Audix © 2021
Audix D6
The Audix D6 is specifically designed to capture low frequency information very well. If you talk to an audio engineer, chances are good that their favorite kick microphone is either the Shure Beta 52A, the AKG D112, or the Audix D6. The Shure Beta 52A and AKG D112 have been around for a long time and have proven themselves to be very reliable microphones in their own right, but the fact that the D6 is being lumped in with these other microphones after only being around for a short period of time proves its worth.
Cost: $199
Capsule: Dynamic
Polar Response Pattern: Cardioid
Uses: Kick drum, floor tom, or bass cabinet (although most often found on kick drum).
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Pros:
Great kick drum microphone. High gain before feedback. Relatively cheap. This is my personal favorite Audix microphone, and my go-to kick drum microphone. It is good for either inside or outside the kick.
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Cons:
I've had a few of these microphones break on me with the same issue. The kick somehow rattled the microphone enough to cause a loose connection. However, Audix customer service was amazing and repaired all of them very promptly at a highly discounted price.
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Suggestions:
Try buying a stand for your kick drum that suspends the microphone inside of the kick. Something like the Kelly SHU Pro. I always used the D6 as an outside kick drum microphone, but on the suggestion of a colleague and friend I tried mounting it on the inside. It sounded amazing. If I have a choice, this is my favorite way to mount a D6.
Shure Beta 52A
The Shure Beta 52A is designed specifically to handle the high sound pressure level (SPL) that comes off of a kick drum. While it can be used on other low frequency sounds (bass cabinet, etc.) it is designed specifically with the kick drum in mind.
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Cost: $189
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Capsule: Dynamic
Polar Response Pattern: Modified supercardioid
Uses: Kick drum, bass cabinet
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Pros:
Very high gain before feedback. Relatively cheap. Designed specifically for the kick drum. Able to handle high levels of SPL. Built in microphone stand adapter for ease of positioning inside or outside of the kick.
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Cons:
The only downside about this microphone is that I don't like it as much as the D6. There are many other engineers that disagree with me and many that agree. The Beta 52A has a great sound and is highly reliable, but seems to have not as full of a low end as the D6. This is the only downside I've experienced though. The Beta 52A is a very good microphone.
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Suggestions:
While still relatively new, being introduced in 2002, this microphone has been a go-to for many audio engineers, specifically for the kick drum. If you aren't using this and are having problem with feedback in your kick microphone, the Beta 52A's modified supercardioid pattern gives it higher gain before feedback and rejection. It may be worth picking this one up. Also, it has a microphone stand adapter which helps position the microphone inside the kick drum, if this is something you want to do.
Shure © 2009-2021
Shure © 2009-2021
Shure Beta 91A
The Sure Beta 91A is specifically designed with the kick drum in mind. This microphone is a boundary microphone which lives inside the kick drum (usually on top of some foam, pillows, or whatever dampening is used inside). For those who don’t know, a boundary microphone is a microphone which is designed to be placed on a hard surface. Boundary microphones can be used for musical applications (kick drum, room microphone, etc.) or even for non-musical applications (hockey body check, tap dancing, etc.). The Beta 91A is designed more with musical applications in mind.\
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Cost: $239
Capsule: Condenser
Polar Response Pattern: Half-Cardioid
Uses: Inside kick drum, room mic, boundary mic
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Pros:
Able to withstand very high levels of SPL. This microphone has amazing gain before feedback. It's very durable, and very reliable.
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Cons:
The Beta 91A is not a microphone I would use as a standalone kick microphone. The low frequency response isn't as good as I would like, and I usually have to get that from another microphone placed on the outside of the kick drum. ​
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Suggestions:
The Shure Beta 91A is usually paired with another kick microphone. Very rarely have I encountered the Beta 91A as a stand-alone microphone. More often than not, it is placed inside the kick to provide the attack of the kick drum beater and then balanced with another microphone placed on the outside of the kick drum’s sound hole to capture very low frequency information.
Sennheiser e 604/e 904
The Sennheiser e 604/e 904 microphones are fantastic little microphones. They come with a clip that allows them to clip on to the edge of your snare and toms. This is their primary use, and they sound great.
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Cost: $149.95/$179.95
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Capsule Type: Dynamic
Polar Response Pattern: Cardioid
Uses: Toms, snare drum, guitar amp
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Pros:
The e 604/e 904’s are offer fairly decent rejection. The best thing about these microphones is how low-profile they are. With them being able to clip right on to your drums, there is no need for an extra microphone stand (which also cuts down on costs), and you’re able to position them anywhere around the drum head. They're also fairly inexpensive.
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Cons:
If these are used on tom's, I have nothing against them. These microphones sound great on toms. However, for any other instrument I've used them on they haven't been as amazing. They're not a very versatile microphone, and are very specific to the drum kit.
Suggestions:
f you have the option to use a SM57 for your snare as opposed to one of these, the SM57 will typically sound better.
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