Any of the mics you mentioned should do the job- the D112 works for me, I like the sound best-

I use the D6 you mentioned. I like it. But the condensor at about 2 or 3 feet away is really the sh*t. IMO
Or even up close is sweet too.

yep, a condenser in adition to a kick mic gives you a lot more options at mixdown- and you might just get 'the sound'

check out a Sennheiser e602. A D112 by comparison sounds like someone tapping on a shoebox (no offense to any fans of the 112, I know people love them, but I've made several converts).

Sennheiser MD421. Hard to go wrong with it and it is great on guitar amps, vocals, horns, pretty much anything aswell. It's very versatile, not only for kickdrums, but in general.

Beyer M88

Also try an SM7...not only is it a KILLER kick mic, its a KILLER vocal mic...

I've used the SM7 on every conceivable sized kick drum (and oddly enough, the 15 ft drum used in Native American ceremonies...) with great results.

My vote is for the Shure 52. Every time I use it I have to hi pass it in the mix because there is too much way down there (30 hz). This might seem like a negative but every other mic I have used I find I have to EQ in more lows and the 52 does not need this extra EQ added.

the beta 52 is a good mic but it is really lacking in the high end, a good condencer is always good, but i would get a EV RE20, its a good bass, kick, guitar, vocal mic. ive even heard some one use it for accustic guitar with great results.

i have a D6 and a Beta 52, and I end up using the D6 a little more often.... it is a little more colored of a sound, but it sounds good on practically any kick drum without having to EQ much. The 52 does a better job of capturing a more organic sound, but after EQ at mixdown it sounds pretty much like the D6 with no EQ....i'm not a fan of the D112, i've used that for live sound a couple times and hated it....i don't think you can really go wrong with the D6 or Beta though..... if you want an all purpose mic though the 421 is killer, just might require a little more work to get an awesome kick sound...

K

different mics for different folks.. that's why we have variety, people buy different things- otherwise we'd have one world, one kick mic - I still like the D112 :D

Audix D6 8-)

Thanks everyone. I'm considering the D6 mainly for budgetary reasons, and I like it's size.

Those of you using the D6... How is it for getting an open sound from a bass drum with a full head on the front? Does it capture the rounder sound from this type of drum?

sproll wrote: Audix D6 8-)

hey sproll, finally we like different things... I thought we were twins for a while :D

AKG D112 8-) 8-)

the D6 is the most expensive of the three you listed...... anyways, the D6 is good for the round tone...if the front head is on, i put it about 3-8 inches from the edge of the drum aimed up at the beater through the head. This works for me but you'd have to try it.....

K

maintiger wrote: [quote=sproll]Audix D6 8-)

hey sproll, finally we like different things... I thought we were twins for a while :D

AKG D112 8-) 8-)

LOL :D Yeah, well I guess we're not exactly the same. I honestly think the D112 is a great mic, hell, it's a standard to which all are judged... but I like the more natural, rounder sound of the D6. Just my personal preference for what kind of music I like. Of course if I was a real engineer with a real studio I'd have both in my mic locker. 8)

I also use the d112 regularly, though once got to use a d6 - which was definately different sounding, and needed les EQ. But the thing I like about the d112 is, even though it has got that basketball sound at first, it seems to keep it's punch-through the mix after heavily EQing, it doesn't fall apart so-to-speak. I also have SM7 which is an awesome all-arounder (can't use it on kick much because I use it on guitar amp)

Another good mic would be the EV20

Kswiss - I found that the Shure, AKG and Audix are all similarly priced. I did find a couple of D6's on ebay for $135ish, which is the lowest I had found so far.

I have to say that my experience as a player (drummer) with the D112 have not been positive. We ususally try it, but opt for something else. That is my experience with several different bass drums and studios. I don't know? But for that reason I'm shying away from the D112 and opting to try the D6.

Sproll - I do like what you said about the D6 sounding more natural and rounder to you. That is more along the lines of my personal taste at this time. I'm not looking for that through your chest thud. I want a more organic sound.

Thanks for the input.

I just want to add again...
My only kick mic is a D6, but the best sound I get, is from any of my condensor mic's. I really mean it!!!! :!:
Fuck...I like the D6, but if I don't or can't find the damn condensor mic's we might as well not record until I can find them type of impact on your recordings.
I really feel if you want something to write home about (or beat your chest like Tarzan when your recordings are done) look at getting a LDC.
LDC=BIG SOUND
I think this is the only way to go

its not the mic, it's how you use it :D

i need to hear the d6, everyone i know raves about it, but they all like the thump/click sound. sometimes i need a kick sound that is more thump, less click, and i use the atm25.

what compressors do you guys use on kick?

steve

rudedogg wrote: its not the mic, it's how you use it

Well it does matter when you put 48Volts on it. You can use sayings like that, but the truth is a different reality. A condensor mic anywhere on the drums (OH, kick, or wherever) will make them sound much more open and BIGGER than they ever will without one. Unless you are going for a live recording and then you can't always to as you might like to do.
Reguardless, If "it's not the mic" why would have Hitman asked "which mic"?

hey guy,

what condencer mic would you recomend?

I have 3 Avlex. I bought them about 3 years ago. They were cheap. ($199 a piece) But the salesmen were all my best friends and they were tryin to get the name out about these guys (so I got em REAL cheap) But they sound really good! And I'm picky.
But you could spend more money and get something real sweet. Like maybe a Shure KSM or an AT4033 (or 4050 whatever it is)Start a new post on recording.org and see what everyone else has to say as far as which condensor mic they like most.

I use the 10 inch woofer out of my daddy's old pioneer speaker. It works geee-rate :-?

Yeah, well anyway - there are as many ways to record a bass/kick drum as there are to record the piano. The fact is, any mic with good spl handling and a decent response in the LF will get you a bass/kick sound that's reasonable. After that, it's a matter of figuring out exactly what you like or don't like about the sound you're getting. Then you have to figure out if you can fix the sound with EQ or compression.

One of the funniest things to listen to is a dry recording of a kick drum. I was just listening to some of the stuff that Kurt put up on the review site and it's recordings of a kick drum. It doesn't sound anything like a kick out of a recording, but it's not supposed to. You gotta make it work.

J.

i really love my d112!
great mic! gives me that punchy sound on the kick! for bass amp i prefer my audix d4
between the d6 and d112 you'll be fine

anybody heard the BLUE kickball yet? looks cool and it's only $119. problem is if you want to use the shockmount AND mount it inside a kick, good luck. it'd be like 8 inches wide. hmmm. i still wanna try one. it looks so odd and special. special like round. like a round sound. uh oh, i'm talking in circles again. i've done that 360 times this week!

mckay

Hitman wrote: Kswiss - I found that the Shure, AKG and Audix are all similarly priced. I did find a couple of D6's on ebay for $135ish, which is the lowest I had found so far.

I have to say that my experience as a player (drummer) with the D112 have not been positive. We ususally try it, but opt for something else. That is my experience with several different bass drums and studios. I don't know? But for that reason I'm shying away from the D112 and opting to try the D6.

Sproll - I do like what you said about the D6 sounding more natural and rounder to you. That is more along the lines of my personal taste at this time. I'm not looking for that through your chest thud. I want a more organic sound.

Thanks for the input.

Yeah, the D6 should work well for you then... or like the other guy said, a LDC will work great too. The reason I got the D6 is because I'm a gigging drummer, and it makes much more sense to me to get something I can use both live and in the studio.

As a drummer who's not into the heavy metal tick tick tick bass drum sound, I can tell you the D6 is a great mic with some great body and enough tick to cut through the mix - all without eq'ing it.

yes, the d6 is easier to use to get a decent sound out of. The d112 you need to put a bit more effort into placement and EQ. I would say that the D6 is alot more airy/fluffy sounding then the d112, which can often sound like a cardboard box when not used correctly.

I know it's probbaly not the more popular type of mic, but small diaphram omni mics can sometimes work best for what you are going for. Either up close or a few feet back, the absence of proximity effect can really make placement an enjoyable and rewarding thing.

Guy I apprenticed under never left his RE20 at home. I agre about the E602, has something that the D112 doesn't - maybe it's just the variety.

Am experimenting with Audio-Technica AE2500, with dual capsule, one condensor, one dynamic, in same enclosure. Some interesting sounds coming out.