Speaker specs for kick mic

swingdoc · Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 6:28 pm Post subject: Speaker specs for kick mic

I didnt want to hi-jack the other thread, so....
What type of speaker would optimize signal out given the same source?
ie, would a low impedence speaker create a "stronger" signal, or would a higher impedence speaker?
Also, does the wattage rating make any differences?
Would a lower rated wattage, say 40 watts, create a stronger, weaker or no difference signal with the same source than a 400 watt speaker?
Probably a dumb question, but I like curious George.

soundguy · Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Speaker specs for kick mic

I have no idea on the answer to any of those questions, but my logic tell me I'd be concerned with finding the lightest weight cone that I could ahead of fulfilling other specs. Air pressure has to physically move the cone, so I think you are likely to get a stronger signal if you are able to move the cone more, hence the idea of a lighter cone.

I could be totally wrong, but...

dave

leigh · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: Speaker specs for kick mic

I think one real important spec is cone size. I've been using a 12" speaker, a real cheap thing with a paper cone, and that's certainly not what you'd call a lightweight diaphragm. As a result of this and, possibly, its low impedance (8 ohms), it only puts out signal under about 200 Hz. Great to mix in with another mic, but my itself it will get lost on speakers without good bass response. What you want, in order to keep the kick audible on smaller speakers, is to capture some upper harmonics of the kick's low fundatmental pitch. I finally dug up the Scott Dorsey speaker-as-kick-mic article from Recording magazine. He wisely recommends the use of a small (roughly 3") speaker, which will bring out the higher harmonics and therefore translate better on smaller speakers. It brings out these upper harmonics because it is far from a 'perfect' transducer of bass frequencies.

Food for thought.

Leigh

headache9 · gimme a little kick & snare Joined: 24 May 2003 Posts: 89

I've seen queens of the stone age 2x on this new tour & the drummer has a speaker on the kick. It looked like it was an 8 or 10 incher. It sounded great. Sure wish I new what speaker that was.

Randall · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2003 11:25 pm Post subject: Re: Speaker specs for kick mic

Michael Wagerner recomends an 8 in speaker placed directly in front of a kick drum with a full head on the front, when I asked him what a good brand/model to look for was he told me "Radio Shack comes to mind", one of these in front with an SM 91 inside the kick will give you an awsome kick that should not even have to be EQ'd, who am I to doubt his word/results?
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