Chris Hardings wrote:Someone mentioned the fact that you really could use different mics depending on the drum. This is true.

Someone said THAT? Who?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

I'd agree with the first response and recommend the EV RE-20. This is usually my first choice for kick. And overall, this mic, in the long run, will be a better investment from the standpoint that it will get more use than a D112 or a Shure or Audix (from my experience). I use this mic on bass cabs quite often, an occassional distorted guitar, and quite often on screamy vocals. This mic is a solid investment and I'd recommend it to anyone. This mic picks up alot of the good midrange and even high frequencies that many other "kick" mics may roll off. I feel that the natural sound of the kick drum comes through more as oppose to just getting a big thump. I haven't had any issues with overloading. But I also like the D112 in some situations. And the RE-20 is a bit more expensive than the D112, but I think it's worth it.

Piccoman2 wrote:I was wondering if anyone had used a Beyer M88 on a kick drum. If so do you know if you absolutely have to use the pop screen that Beyer says you have to if micing bass or bass drum?

It's often my first choice because to my ears it's a very natural sounding unhyped microphone. If it doesn't work out, I always try to find out why it doesn't. If it doesn't deliver enough bass I might use a EV N/D 686 or Beyer M380, if it sounds to flat I might use a D112, if I want something that's more open sounding I might use an At 4040. I've had good results with a MD 421, D12, Glm100, AT pro 25 as well.
Recently I have been micing both sides of bassdrums because it sounds good to me. Other people might not like it.
I think mic placement and the sound of your drum are the most important things when it comes to a good kick sound. That and of course your personal defintion of a good kick/bass drum sound.
I always use the Beyer pop screen. Beyer advices people to do so because they had to repair a couple of M88s that were used in kick drums. It actually is the wind that comes back into the shell from the front skin of the drum. It enters the back of the mic and can damage or harm the capsule. This is what I've read from Beyerdynamic.
Max.

I was just mixing a song last night and looking at the track sheet. The miking I used and didn't mention was as follows: 421 inside, close to the batter head for attack, D12 (not 112) on resonant head for low frequency energy.

It was honestly difficult to find a sweet spot between the two, but once I did it worked great.

ben adrian
oakland, ca