there is no best, only different. all these are used by different people:
audix d6
akg d112
shure beta 52
sennheiser md421

i personally like the d6 and the 52

make your own choice

twon

Don't forget the ATM25, another excellent kick mic, not too expensive.

Beyer M88
AKG D12 if you can find one (they don't make them any more)

kick mics

d 112 (big kick)
sm 91 (more edge)
sennheiser md 421
I don't really know the others ; if you have to worl with "common" mics, allways prefer a sm 57 over a 58.
good luck.

The best kick drum mic is the search function....what? So yeah just do a search and you'll see this question is asked about once every three days.

I personally use a combination of beta 52 and beta 91 for live sound or recording punk band.

there is no best mic for a kick drum!
its all about the sound of your kick.
if your doing punk type music,you want a fast kick with lots of attack.
so take the resonant head of the kick off.put a sand bag inside
slightly resting on the batter head(this is the most important thing
becouse the weight of the bag provides the solid punch your looking for,then cover the kick in the front with a moving blanket for isolation.
the microphone doesnt matter really,a 57 or 58 is fine becouse what
your after is the clean attack.put it 3" out and 3" off center.
then cut around 350 and boost around 70 and THERE!!! :D

EV RE20 hasnt been mentioned, used it quite a bit during my "Hair Band" recording days. Along with a D12, but that would date me huh???

Anybodey testet the Earthworks Kick-Drum Pad yet ?
For example together with a EV RE20 ?

I like the EV ND868 for kick.

There's a review of the Earthwork's drum mic set in the new Electronic Musician. They gave the kickpad a pretty favorable review.

I personally use the Soundelux iFET7.

hwo does the Sennheiser e602 compare ? I have heard some nice things about it. And there is this dealer over here asking me to pick it up. While I also have access to the Beta52, and have used both on occasion live, I do not enjoy the luxury of bringing these over for testing and choosing between the two.

Hard rock and metal ere mostly too...

Sidhu

hwo does the Sennheiser e602 compare ?

I've been using the e602 for 3 years now, great kick mic. It has more bottom end than its rivals, and there's a slight peak at 3k for click. Anyone who hasn't tried one really should.

I don't like it, but if you can only afford one, get a D112. You can EQ it to sound close to anything in rock. Boost the click, cut all the mids, bump 60 cycles, and you've got it.

My personal pick is the RE20.

~id

Cannot aford the RE20. And have heard too many people dissing the D112 for me to want to risk purchasing it (even though I have never used one). My choises have now been narowed to either the Beta52 or the e602... Still need to decide....

Sidhu

the d112 is a great mic for kick drum. i can't understand why people are dissing it. i get consistently great results with it.

Michael Jordan got great results with a basketball too. Too much bounce for me.

walaby wrote: Anybody tested the Earthworks Kick-Drum Pad yet ?
For example together with a EV RE20 ?

I do not own an RE-20, but I did just buy an Earthworks kickpad. And on the front cover it list the RE-20 as a recommendation to use with the kickpad.

I use the Audix D6. It has a very "modern" sound. Good for metal, hardcore, modern rock. It already has a scooped mids sound and is pretty forgiving as far as placement. The only drawback is if you need a different sound it can be difficult to EQ those mids back in.