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SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:46 pm
by copperx_Archive
Is there any advantage to using a RE20 instead of a SM7b for miking the kick drum? I'm just curious because I've read about Electrical sometimes miking the kick with a RE20. Higher SPL handling?
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 6:09 am
by japmn_Archive
They are different.
Use accordingly.
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:15 pm
by stephensolo_Archive
They both handle high sound pressure levels pretty well. The RE-20 avoids close-proximity bass frequency boosts, which can be a nice thing. I don't believe the SM7 has that feature.
The other differences are largely subjective.
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:18 pm
by mkoren_Archive
stephensolo wrote: The RE-20 avoids close-proximity bass frequency boosts, which can be a nice thing. I don't believe the SM7 has that feature.
What?
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 11:30 am
by stephensolo_Archive
What what? Am I wrong about that with the Sm7? I might be...
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:24 pm
by ebeam_Archive
m.koren wrote:stephensolo wrote: The RE-20 avoids close-proximity bass frequency boosts, which can be a nice thing. I don't believe the SM7 has that feature.
What?
Yeah, the RE-20 is vented is some way to eliminate proximity effects although I can't remember exactly how this works.
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:46 pm
by scott_Archive
Isn't the easiest way to avoid proximity bass boost to just back the mic off an inch or two? Or three? And the SM7 has a low-frequency rolloff switch right on it, so that's another way to take out the low end.
Not sure why one would try and not capture the low end of a kick drum, but if it works for Lars...
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:53 pm
by gebo_Archive
scott wrote:Isn't the easiest way to avoid proximity bass boost to just back the mic off an inch or two? Or three? And the SM7 has a low-frequency rolloff switch right on it, so that's another way to take out the low end.
Not sure why one would try and not capture the low end of a kick drum, but if it works for Lars...
:)
I would say in most cases it works against Lars...
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 12:53 pm
by stephensolo_Archive
There's a difference between capturing low end and artificially boosting it, which proximity effect does.
I use RE-20s on bass cabs and kick drums (vocals, too) precisely because they don't boost bass frequencies. If I want/need a frequency boost, I'll do it in the EQ stage.
SM7b vs RE20 for kick drum?
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2008 1:45 pm
by losthighway_Archive
Yeah, just look at frequency response curves. Especially the really good ones that have multiple curves illustrating response at various distances. If you like how something sounds put a mic with a fairly flat response curve on it. Otherwise pick something to 'hype' it with.
My studio has a sliding scale of kick drum styles (sometimes used in combination):
RE20: No hype
D112: Some hype
Audix kick mic: All hype. I hate it, but some people are going for that processed heavy metal sound. I love when they hear this thing with heavy compression and say 'wow that sounds as awesome as a triggered kick'.