increasing kick projection

  • Thread starter Thread starter hardcore guy
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Man, gotta be honest, if you're trying to compete with a synth with two full bass amp stacks pumping out beats of their own, I'd say you pretty much don't have a prayer of having an unamplified kick being heard. Try all these suggestions if you want, definitely don't go bigger than a 4" hole if you want resonance (you can use a tin can and an exacto knife to cut it)... but at the end of the day, I'd really recommend a mic and a small mixer to get it into the bass amps. They'll take the frequencies without a problem, and you won't have to spend time and money on your kick. And, you'll save your leg, since you said your drumming is pretty busy.

Go buy yourself an Audix D6 or an AKG D112, some small mixer that you can plug the synth and bass drum into, plug it into the bass amps, and go for it. You'll have volume, control, good tone, and a simple setup that doesn't require a PA but still gives you the umph you're looking for. It'll cost you in the neighborhood of $300 or so, but I think you'll be much happier.
 
yeah, i actually already have a a shure beta52, a berhinger mixer and some other amps laying around. i was gonna try a few things to see if i could do it without the trouble of miking the kick first. i changed the resonant head to an eq1 (which i already had laying around) and tried tuning both heads up. it just killed some of it's sweet character and gave it slightly more attack. i'm going back to my ambassador resonant and might try miking it. i've honestly never miked kick without a hole before, any specific suggestions other that "stick in next to the head"?
we'll see what happens. take into consideration that we play really loud, louder than most bands i've seen (without instruments miked on a pa, that is). and that synth pumps out a shit load of low end and vintage synth bassy goodness. i'll post results after more experimentation.
 
I don't know if this helps... I played a venue once, before I cut a hole in my resonant head, and the guy pretty much Mic'd it where there would be a center hole. I believe within 3 inches of the head. I wish I never had cut a hole in it because it sounded amazing. So much low end ring to it. It sounded like blasting bass on a bass CD. Although, with the hole, it does cut through un-miked in practice though. If I were you, I wouldn't cut a hole unless you have an extra head spare in case you don't like it.
Hope that helps...
 
Yeah, dude, with the mic and mixer, you've already got most of what you would need to go that route. As far as placement of the mic goes... just experiment, and see what you like. Maybe have the other guy hit the kick while you move the mic around. You'll most likely want it on the resonant head (I've heard of people miking the batter head when there's no hole), and I'd think that you'd want it either in the center for a little more attack or halfway out for more resonance... but that's pretty much a guess. Just try it out and give it a go. :)
 
If you can't get the other guy to turn down you have to turn up right ?

The hole in the front of the res head is the best way to go for increasing attack. Failing that you need to mic up. Most guys make the mistake of trying to get huge low end from the Kik drum. In truth that's a bad idea. You will get the Speakers ringing at a frequency they can't even produce with the kind of transients your throwing at them. Since most of you are reading a recording forum you probably already know that. What has worked for me in the past is to put an sm57 in the hole about 1/2 way in and pointed 45 degrees to the beater. For the guys who can't cut a hole in the head stick it under the floor tom pointed at the beater same 45 degree angle pretty close to the thing. Boost at 3k-4K with a wide Q (a fair amount will do nicely) then cut around 250hz or so. Maybe even use the low freq cut to sharpen it up more. then ring it out and cut where needed. Don't try and fight the bass guitar or synths if that's what your using. They are much more musical than your drum and all you will get is mud if you try and compete with them for decibels. It's always amazed me how many sound guys don't understand that. Especially in smaller venues where you are stuck in a corner in the middle of a bass loaded space.

I use two mackie subs and a pair of EV eliminators for my drums. They all sit right next to the mains and I can send the sound guy a feed from each mic (usually just a few) if he wants. It takes a little more time to set up but people really like the sound and that's what matters most.
That keeps the stage noise down and the front sounds great. I don't have to pound on anything and can really taylor the sound. The kik needs a lot of juice thought to be able to cut through a full sounding group. Don't expect to use a keyboard amp to get it done.
Then you can have the sound guy in the kitchen turn up the vocal monitor next to the table on the right etc etc.
anyway that's my thought on it all. good luck
 
here you go

soemtimes (and its happened to me before)it might be because you have to many pillows or w/e in the drum and if not that ,just get wooden beaters, my freinds got them and they give a good smakish bassish sound which is really good
 
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