ATM25 tips

  • Thread starter Thread starter mrhotapples
  • Start date Start date
M

mrhotapples

New member
I've finally got in my possession a microphone to dedicate to kick...I've never used an ATM25 before today, but it's so different in description and design that there has to be a bit of a trick to it. Beta 52s and D112s are easy, but I couldn't get a spot on sound in my tests today with this mic. My usual go-to techniques and theories are crumbling a bit. The best position I found for the kick drum I've got here was lying on a blanket right inside the hole. The kick's resonant head is torn and tattered and I had to muffle the shit out of it to get it to stop flapping, so it's not an ideal test situation...

Anyone with experience with this mic w/ guitar cabs and kick drums with anything to add should put their 2cents in.

Thanks!
 
I've only used mine on my floor tom (18" and tuned kinda low) and I love the way it sounds.

Have you gotten good kick sounds with other mics?
 
I have always had good luck with mine by inserting it halfway into the resonant head's sound hole. But granted, my resonant head is not torn up. I have even had good luck on heads without a sound hole, but it takes a little more creative placement.

Pete
 
What about getting it closer to the batter? I got complete ass when I got in close to the batter. Lots of punch, lots of...High lows/low mids? But it wasn't so hot.

I can get a good sound with an I5 if I have to...But this mic's thrown me for a loop.
 
Travis, I believe you're onto something.

I'm really just looking for some heads up if there are any odd little quirks about this mic that don't manifest in others when I can finally do some more extensive testing on a kick with two good heads.
 
do you normally use one mic on kick? sounds like the atm25 isn't do so well at the batter head for you. maybe use a 57 or something at the batter and put the atm25 in the reso hole or outside.
 
mrhotapples said:
The kick's resonant head is torn and tattered and I had to muffle the shit out of it to get it to stop flapping, so it's not an ideal test situation
Click to expand...

Try taking the reso head off. I rarely keep it on for recording, it gets in the way!

We used them every night on stage at the venue I worked in. We had a D112, Beta 52 and an ATM25. We used the D112 by the batter and the beta just inside the reso. But one day the D112 broke, so we put the Beta by the batter, and the ATM25 just inside the reso. Used to have a great balance of "click" and "thud" perfect for metal and punk music.
 
I have a 52 and the ATM25.
My observation is the 52 has a lot of hype in the lows but not a lot of upper end, so it works better inside the drum. The ATM is just the opposite. It has a pronounced upper end (although it captures the lows) and works better working it around the reso head pointed toward the beater. I use a small (18" )kick with a wooden beater and Emad heads. I get a ton of punch, but to get some warmth I had to put the hole in my reso head all the way to the lower right hand edge of the shell and leave the mic just out side the hole.

I do get a little snare in my kick mic, so I have considered spinning the hole over to the "ride side" to get away from the snare.

I'm happy with it.
It works well on Jazz kits where there is no hole and you need to mic the res head.
 
tmix said:
I have a 52 and the ATM25.
...and works better working it around the reso head pointed toward the beater...
Click to expand...

Yep. I have definitely found this too be true.

Pete
 
Atm25

I nearly always mic the kick with the resonate head taken completey off and place the ATM25 just at the inside of the kick aimed at the heigth of the beater pointing away from the snare.

The ATM25 is much more natural sounding than a D112; the kick needs to sound good to begin with etc, etc, etc.
 
Compared to others ... like the Beta52, Audix, AKG, etc. ...

... it's not as tailored of a sound. It'll give you just a modest midrange scoop, but unless you've got a great-sounding kick to start with, it will need to be EQ'd -- sometimes quite a bit.
 
nuemes said:
I nearly always mic the kick with the resonate head taken completey off and place the ATM25 just at the inside of the kick aimed at the heigth of the beater pointing away from the snare.

The ATM25 is much more natural sounding than a D112; the kick needs to sound good to begin with etc, etc, etc.
Click to expand...


Here it is in a nutshell. The D112, Audix D6, and the Beta 52 are specialty mics. Not to say they dont work well on other sources..ie: bass amp,some guitars etc.....Its just that they are TAILORED to produce a set of frequencies and do it regardless of the source. They sound like they're supposed to sound and if the drum is a little 'iffy' it doesnt have as much of an impact on the result.

The ATM25 is a very versatile mic, and with a great sounding kik it will outperform all the others. Its simply honest to the source, it can handle large db's, and it is quiet as can be.

I use three different kik drums...A 20",and two different 22"...All with different heads, different types of damping, different as far as the resonant head types, as well as the beater side..... They all sound great on their own. My choice is almost always the ATM25 inside halfway to beater impact point, and an LDC 3 to 4 feet in front of the drum in cardioid. I have the D6 and an AKG as an option. I only use these for particular kik drum sounds....

As far as placement with the ATM25, it is entirely dependant on what sound you want from your kik. It will faithfully reproduce any part of the drum you want to reproduce.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top