Favorite Kick/Bass Microphone

capnreverb · Post by **capnreverb** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:22 am

RCA BK-5b with art deco pop filter ball. There is no other mic like it. Magic!

getreel · Post by **getreel** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 am

My favorite overall is probably the Audix D6 just because it's easy to get a good sound without as much work later. I also like the 421 for a more vintage sound and the Audio Technica ATM25 is also a favorite of mine but I don't own one and haven't used one in awhile.

cupidcome · Post by **cupidcome** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:08 am

Wow...e602 sounds pretty promising, especially for the price.
Anybody have feelings about the Audio-Technica ATM25? I have pretty much always equated AT with Radioshack(forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm just being prejudice), but I've heard some good things about that one and the AT4040.

cupidcome · Post by **cupidcome** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:10 am

getreel wrote:My favorite overall is probably the Audix D6 just because it's easy to get a good sound without as much work later. I also like the 421 for a more vintage sound and the Audio Technica ATM25 is also a favorite of mine but I don't own one and haven't used one in awhile.

you read my mind...

weatherbox · Post by **weatherbox** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:35 am

AT makes a lot of mics across a pretty wide range of pricepoints and quality targets. Among them though are some really excellent pieces. ATM25 and 4047 are both mics I have many times used on kick drums. An e602 is a very safe bet for rock stuff, lots of attack, lots of fullness. A 25 or M88 for a more resonant/softer feel where you want the kick to sound good but not be so assertive. You can think of the difference between the mics almost as changing the kick beater - the 602 is plastic/wood, the 25 is felt.

Aquaman · Post by **Aquaman** » Fri Aug 07, 2009 8:58 am

The AudioTechnica ATM250DE (successor to the ATM25) has a phase-aligned dual element setup: a condenser and a dynamic in the same housing, with a 5-pin -> dual XLR cable that splits the output to two preamps.

I just replaced my Audix D6 with this, and it's pretty nice! You can find them for $2-300 if you look around.

Here's Andy Hong's review from Tape Op #66.

tonewoods · Post by **tonewoods** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:59 pm

The Devil's Microphone, the EV 666....

getreel · Post by **getreel** » Wed Aug 12, 2009 5:39 pm

The Devil's Microphone, the EV 666....

That's the old school 60s kick along with the AKG D12 which is the ancestor of the D112. I've never had the pleasure of using the EV but I've used the old D12s a few times and they are still pretty nice on kick.

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Thu Aug 13, 2009 7:07 am

Just used my newly acquired e602 over the weekend on some pop/punk/hardcore stuff.

Really like the results. Thing has some serious lows.

Can't wait to try it in more of a rock context.

jspartz · Post by **jspartz** » Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:02 am

Thanks for the input on the AudioTechnica ATM250DE, I was wondering about that mic. Lately I have been using an RE20 on kick but it is time to switch it up. My son used it for a remote session and it came back not working very well. The D112 has been my go-to for bass cabinets lately. I don't seem to care for it much on kick drums anymore.

riantide · Post by **riantide** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:19 pm

I REALLY like the Heil PR40 on both kick drum and bass amps (and pedal steel, and rhodes... I love this mic.). In both applications it always feels tight, never flubby. Sometimes on kick i end up bumping it up around 80Hz or something if the song calls for it, but the mids and top always sound great right out of the gate.

As for condensers, my favorite is a U195 with the Fat switch engaged. Although, I don't know how much longer I can read this forum without owning a 4047. People seem to use the hell outta that mic and I'm starting to feel like I wasn't invited to the party.

I also think ribbons (I've tried this with both Shinybox and Fatheads, both worked great) are awesome FOK, just be sure to use a pop screen and don't put it anywhere near the hole, if there is one. I really like the Shinybox's low mids in general, and I find it complements a dynamic really well (not so hot all by his lonesome). Once again, very tight lows.

+1 on e602, BTW. Those things are awesome!!

GetHimEatHim · Post by **GetHimEatHim** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:04 pm

I've used both the PR40 and the e602, and the PR40 is more to my taste: a little more thump, a little less attack. Both great mics, though.

trodden · Post by **trodden** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:08 pm

the atm25 has become my new fave "general purpose large dynamic" I love it on toms, bass, guitar cabs... same places i used 421's. Haven't tried it on kick, but i'm sure it works.

Recycled_Brains · Post by **Recycled_Brains** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 6:45 am

trodden wrote:Haven't tried it on kick, but i'm sure it works.

It does, well. My friend used one on kick a lot (until it broke), and I remember it usually sounded really good.

At that drum recording workshop at LoHo studio a few weeks ago, of all the kick mics we tried, the ATM-25 and the e602 stood out the most, to me.

Oh, and the FET47 was pretty cool too, I guess.

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