov 25, 2004


Apr 01, 2005 10:45 am

I religiously use the Shure SM91 PZM condensor...high spl, stick the sucker right in the bottom of the drum on a blanket, picks up the nicest sounding low end I have heard yet...also has high pass/low pass, gets me all kinds of kick sounds and they're all good. I am not sure how easy they are to find anymore though...

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Apr 01, 2005 11:52 am

carefull with that pillow, i've had a mic bounce around (and not know it until mixdown) and totally killed the kick sound, put a phonebook or somethin' on top to keep it still.

cheers

crazy canuck
Member
Since: Nov 25, 2004


Apr 01, 2005 12:19 pm

You mean me WYD (pillow)? The SM91 doesn't bounce if you position it good, it's a PZM so its flat (kinda the size of a pack of smokes), quite heavy...stays put. If you're ever looking for another kick mic check them out, although I am not sure if Shure still makes them.

I personally try to dampen as little as possible...I think a pillow is a little overkill but I guess in the right situation it might be ok.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Apr 01, 2005 01:23 pm

i just chuck a towel over the kick. stops a lot of the boom but without giving too flat of a sound

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Apr 01, 2005 02:08 pm

heh i gotta read slower, i didn't even notice it was a pzm! lol and pillow?? wtf did i get that?!

lol long night last night

Ultra Magnus
Member
Since: Nov 13, 2004


Apr 01, 2005 02:12 pm

I like a D112 on kick, but i have found that with really hard hitters it can be a bit clicky. I've had some joy with LDCs in those situations, but i don't tend to record hard hitters so much anymore anyway, not really to my taste.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Apr 03, 2005 12:02 pm

The three that head up the line have already been mentioned. The Shure B52, the Shure SM91 and the AKG D112. I have tried both the B52 and the D112 and like both. I prefer the D112. I hear a lot of good things about the SM91. I havn't went there as I get quite a few closed kics in and folks don't want to diddle with getting the mic inside.

JR Productions
Member
Since: Mar 03, 2005


Apr 03, 2005 09:58 pm

I think the best way to go is use a D112 and place it in the bass drum about 6" from the beater head. Then, place a speaker about 6" from the other head. Wire the speaker to a mic cable. Theres a thread in the home recording section titled "Speaker as a mic?" that will tell you how to wire it. I just started using this method last monday and from the test recordings I've done it sounds amazing. The D112 gets a lot of the attack and actual sound of the drum while the speaker gets a very nice bassy sound.

Good luck.

Perdido
Member
Since: Dec 15, 2004


Apr 04, 2005 11:41 am

Mic the batter head with an SM57 about 5" away from the beater, then use an 8"-10" sub about 4" away from the res head... dead center. If you are going to double mic the bass using a speaker anyway, that would be the optimal way to do it without using a mic inside the drum.

Perdido
Member
Since: Dec 15, 2004


Apr 04, 2005 11:46 am

Oh yeah, since this subject has come up so much lately, I figured I would share a picture with everyone.



MB Quart 8" Coaxial, being used as a microphone.



http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-1/939976/PHTO0009.jpg

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