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Sunday, February 20, 2011

Types of Kick Drum Microphones

By Allan Ainsworth


Performers are at the mercy of their microphones. If you do not have decent-condition mics, you cannot record quality tunes. And nobody wishes to listen to a trashy edition of a melody you worked so fiercely on. One area that seems to generate a lot of bewilderment is kick-drum microphones. It is in all probability helpful to understand what kinds (and how many types) of kick drum mics there are, so here are the popular categories:

Large diaphragm condensers-These will be good 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 specific kick microphones with two transducers. They are mutually optimized for getting different sounds.

Edge Mics-These are also known as Force Zone Microphones or FZMS for short. The edge mics offer expansive coverage and pure pick-up.

Loudspeaker Transducers-These are purpose-built bass instrument microphones. They are formed from amplifier or headset drivers. These are generally excellent at picking up bass frequencies.

Customized Dynamics-These mics have scooped mids. The most popular and renowned bass drum microphones are modified 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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