Best Mics for Kick Drum

[@sweetwater]

When it comes to kick drum mics, it’s a matter of horses for courses. Which did you like best? Let us know in the comments, and check out Sweetwater’s kick drum mic shootout here 👉 imp.i114863.net/XxJyM4

[@tomsiemerink8284]

Kickout time code: 8:03 Beta 52a 8:35 E602 8:51 Audix D6 9:12 EV ND68 9:32 Beyer TG D70 9:53 PGA52 10:14 ATM 250 10:35 Kick Tone 10:55 M82 11:14 DPA 4055 12:02 SE V Kick 12:22 AKG D12VR 12:44 SR20LS 13:05 AKG D112

[@todddammit4628]

The hero we need

[@snotnosedpunk7995]

You can tell its been mixed once the snare and overheads start playing, but the dry sounds are vastly different. VERY impressed by the low-end thump from the dry Sennheiser E602

[@the_rummer]

i've been using sennheiser e902 for years after trying various brands and models. none of them can come close to the punch and clarity of sennheiser. it's an amazing mic that every bass drum needs. 🤘

[@drumskentala]

Just picked one up to put on a floor tom, very excited. Ideally want to replace a Beta 91 with either the 901 or the Beyer dynamic TG D71, still doing more research.

[@elliotmane8577]

Same here i have the 902 on kick, wich IS fantastic but still want even more smack so thinking about a 901 or beyer and move the 902 to 16" floor Tom.

[@justhadrums]

I just ordered one, can't wait to try

[@bnjmnwst]

It's the D6 for me. I was amazed at how great it sounded all by itself. So nice.

[@moxxichannel5950]

If you have one, try the AKG D-112 sideways as well as backwards (green trim at the back) inside the kick, about 3" away from the batter, and 2" off centre for best results (I think). You might be surprised how it sounds.

[@BeebopConnard]

D-112 owner here , I feel like this mic is best used in wierd ways , it sounds like cardboard most of the time but I love to pair it with a small diaphragm condenser in front of the reso head (Oktava mk012 with a -10dB pad) , I tweak the placement of the sdc around the reso head to the point where it sounds like a wet cardboard box and the flip the phase on the sdc . And there you have the cleanest and deepest kick sound you'll ever get .

[@Espresso101]

I am 100% for Sweetwater doing a kick mic shootout/comparison video every few years. Even if it's largely the same mics, it would be cool if the same ones that continue to stand out will do so each time or if changes because of different drums, player, room, interface, etc.

[@chrisf6216]

Thank you SW / ND - playing the kick solo then with the rest of the kit for overall chemistry is genius - cheers!

[@jeffbridges6110]

I use a Senheiser 602 ii with a 10 inch sub kick mic I made. But that sound from the Kicktone mic was really great.

[@mlhbrx96]

That Morton Kicktone is huge in sound!!

[@analogkid4557]

There were some good ones in here but my favorite is the Sennheiser e602. That is what I use on my kick for stage and studio. As a side note I use the e902 on my 16 and 18 floor toms.

[@hannibalbarkas1350]

Yea when he put on the 602 I was like "yep thats the one". cheap too, nice.

[@Infinite_AM]

Yeah, the Sennheiser stood out to me as well as the most ideal. I primarily play and record acoustic guitar w some electric, I've always had good results w Sennheiser.

[@mechanismstudios3459]

The E-602-ll is my favorite, it's my main kick mic

[@barriosox]

It had the best low-end,

[@stuperprohero]

I'm also running the Sennheiser e602-II on both kick ins and 18" floor tom. That floor tom sound I'm getting is INCREDIBLE!!

[@ryanshook8284]

When the 3 mics popped in, immediately the phase of the blended snare track started to sound off to me. Sometimes simple is better.

[@jeremy20100712]

Audix D6. Beta 52A and Royer for me. I did like the DPAs as well.

[@waterwoodguitars6871]

This was a fun one to watch. I’ve been doing the Beta 52 as kick in and the Warm Audio Fet 47 for kick out and couldn’t be happier. Fantastic video!

[@d-rock737]

For live use, i like the Sennheiser e902 and the e602ii. Moon mic/e902 and a beta 91a work nice for outdoors or bigger venues. Many other good options as well. It’s all preference.

[@vminator]

I use 3 mics on kick. D6 close on beater, 47fet on outside shell, and a ribbon mic in front on the floor. Between those 3 I can blend most types of flavors. I think I might pickup a kicktone though.

[@kowboy83ra]

I think alot of it depends on tuning and how good of a sound guy is running the board. I've played gigs where there was a house sound guy. The AKG D112 sounded great sometimes, and others sounded like crap. Same with the Beta 52. Depends on the guy. I owned the Beta 52 for years, and the band I was in the kick sounded awesome. Another band I was in, the guy wasn't the best board engineer, so I sold the Beta 52 and got a Roland kick trigger with an Alesis DM5, which sounded great also. The best I've heard was at a big festival where there was a professional sound company and they ran a Beta 91 inside, and a Beta 52 at the port. It sounded like a million bucks. I was playing a DDrum AMX kit at the time, which is basically an intermediate kit, but the kick on those drums were pretty awesome in my opinion, and even the sound guy was impressed by the sound of the kick paired with those mics.

[@eaf27]

I see the D6, D112, and beta 52 the most at concerts and studios in the mid-west. Had the earthworks used once on the drummers kick at a Reggae fest and I really liked it.

[@jacy123]

I tested half a dozen mics for kick in 2009 and once I tried the audio technica AE2500 that has been It ever since. Cool to hear some different options since then.

[@mogwix]

What about the AE2500 stands out for you? I've always used the D6 (and/or the Beta 91A) as my go to and I'm looking to try something else. I love Audio Technica's stuff, I have their mics all around my kit but the ATM 250 just doesn't do it for me. It's pretty expensive, is it twice as good as the others? 🤔

[@jacy123]

For me having a perfectly phase Aligned dynamic and condenser options in the same mic body is well worth the cost. They are always subtle characteristics about both types of microphones that can be better for certain situations and I’ve often found myself utilizing both capsules for a parallel style processing. For instance sometimes I will use the condenser mic with a fatso into an Avalon 747VT tube compressor and Eq and blend that with the raw dynamic mic for an insanely powerful kick sound. Then add a kick buss for summing the two kick tracks together and adding any final eq shaping or dynamics processing. Also its worth noting that for instances where you might want a stereo sound for your kick drum, you can put a mid pass filter on the two tracks pan them apart then use a full range duplicate of either the dynamic or the condenser or both panned down the center with a metal scoop EQ. This will ensure that the sub base and the beat or attack are down the center as they should be however you get some tonal mid range with stereo width out of the kick drum. For certain styles of music this is extremely pleasant.

[@ryanewalters]

Beyerdynamic I always love there mics, I have the 201, the m88, the m160, now i want the kick mic also

[@PhillRS]

That Audix was hitting different...

[@TaoBonFu]

I've been using a D-112 for a long time, but I've been thinking about getting a Beta 52. This video is just reinforces that idea for me. The D-6 usually stands out in videos I've watched, but not here. The Beyerdynamic TG D70 is what surprised me the most.

[@CrashnServers]

Nick out of anyone else in any field I feel is out for my best interest. Ty so very much my friend

[@BluegillGreg]

Years ago I got a Beta 52 in the kit that Shure bundles with 3 SM57s, 3 drum mount clips and a case. All of those mics have been used a lot, sound great, and have stayed in great shape. I don't really know about other kick drum mics because the 52 worked so well right away.

[@NickHolum]

The E/V , Audix, Beyer and Senheisser were all legitimately impressive. I liked the Earthworks too! I have the AKG D12vr and have to say this particular demo didn’t seem representative. Personally I don’t use it on ported kick drums. (I use the m88 for that). The d12vr really shines on closed kick drums… 3” off the reso head dead center… use the active EQ to taste… usually just the scooped mids setting.

[@theaaronimal]

The D6 ❤

[@BillRayDrums]

I've been using a Roswell Pro Audio K47KD and it's a game changer for me.

[@mogwix]

Very cool. I checked out your channel but I couldn't see how you had the mic placed. Sounding good! I've been dying to check out the Roswell mics.

[@BillRayDrums]

@@mogwix I have it inside the drum, pointed directly at the point of impact about 4" away. Thanks for checking me out!

[@kevinperry3639]

That's a lot of really good information. Thanks for sharing 🤘

[@ryanshook8284]

What I hear is you could take that AKG D112 and boost somewhere between 60hz-80hz and it'd sound like combination of mics, but less phasey. Listen to when the combination of mics come in - more mics and the snare bleed is phasing weird with direct. Sometimes simpler = better. Pair with a good chain OR sample reinforce with a favorite one shot and you're done. AKG D112 yes.

[@beatmasterbossy]

It seems as though every good mic can pretty much record anything. I mean, you might gravitate toward a certain group of mics for recording a specific instrument, but if you have one good mic, you can pretty much record any sound with it. Because almost every mic they show they say "this can be used for vocals, drums, guitar, piano, trumpet, sax and bass" Like, yeah, that's a really nice condenser mic, of course it can record nearly anything.

[@ewesley1]

That little skinny Earthworks SR20LS sounded the best to me! Had my rear view mirror shaking. Surprising!

[@Mewingforyears]

Mount an Audix D6 internally in your bass drum and you will have punch for days.

[@mlhbrx96]

I was hoping to hear a combination of the D6 inside, with the Lauten LA-220 outside! Or, a combo of the Beta 91, D6, and LA-220!

[@eaf27]

I use a D6 inside aimed at or close to the beater and a Beta 52 on the resonance head and it seems to work well with my low end studio.

[@willymccabe6602]

Sure. If you like a scooped out unnatural kick sound.

[@mlhbrx96]

@@willymccabe6602 depending on the gig, and who's running sound, more times than not, your mics are going to be EQ'ed on the board. Audix just saved you some sound check time. Shure does the same with their Beta 52s.

[@jessemilstead810]

In my humble opinion, there’s nothing better then then beta 91a for a kick drum. Placed on a pillow or bunched up towel inside the drum. A audix D6 is our backup. But even with all the venues we do that have production so typically my drum mics aren’t used I can clearly tell the difference. Both outside and inside venues. I’ve yet to find a mic that beats the beta 91a. I’ve also started bringing my drum mic set at venues with production and insist they be used which is normally fine. I use beta 98amp/c for the snare and 3 toms.(1 rack, 2 floor) then a sm81 for the hi-hat.

[@alsdrumhang]

I love my Sennheiser E901. I have little loops in the top of my bass drum pillows that the 901 slides under to hold it in the same place each time I set up.

[@guitarz99]

shure beta 52a and a large condenser on the outside i use a warm audio wa47

[@ThePlagueGameing]

The Shure products always sound great but it was the first time I've heard the DPAs. Nice !. Well done 😎

[@Diegel]

Im not a fan of multiple mics on a single drum. Even if perfectly time aligned I think there is still some phase issue or it just sounds congested even after eq. I like a single d112 inside usually dead center and often dont need any eq.

[@joshrichensproducer2201]

Great tip for anyone who has a mic that sits in the kick like the e901. Run the cable underneath one of the lugs on the top of your kick to hold the cable off the edge of the port hole on the resonant head (you'd be surprised how much it can actually dampen the resonant head)

[@GuitarJesse7]

Great shootout, love that there were some combos demonstrated.

[@ericpr0278]

That snare though 🔥

[@cowboytonydee]

IMO kick out mics are actually meant to be used either inside the hole, or else in front on the skin, which is not the case here... But thanks for the comparison!

[@jeromelester8]

D112 = altime classic!

[@JAROCHELOcesarcastro]

Why do you like it? I have that one (made in Austria, not China) and Shure Beta 52. I find it more musical but I’d like to know what others have to say

[@jeromelester8]

@@JAROCHELOcesarcastro It has that round, thick, punchy and finished sound.

[@RArecordingsRickValcon]

@@JAROCHELOcesarcastro I love the D112 because of that lowmid thump that you then can cutout later, but the pressure is preserved in the sound.It doesn's sound hollow after EQ-ing. Furthermore I think it shines as a kick in microphone also. I have made recordings with a D112 inside 1 inch away of the center of the batterhead and it sounds massive.

[@codycreepcore]

@@RArecordingsRickValcon Well said. I used to hate this mic. I'm mostly recording punk and metal. I grew to like it for the same reason you mention. I was using a d6 for a long time but learned to listen to my mid-range more and now the d6 is somewhat my least favorite.

[@JAROCHELOcesarcastro]

Omg that Royer is just sweet!! Does it work for live reinforcement?

[@sweetwater]

Yes, you can certainly use a Royer for both live and studio applications! Because it’s a bi-directional microphone, you’ll just want to be extra careful about what sounds the microphone is picking up 180 degrees from your source (this could create a lot of feedback). Often times, engineers will put a baffle behind the microphone to make sure there isn’t any bleed coming in from the back side of the mic. I hope this helps! Nick Pasquino, Sweetwater Sales Engineer, [phone] ext. 3230, [e-mail]

[@julian.borisov]

If I had the Audix D6, I wouldn't change it for any of those! It's got body, it's got highs - pretty much everything you need to play with. The rest just cut so many frequencies!

[@soverignhuman5862]

A PZM with a B52 in stereo make you Bonzo ...sounds like a heartbeat of thunder

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

For us poors, it would've been cool to see the inclusion of the Behringer BA-19A and Behringer C-112. In other videos, the BA-19A seems to hold up well... but there is little info about the C-112 (BC1500 set), other than marketing showing its versatility for BD and bass. As there are videos showing the Behringer SL 75C (SM57 clone) is hot garbage, I'd love to hear the C-112 in a fair testing video. Thanks.

[@steverok67]

I would not say they are all "slightly" different. I would say the sound they produce varies wildly from mic to mic.

[@LIXOSonidoyDiscos]

Thanks for your video, Nick. Without dude: we need a great drummer and great gear to get a good sound in the kick drum!

[@jameskirkbydrums]

i prefer the lewitt audio DTP340REX for my bass drums, they sound sweet as to my ears, give me great responses when mic'ing, and they have an integrated EQ that delivers massive sound by emphasizing frequencies from 70 to 150 Hz and from 3 to 5 kHz :)

[@megyalilaballad]

It would have been really helpful if you used the mics with different modes on their other modes as well! Please do so next time! Thank you for the video.

[@PedrinhoMoreiraBaterista]

Thank you Very much for this Amazing vídeo!

[@drumergarcia1]

Senheiser E602 is the best mic out of ALL

[@alicepractice9473]

I love Nick.

[@kennytrezza9930]

This is awesome 👌

[@craigdeloach3976]

Currently ive been using a couple of cheap CAD kick drum mics for live use. They do ok but Ive been trying to decide on either the D-6 or the E 901.

[@craigdeloach3976]

That kicktone! wow!

[@matiasgaston1]

E901!

[@Assimilator702]

E901 is a nice mic.

[@thesneakysloth8481]

I’m surprised how much I like the Royer as the outside kick mic have always used it for trumpet and guitars but if I ever have one laying about will have to give it a try.

[@ytscksdabig1]

Most people don't use ribbons in front of bass drums because there's a lot of air moving and some Ribbons are just brittle.

[@thesneakysloth8481]

@@ytscksdabig1 I’ve heard stories about that but most modern ribbons are tough. You probably wouldn’t put it right at the port hole but I’m sure if you place the mic right you can get a great sound.

[@ytscksdabig1]

@@thesneakysloth8481 I think the way they did it here is more than fine for most ribbons, when you give a resonant bass drum head a port, all the air wants to exit through that port, there's hardly any air transfer up there by the tightest part of the head along the rim.

[@chrishowe8614]

I was a bit mystified by the softer kick hits. Almost all of the strong BD hits sounded a bit clicky as if they were topping something out or getting compressed. Yet, if you listen for the softer hits between the down beats, those hits sound very natural, as if listening to the BD acoustically with your own ears. I liked the softer, natural sounding hits much more than the harder hits. So what is the difference going on here?

[@rcscaletruck8290]

Senheiser 602 II 👑

[@Bluem00n7]

D6 wins everytime

[@mlhbrx96]

@Nick - I would love to see a comparison video of all the snare/tom condenser mics: Earthworks, Shure (Beta98 and PGA98), Beyerdynamic TG series, Audix Micro D, AKG C518s, and Audio Technica's ATM 350D. Please????

[@matteocifelli]

I would have matched the levels in the recording more accurately there are a few microphones that are heavy penalised by the placemet/recording. The 4055 as example does not sound as it should.

[@TessaAnderson]

I love this video !!!! Thank you

[@phatboyzband831]

Use Roland tm2 drum module be done with it on dance

[@christopherbertram905]

no Lewitt kick mics?

[@Joshstix95]

D6 ALLDAY

[@TheBlocos77]

901 + 602 !!!

[@DrumKoon]

Man , same with you 🫶🏻

[@NickHolum]

Definitely the best of the combos… by a wide margin.

[@shellbournian]

Oh great, I had a couple of mics in mind that I wanted to hear and now I'm between two totally different ones. Microphones be like that sometimes...

[@Cartman_Studio]

How you put your inside microphones in the drum, is there any holder, can you explain please?

[@bunker5tudios495]

What is that snare mic? Love it

[@Jean-om1ok]

Earthworks

[@majortombelgium]

What would be a good mic to use in combination without a porthole, but with a "kelly shu" mounting system inside the drum? I like the audix D6. Would it be a good choice?

[@DanielWallner-u9n]

Depends on what you want out of it. What kind of sound are you seeking? Is there a resonant head? Open sound, or is there muffling on the heads (or a pillow)? I personally cannot stand the D-6 but that's just me. I find it to be very scooped. If you're going for a more open sound, you might try something in front of the resonant head. If you're dead set on putting something inside the drum, you can't go wrong with a D112.

[@DanielWallner-u9n]

I swear the D6 is one of the thinnest sounding mics I have ever heard. What would be nice is a mic that captures the true sound of the drum

[@joewhittle801]

It’s an interesting one. It actually captures a lot of juicy bottom end- BUT the sound is so boosted in the top and scooped in the mids that you just get this tight, clicky vibe out of it. Also, it has such an EQ’d sound that it makes any kick sound similar to each other in my experience. Here’s the thing about that- it can be a fail safe feature for live use and is why it’s depended on. At the very least it’s there in the bag for many engineers as an option.

[@DanielWallner-u9n]

@@joewhittle801 I agree it's good to have in the bag. In a festival situation I could see it being a real plus. I have been using 2 mics for so long now I might be a little spoiled. The Beta 91 is a fantastic mic. It's so open. I can do what I want with it. Don't mistake me. The D6 is fine. It's just very colored.

[@joewhittle801]

@@DanielWallner-u9n absolutely agree

[@bnjmnwst]

D6 was my favorite...

[@beatmasterbossy]

I really liked the first one. How much is that Neumann? only 4400 dollars. Plus the beta 52 and 91, $360-ish Plus all the stuff to run the Neumann properly. Only 5 grand to get that kick how I like it.

[@j3llyfish565]

Great video but you let the mic cable sit on the hole and it's surely affecting the sound by making a noise

[@goodtimejohnny8972]

What setting was the Telefunken set at?

[@tendingtropic7778]

what is that mic on the snare?

[@astralaudio101]

Earthworks DM-20

[@HectorGallegosmusic]

Lesson learned: If you have a solid drummer with a good kit, the issue won't be your mics if it doesn't sound good. Something else is wrong like good placement.

[@iribachannel9965]

you missed the best of all hahhaha Sennheiser E 602, never disapoint me.

[@timstevens3183]

Beyer M380??? 👀👀 Or the Dr. AlienSmith Alien8 mic inspired by it. Either one will save you from ever buying another kick mic

[@todddammit4628]

The Beyer TG D70 and SE V Kick are the standouts in this shootout. The extremely disappointing mics are the M82 and D12VR, expensive garbage.

[@MrJinusean90]

Holy, is he Q from Star Trek?

[@bnjmnwst]

+ Jon Lovitz

[@WiKiTWoNKa]

DPA-4055 and 4011 both sounded weak AF AKG D112 sounded real clean and punchy I think

[@frankferrer]

When you hear then in context that's when the magic happens.

[@dillontaylor8035]

Why did you take it down and re upload it 😢

[@panashem77]

Yeah I was trying to find it a while ago. At least it’s back tho

[@octavioflores-n7z]

sE wins !

[@sea-ferring]

Why no love for Heil microphones?

[@DanielWallner-u9n]

Sorry maybe I should have said the D6 is SCOOPED too much. That is more what I meant. I never like the result without an inside mic.

[@dimakireev]

Больше микрофонов - лучше звук.

[@louiesierra23]

Random thought He looks like the dad from benchwarmers 😅

[@aseomg]

My KZbin watch history just got weird.

[@billyrayvalentine7972]

We can fix it with EQ...... Said no great engineer ever 😎

[@JAROCHELOcesarcastro]

😅😅😅

[@oliverseal6462]

Personally,I hate the dead sound of that bass drum so none of the mics helped that. You could have just used a cardboard box to get that sound.

[@NickHolum]

Nick loses me right off the bat… good kick drum mic sounds like a bass drum sounds in the room? Uhhhhhh wut?

[@phatboyzband831]

Snare was treble sounding kick to dead , get some pro help next time it will make your demos a much success

[@metales_1986]

sennheiser e602 ii lo mejor de lo mejor