Monday, March 7, 2011

Alternate Types of Kick Drum Microphones

By Allan Ainsworth


Performers are at the mercy of their microphones. If you do not have nice-condition mics, you cannot pick up class harmony. And no one wishes to hear a crummy representation of a melody you worked so rigorously on. One theme that seems to generate a lot of uncertainty is kick-drum microphones. It is perhaps handy to appreciate what kinds (and how many types) of kick drum mics there are, so here are the broad categories:

Big diaphragm condensers-These will be perfect for singing but also for bass drums

Broadcast Dynamics-These are high-end dynamic mics with horizontal EQ profiles. They can be for kick drums and broadcast.

Dual-Element Mics-These are dedicated kick microphones with two transducers. Each is optimized for getting a different sound.

Perimeter Mics-These are also known as Force Region Microphones or FRMS for short. The perimeter mics present widespread coverage and sparkling pick-up.

Speaker Transducers-These are purpose-built bass instrument microphones. They are fashioned from loudspeaker or earphone drivers. These are in general decent at picking up low frequencies.

Customized Dynamics-These mics have scooped mids. The most common and renowned bass drum microphones are tailored dynamic mics.

Of course, any drummer needs a punchy, high-fidelity sound that will make beats sound businesslike. But, another thing to remember is whether or not your drum microphone kit can be easily disassembled and taken with you anyplace. If you are a performer, you need to have the ease of trustworthy and portable equipment for the road. You will also want to make sure your equipment is hardwearing.

In general, any mic can be used as a bass drum mic, but these categories should impart you an excellent sense of what to look forward to with alternate types of microphones. Using the correct drum microphones can either heighten or detract from the caliber of your recordings, so make sure you have the proper gear. Play around with what you have until you have achieved the ideal sound.




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