kick mics

[donbray]

I record mostly rootsy singer/songwriters.
Lots of acoustic instruments and occasionally drums.
Do any of you fine people have suggestions for a good kick drum mic?
Not too worried about price.
Just want a good mic.
Thanks in advance

[WSVP]

I can recommend the:

Audix D6 ~ Seems to have a warmer more natural sound (My personal favorite)...
AKG D-112, ~ Has a bit more click / upper mid character...
....
Some people like the EV RE-20 as a kick Mic... ("I personally don't," though I love it on some Vocals)...
Have heard some good things about the Shure Beta-52 (I have not tried one myself)...


My 2 cents worth...

[newrigel]

I can recommend the:

Audix D6 ~ Seems to have a warmer more natural sound (My personal favorite)...
AKG D-112, ~ Has a bit more click / upper mid character...
....
Some people like the EV RE-20 as a kick Mic... ("I personally don't," though I love it on some Vocals)...
Have heard some good things about the Shure Beta-52 (I have not tried one myself)...


My 2 cents worth...

+1

[Phil O]

The Electrovoice RE20 works amazingly well as a kick mic, even though it's not what it was designed for. I must respectfully disagree with WSVP on this. Guess it's a matter of taste.

Phil

[mhschmieder]

You would be hard pressed to find a more accurate and articulate kick mic than the Electro-Voice N/D 868.

This is essentially a revision of the famous RE20 (and more modern RE27N/D), in a housing more appropriate for kick drums, so that you don't ruin a vocal mic by occasionally applying it to kick.

The mics aren't identical, but are VERY close. I've done a number of comparisons of them, as have others. Some also like them on floor toms and bass cabinets, but I have other recommendations for those.

The E-V N/D 868 is the most uncoloured kick mic on the market, and it captures the most details in the initial attack and also in the decay. I generally use it inside the kick, pointed between the beater and the rim a few inches away, but it's also common to see it used outside the kick (though many prefer condenser mics in that role).

I have used just about every kick mic there is, except for the hybrid dynamic/condenser mic made by Audio-Technica (I forget the model number). That mic also wins a lot of accolades from those wanting a transparent and detailed capture, and it blends the two signals (or shuts one or the other off, giving you the choice).

Another overlooked kick mic is the one from Beyerdynamics that is sold as part of their drum mic package but also individually. I forget whether it too is in the Opus series or not, and haven't used it in a year, but was quite impressed. Very close to the sound of the E-V N/D 868, with perhaps slightly more detail to the tail but a hair less of the attack.

[stephentayler]

This used in combination with an AKG D112 is killer!!

Yamaha Subkick

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Con ... WS,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Cheers

Stephen

[kassonica]

+1 on the RE20 and the beyer 88 tis a nice kick mic as well.

[donbray]

Thanks one and all.
I feel sufficiently honed in now to make a decision after a bit of research.
As always I really appreciate everyone's expertise and willingness to share.

[tomeaton]

I'll second the SubKick. Great tool. I have a bunch of "kick" mics, but seem to return to a Beta91 inside and the SubKick outside almost every time.

tom

[burn em]

+1 on the D6 and M88. +1 Beta 91 if you want a bit more bite or attack.

All the d112 and yamaha sub kick are good for is holding a door open or self defence if attacked in a laneway! No offense, you shouldn't have to work a mic/transducer to make it sound any good. Best stayed away from. Shure's Beta 52 is also a horrible mic best avoided.

[kassonica]

I just used my new (well it's old mic but I just bought it) Beyer n88 both live and in the studio and it's become my new favourite.

[tomeaton]

+1 on the D6 and M88. +1 Beta 91 if you want a bit more bite or attack.

All the d112 and yamaha sub kick are good for is holding a door open or self defence if attacked in a laneway! No offense, you shouldn't have to work a mic/transducer to make it sound any good. Best stayed away from. Shure's Beta 52 is also a horrible mic best avoided.

Different strokes, I guess! I own the D6, M88, Beta 52, 91, SubKick, Beyer TGX 50, Beyer M99, RE20, ATM25, and about a hundred other mics... whenever I use it (mostly!) on kick, I always find the SubKick gives me something worth having!

tom

[Sean Kenny]

+1 on the D6 and M88. +1 Beta 91 if you want a bit more bite or attack.

All the d112 and yamaha sub kick are good for is holding a door open or self defence if attacked in a laneway! No offense, you shouldn't have to work a mic/transducer to make it sound any good. Best stayed away from. Shure's Beta 52 is also a horrible mic best avoided.

Different strokes, I guess! I own the D6, M88, Beta 52, 91, SubKick, Beyer TGX 50, Beyer M99, RE20, ATM25, and about a hundred other mics... whenever I use it (mostly!) on kick, I always find the SubKick gives me something worth having!

tom

Interesting stuff, never had the pleasure of an M88 must beg or borrow one sometime. Have to confess to being a D6 fan never got on with the D112 and was going to sell it until I tried it as a trombone mic. Not bad a at all, recommend trying it.

Sean http://www.ten21recordingstudios.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mhschmieder]

The M88 is pretty good on kick; though I still feel the N/D 868 gives more detail. But that is in the context of a rock drum set.

I may be recording my jazz group sometime soon, and I have earmarked the M88 as a likely kick mic for the smaller kicks used in most jazz. I think it might produce a rounder tone, which will probably be preferred in that context.

My housemate's metal band used the sub-kick in two recent sessions, and didn't like it (nor did I, from the results), but I suspect placement is everything with that device (actually, this is the case with most traditional mics as well). Or maybe it is overkill on a 26" kick?

The ATM25 is also a great mic, but I use mine on floor toms. So far, I haven't found another mic that is as well-suited for the low tom tones for a good blend of attack and timbral detail. I use the newer ATM250's on rack toms. It's an entirely different mic, but works OK on floor tom and kick.

If one is on a budget and doesn't need all the mics at once, I can see some of these other mics as being good all-rounders. But I would still prefer a dedicated kick drum mic, as the diaphragm will get bent over time and thus be less than ideal for vocals or other uses.

[EMRR]

I like the Sennheiser E602 more than the D112 or beta 52(?).

I use the RE20 most of the time.

The EV 666 is a good one for vintage vibe. There were still a fair number of people raving about them in the late '90's. Doesn't have the bottom octave like some others, but makes up for it with a great 100 Hz presence and tone. Just always works.