Miking Kick Drum with Kickport

[Grazza]

Over the past few months playing in a more indie-type covers band it's become obvious I could do with a specialised kick mike rather than making do with one of the banjo player's cast-offs. I therefore have two questions:

What preferences do people have? So far I'm looking at two apparent favourites, the Audix D6 and the Shure Beta 52a, but I also have a Kickport fitted (which I like), so question 2 is:

Would I be best sticking the mike inside the kickport or a couple of inches from the front of the port hole? I don't necessarily need too much 'click', just a nice deep, 'modern' sound on my 20" Yamaha kick. I play the drum wide open, apart from occasionally a rolled-up piece of felt between the pedal and the batter head.

Any advice would be greatefully received!

[atomcorr2]

you can never go wrong with a shure mic the beta52 is awesome .. you will just have to try different postions to see what works best for your drum .

[fumbled time]

Kickport has a video on youtube with their suggestions on microphone placement.

[Jemini]

The D6 is well regarded mainly because its a pre-EQ mic meaning the mids are lowered already and give a nice sound out of the box. Great for metal and rock, the question is do you need a mic that is more versatile?

I have an AKG D112, tried it on the kick and it works well as a kick mic, but I use it on my 14" floor tom. I was looking at the D6 but I went for the Sennheiser e602 instead. IMO a more versatile kick mic.

I position it just inside the porthole on an angle toward the rim of the batter side, gives a nice low end with a little attack. Works for me.

[trickg]

If you are looking for a good rock kick drum sound that the D6 is the way to go - it gives you that deep-in-the-chest thud that many rock guys are looking for. it's been said that a D6 sounds like a D6, and it's really only good for that one sound.

I've heard that the Beta 52 is the way to go if you want a more rounded, fuller, more resonant sound. I've used both here and there (mostly the D6) and for what I play, I like the D6, but I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

[Deedubs!]

kickport has a video on youtube with their suggestions on microphone placement.

+1

[Grazza]

Thanks for all the useful suggestions. I'm definitely coming down to the D6 and the Beta 52 I think - maybe the latter if I need a more versatile sound, but I'll try them both anyway.

Can you send me a link to the Youtube video - darned if I can find it!

[Bish]

I've not used any Audix products but have been loyal to my Beta52.

I've been experimenting with it at home in my studio for miking positions and the two best sounding positions (in my experience) are about 6" outside the ported hole or within 4" of the batter head inside the bass drum.

For a non-ported head I found the best sounding position for the mic is almost 4-6 feet in front of the drum.