What is the best bang for the buck kick drum mic?

[busted kitty]

I want to buy a really kick a$$ kick mic, but I don't want to fork out the dough for a AKG D12. What is a cost effective, but still great sounding alternative?

 

[chessrock]

at pro 25

 

[busted kitty]

Who makes this mic?

 

[hokypokynose]

AT Pro 25 bulk pak at 8thstreet

 

[hokypokynose]

Who makes this mic?

Audio Technica

 

[Gidge]

http://www.8thstreet.com/Product.asp?ProductCode=4854&Category=Microphones

 

[B3Nut]

The ATM-25 is another good Audio-Technica mic, and not much more expensive than the Pro 25. I think I paid $125 for mine at a local shop. The Audix D4 is another inexpensive but good kick/bass dynamic.

The ATM25 sounds great on bass amps and Leslie bottom rotors, too.

TP

 

[JFogarty]

thats twice the price. I'd say thats a lot more.

 

[JOAT]

Hey guys.

I don't know if this has been asked before, but:

Can the ECM8000 be used as an effective Kick Drum mic? It is certainly cheap

Just curious.

JOAT

 

[goran]

I use Electro Voice ND868 for kick in live performance... what about AKG D112 ?

 

[chessrock]

Hey guys.

I don't know if this has been asked before, but:

Can the ECM8000 be used as an effective Kick Drum mic? It is certainly cheap

Just curious.

JOAT

Probably not, but hey, you never know.

Kick drums and bassier instruments usually benefit from a large-diaphragm mic with a cardiod to hypercardiod pattern - that's pretty much the opposite of the ecm's.

I wouldn't push my luck. With a kick mic as good as the at pro, I wouldn't go asking for any cheaper. Bad karma.

 

[knownuttin]

Nah, you can do better than the ECM8000 on kick, even with a SM57.
-kent

 

[JOAT]

Thanks for the info, Chessrock and Kent.

I was just curious, since my recording facility (bedroom) does not support live drum micing......... or loud anything for that matter.

JOAT

 

[rtzstudios]

Here's something I just threw together really quick if you want to listen. I wasn't trying to get the best possible sound out of these mics by the way...I just put the mics approximately 2 inches away from the beater and pressed record. Enjoy!

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/4/1397/singles.shtml

 

[busted kitty]

You know something, the 57 doesn't do too bad of a job on the kick. I've used it with some success. However, for really rockin' stuff, I'd use something beefier.

 

[B3Nut]

Wow...those are interesting samples. I'd rate them in the following order, from thinnest (1) to beefiest (4):

1. AT Pro25
2. MD421
3. RE-20
4. EMC8000

#4 was a surprise, at least to me.

By 2" away from the beater do you mean from inside the drum per the usual technique? The ECM seems to be picking up quite a bit of shell. In the right song context that could be quite the killer kick sound.

TP

 

[JOAT]

Agreed.

rtzstudios: Thanks for taking the time to record an post the samples. They were indeed an eye (er... ear) opener. Lots of beef in the ECM8000!

If I may indulge, you would have a D12 around that you could post also, do you?

JOAT

 

[rtzstudios]

B3nut, yeah I meant from the inside of the drum.

JOAT, I don't own a D12 but I could borrow a D112 from a friend...unfortunately it wouldn't be until next week.

 

[JOAT]

rtzstudios: Sorry, I MEANT the D112 ) It will be a fantastic comparison!

JOAT