Using a speaker as a sub-kick microphone

I've had an unused guitar amp speaker sitting around for ages, so I decided to have a go at setting it up as a sub-kick microphone. The speaker originally lived in a Fender Blues Junior that I had modified, and as part of that, I replaced the speaker with a Celestion Greenback. Rather than leave the old speaker gathering dust even longer, I set it up in an old milk crate, wiring it in place to keep it steady: it's quite heavy, and the magnet makes it want to keep tilting over. I sacrificed a guitar lead, wiring the negative wire to the positive tab on the speaker, and vice versa for the positive wire. I then plugged the other end of the lead into a DI box, and from there to my preamp. When blended with an AKG D112 'kick-in' mic, it sounds great! I was initially concerned that a 12 inch speaker would pick up too much bottom end, but I've found it to work well - I high pass heavily at 30Hz, to be sure, to be sure. Check it out!
You can check out my music at marklowrie.ban... and all streaming services.
‪@gufflandstudios‬
#recordingdrums #subkick #subkickmicrophone #originalmusic #instrumental #marklowrie #homerecording #musicproducer #musicproduction #audioengineer #recordingstudio #audioengineering #gufflandstudios

[@NicS-q8n]

Poraboloc DIY , love it !!

[@marklowriemusic]

Cheers, @NicS-q8n - thanks for checking it out. When your budget is limited, you have to improvise. :-)

[@Hipyon]

why The DI box I would go into a Mic pre amp

[@fuzzylogickben]

That's how you get it into the mic pre (that's how I do it, it's great ... And it gives you a pad if you need it)

[@Hipyon]

@ I still see the DI box as unnecessary and it has a very high input impedance and therefore does not dump the speaker the mic preamp has a much lower input Impedance

[@marklowriemusic]

The speaker generates an unbalanced signal, and the DI box converts that to a balanced signal. As my preamp is in another room, the balanced signal is better over distance. Also, occasionally, a ground loop can occur, creating a hum or buzz. The DI box allows me to block that off when it happens. It also has a pad switch in the event the input signal is too high.

[@Hipyon]

@ Actually the speaker generates a balance signal you can connect it to the hot and cold and if you like the chassis to ground