Kick drum Mic Techniques

lastpicked4kickball · Post by **lastpicked4kickball** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:52 am

Anyone have any strange ideas on how to get better tones out of my kick? I am using a D-112 in the port of the front head, I was using it on the back head at a 45 degree and about 4" from the beater. I am wondering if it may be a good idea to try to put a different mic inside the kick? Anything different really that could get me more attack out of the kick.

A.David.MacKinnon · Post by **A.David.MacKinnon** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 12:12 pm

The d112 in the sound hole or near the beater should be giving you all the click you need. I wouldn't add more by putting another mic inside. Sounds to me like you need something to give you more low end boom.
Try putting something out in front of the front head. I like a ribbon mic about a foot and a half out from the front head mixed with something else inside or halfway into the hole (a d112 or 421 or even a 57). An LDC works nicely too.
You could also try the speaker as mic trick on the front skin.

Artifex · Post by **Artifex** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:25 pm

Try flipping the d112.

rydberg · Post by **rydberg** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 3:14 pm

When you mix, boost 80hZ, cut 300-450hZ, and give a mighty 1/2 octave boost around 2kHz. Sometimes I even give a 10k boost with a shelving EQ to taste. Gives me that boom bap with no mud. It's really an EQ thing, not a mic thing.

P.

vintageblue · Post by **vintageblue** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:54 pm

I bought a $10 mic-holder retro-fit that lets you mount mics inside of drums, similiar to the MAY system.

In a recent session I took a Ludwig Birch kick drum with a Beta 52 ,mounted internally, facing the beater but slight off axis.

The resonant head was on the bass drum (intact/unported) and I put an AKG condenser mic on the outside slightly to the left about 10" away. Sounded amazing! The 52 made things punchy and articulate. The other mic was used just somewhat to blend things for a little more bottom end.

Hope this is useful.

drumsound · Post by **drumsound** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:38 am

rydberg wrote:When you mix, boost 80hZ, cut 300-450hZ, and give a mighty 1/2 octave boost around 2kHz. Sometimes I even give a 10k boost with a shelving EQ to taste. Gives me that boom bap with no mud. It's really an EQ thing, not a mic thing.

P.

You haven't heard the drum, the track or the song. Hoe can you give such specific EQ points?

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:39 am

Tony, isn't it obvious, that is just WHAT YOU DO to kick drum....

John

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:20 am

What is a 1/2 octave boost at around 2k?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

mjau · Post by **mjau** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:39 am

cgarges wrote:What is a 1/2 octave boost at around 2k?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

Does this mean to make the q affect the 1/2 octave in either direction around 2k, possibly?

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:08 am

So, boost between 1500 and 3k? What if you don't have a bandwidth adjustment? How much do you boost? If I do this, why won't my kick drum sound anything like the kick drum on Closer To Home. Oh man, this is so confusing!

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

mjau · Post by **mjau** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:27 am

Yeah, that q seems pretty wide just to bring out some snap in the kick. Personally, I'd rather move mic's around at the source versus heavy eq later on.

rydberg · Post by **rydberg** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:05 am

Wow. I've never seen so many panties wadded up so quickly.

So is talking about additive EQ verboten around here? It's just a suggestion, after all. And aren't suggestions for starting points from a wide range of experience and opinions what this board is all about? OR do I need to stick to the talking points: "Move the mic." "It all depends on (fill in the blank)." "Steve Albini doesn't do that."

And no, I haven't heard note one of this song. But how do we know it's a "song"? It could be a free jazz group this person is recording. Or maybe he's making a sample library.

mjau wrote:
cgarges wrote:What is a 1/2 octave boost at around 2k?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC
Does this mean to make the q affect the 1/2 octave in either direction around 2k, possibly?

Yes and no. I meant 1/4 octave in either direction, hence a 1/2 octave boost.

Jeez. You guys are cranky. Whassa matter?

P.

Red Rockets Glare · Post by **Red Rockets Glare** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:52 am

I only started loving the kick sounds I get consistantly when I got a channel of API.

mjau · Post by **mjau** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:31 am

rydberg wrote:So is talking about additive EQ verboten around here?

Not a bit...I just got the impression that the eq'ing you were suggesting was a hard and fast rule.
No blood, no foul, amigo.

mjau · Post by **mjau** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:33 am

rydberg wrote:Wow. I've never seen so many panties wadded up so quickly.

Interestingly, in today's mail I received an offer from Victoria's Secret that included "Free Panties" with a purchase of over some amount of dollars. I'm thinking of getting the ones that say "Angel" on the ass side.

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Kick drum Mic Techniques

Kick drum Mic Techniques

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