Cheap Kick Mics

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DrumRookie

DrumRookie

"That" kid.
I recently chatted with a person who is much into recording and the sorts (I think he may do it for a living), an he said to get a decent kick sound, you don't really need an expensive bass drum mic, just something with a larger diaphragm to pick up more of the low end. Of course, to boost the low end he said I will need to EQ it a certain way to pick up more of the low end. Sort of like a stretched "U" shape in a way.
He didn't say it exactly like it, but thats how I interpreted it.

Is he right? Will I get a decent sound with a DM-60 or a cheap OSP kick mic?

Let me know your thoughts. :D
 
He's right, you don't need an expensive bass drum mic, and yeah, more often than not large diaphragms are used I guess.

I duno about the eq though. There aren't really any one size fits all rules. You just take that as it comes.

I don't know those mics you mentioned but here are the mics I regularly choose from.
Ev Re20
Shure sm7b
Senn md421
akg d12
akg d112

Those range from about £100 to £350 but none of them are 'better' or 'worse'. They just sound different.
 
cheap bd mic?

Go to maplin's, buy a speaker, buy some shielded stereo wire solder one end on the speaker terminals the others to an xlr connector, get a small way of making it stand up, total cost <€50
 
GazEcc said:
cheap bd mic?

Go to maplin's, buy a speaker, buy some shielded stereo wire solder one end on the speaker terminals the others to an xlr connector, get a small way of making it stand up, total cost <€50
Click to expand...

You might need an attenuator on there as well.
 
cheesy garlic baguette, it was gorgeous, just the midnight snack a guy needs
 
Aw man, what I wouldn't give.
Must go and have a hunt....I'm bound to find something.
 
Cheapest kick mic is the cheapest you can find, crappiest kick you ever heard, and trigger from it, a sample of a great one, on a great kick drum. $200 or less. But I'm lazy at times.....but it friggen works...

There are ways. The prophet Dave told me so......
 
cheaper still, following on jimmy's technique, get a piezo for like €2-3, trigger that :P
 
I've heard some nice sounds with Piezo trigs. But I don't want to mess with that right now :P

I was originally planning to make a subkick actually, but apparently the guy I spoke with said it was not worth it. Still, I probably will try it one day.

Garlic bread: Haven't tried it, sounds interesting to try though. I've heard some people picking up a lot of 20Hz frequencies with those. A lot of attack on them too, a nice dry sound. :D

And I feel a bit uneasy about putting a condenser in front of a kick drum.

What sound should I expect from a cheap kick mic?

jimmy69 is going to put me in the poor house with me getting a US800 soon in case your wondering why I'm looking for a cheap kick mic. It's in the $30-40 range now because of that :P
Heck, I won't even have stands to put them on now (that WAS budgeted)!
 
as long as you're not a "put your foot through the skin on the quiet notes" type drummer, a pad on a condenser a bit away could quite well work, theres no rules in this game.

just try it, or you could go all lo-fi and try a mono ribbon / dynamic / sdc overhead or something crazy like that.
 
GazEcc said:
as long as you're not a "put your foot through the skin on the quiet notes" type drummer, a pad on a condenser a bit away could quite well work, theres no rules in this game.

just try it, or you could go all lo-fi and try a mono ribbon / dynamic / sdc overhead or something crazy like that.
Click to expand...

I don't play very loud, so it looks like I have another option :P
So should I shell out 30 bucks for a Behringer C-1 and get a 15 dollar pop filter and throw it in front of the kick?
I also wanted to get something sturdy to hold up to the SPL's if I put in near the beater or inside the kick.
I'm looking at just getting a Nady DM90 or some other cheap, kit mic, or go for a condenser with a pop filter. Eventually it will be both. Let me know what you think :D
 
I wouldn't say you should skimp on drum mics, certainly not for the kick and snare. Get something respectable for those two and then at least you've got a decent base.
 
Beat Poet said:
I wouldn't say you should skimp on drum mics, certainly not for the kick and snare. Get something respectable for those two and then at least you've got a decent base.
Click to expand...

Yeah, eventually I'll get a nicer SM57 clone for my snare than the Nady SP-1 I have. Probably a Behringer XM8500 for the snare.
And I'll probably get a Beta 52 down the road. But I'm just starting out and I have to upgrade other things that are at the moment more important.
Very true, I guess I just want to see what a good bare minimum is that I can get away with.
 
No one has mention good drum microphones that can be had USED!
 
May want to check out an Audix D6. Just got one recently and have used it for about 6 shows and it ROCKS!
Only 200 bucks.
 
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