Ableton Forum

Im looking for a new mic for my 22x17" bassdrum that produces a big fat sound. Ive previously used shure beta52, but now I thought about getting something else. Same price range though..

My music is sort of dirty, downtempo, industrial with a lot of stuff going on, and live drums on top. Currently use rode nt5 for overhead and sm57 for snare.

Any suggestions?

same price range: AKG D 112

AKG D440 or D550. Both are fantastic. The D112 is also sharp as a button; less 'fat' but definitely clear.

Been reading a lot of good reviews on Audix D6..

monobeach wrote:same price range: AKG D 112

+1

the audix is cool too. a bit boomier.

If you get a chance try out an EV Cardinal as well.

i sold my d112 and bought an ev re-20. the d6 is good, also the sennheiser e602

shure sm7

The AUDIX D6 is an extreme scoop, extreme click, set it and forget it mic. If you like where it's scooped and boosted, gg. Think metal or pop kick drums.

The AKG D112e is a little less extreme, and more natural. Not natural of course. I like the mid boost better on this one. It'll require a some mid scoopage generally, but it gives the FOH more options.

For recording I'd stay away from the D6. I'd rather dupe a track, kill all the frequencies I want for a click, and mix that it to taste. Or just use two mics to get it how you want. /me shruggs

Damn, I love the Beta 52, It's a great combination with the D112. blend the two together and you gots something spicy!!!

I can heartily recommend the XYZ123

I'm an audix d6 fan as well

I think I'll go for the D112/beta52 combo. Been reading a lot of reviews and it seems like the combination-setup is the way to go.

Thank for all answers.

a little oldskool DIY tip from me (did not jumped into the mic suggestions, the ones i like have been mentioned already)

go to radio shack and buy an 8" - 10" el cheapo generic speaker without enclosure (check, preferably with a relatively soft rim), mount that on a simple woodboard construction in a way that the the speaker is freestanding (don't construct an enclosure!) parallel to the bass drum skin roughly about between the middle and edge of the bass drum. solder a cable onto it, with a jack plug (or whatever your mixer / soundcard's input connectors are) place that thing about 15" - 20" inches in front of the bass drum (experiment and vary!) and blend (compress maybe a little) that received 'signal' from your DIY bass drum mic with the mic you have to taste. (so you get the attack / transients from the mic and the bottom end boom from the DIY speaker mic, you need to try around a bit, if you use this combo (highly recommended for ultimate fat acoustic kicks) then it is often good to cut a bit of the bottom of the original mic signal, it otherwise can get a bit muddy, try it!)

you will get one of the fattest bass drum sounds on earth. a real chest pusher that is. and dirt cheap to do.

SubFunk wrote:a little oldskool DIY tip from me (did not jumped into the mic suggestions, the ones i like have been mentioned already)

Woah that sounds pretty neat. Totally trying this next time we record.