The sound coming from kick drums could be very difficult to record, especially if you don’t have the right mic.
No matter how good your drum set is or how amazing you play, if you don’t have the best kick drum mic, everything is simply a plain low tone.
So, today, I’m wrapping up my intensive research, since I’d already come up with seven great kick drum mics.
These are the best of the best microphones you can use in your kick drum. Since these mics are very good at recording low-frequency signals, they can also be used for bass amps, brass, and acoustic guitars, among others.
Contents
Here are our top picks for the best kick drum mics in 2024
- Shure BETA 52A Kick Drum Mic
- AKG D112 Bass Drum Mic
- Electro-Voice PL33 Kick Drum Microphone
- Sennheiser e602 II Dynamic Bass-Drum Microphone
- Audix D6 Cardioid Microphone
- Shure PGA52-LC Kick-Drum Mic
- Sennheiser e902 Mic for Kick Drum
Also Great | Editor's Choice | Budget Pick |
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Shure BETA 52A Kick Drum Mic
If you are looking for a microphone that is great for neglecting noise and unwanted signals, then, Shure BETA 52A is the one you are looking for. It’s a quality kick drum mic with a superb supercardioid pattern and high gain-before-feedback capacity. Hence, it delivers clean, powerful and studio-quality punches and strong attacks.
- A great mic to capture low frequencies for kick drums and bass instruments
- Studio quality recording even at high sound pressure levels (SPL)
- Might be bulky and awkward in its position
AKG D112 Bass Drum Mic
A kick drum mic should have all the elements of a microphone with a greater response to low frequencies. AKG D112 is the best when it comes to capturing low-end sounds. It has an integrated stand mount that is very easy to use and is very reliable.
- Has an integrated stand mount that holds up the mic so well in place
- Works well and delivers great sound quality both for live and studio recordings
- Great for bass drums, but might not ideal for other bass instruments
Electro-Voice PL33 Kick Drum Microphone
A kick drum mic that captures the deepest and fattest bass sound of your instrument should be like Electro-Voice PL33. It has a robust build, which ensures the mic remains safely in its place. Since it has a hypercardioid pickup pattern, it reduces the feedback and noise outside the bass drum, thereby picking up only the low sounds from the instrument itself.
- Has a great response to bass instruments
- Very reliable to stay safe in place
- Not very efficient and a little heavy
- Weak attack and needs EQ
Sennheiser e602 II Dynamic Bass-Drum Microphone
There is one microphone that’s great in capturing low frequencies in bass drums in a live setting, and that is the Sennheiser e602 II Dynamic mic. It features a humbucking coil design that can eliminate hums and electrical noise. Therefore, recording only the sound produced by your kick drum.
- Perfect to eliminate noise and to deliver clear bass sounds
- Lightweight and well-balanced, great for live performances and gigs
- Not that versatile
- Better to be placed in front of the kick drum for maximum performance
Audix D6 Cardioid Microphone
If you have some trouble not getting enough crisp and deep tone of your bass drums, you need the Audix D6 Cardioid. It has a low bass diaphragm that lets you capture authentic kicks and deep tone of your bass instruments. Overall, it can handle even high sound pressure levels (SPL) without any problem.
- Perfect for handling high sound pressure levels (SPL)
- Captures low frequencies with clarity and power
- Might need new sticks when using this mic to capture the real kick sound you wanted
Shure PGA52-LC Kick-Drum Mic
If you need a microphone that is specially made to capture low frequencies, go, get Shure PGA52-LC. It’s a Shure and you know it’s made with quality and excellence. It’s easy to set up, with cardioid pattern that rejects unwanted noise around the instrument, thereby getting only the real kick drum sounds.
- Great design and construction, easy to set up and stays well in place
- Works well in capturing the sound from a single source, eliminating noise around
- There might be a slight ‘ping’ on audio track each time the bass drum is hit
Sennheiser e902 Mic for Kick Drum
Everyone is looking for a kick drum mic that’s made with quality, at the same time delivering the best bass sounds from your instruments. Hence, you need Sennheiser e902 as your reliable kick drum. It has an integrated stand mount allowing it to stay in place and captures drum sounds in milliseconds – delivering the best sound without delay.
- Great response, no delay, thereby delivering perfect bass sounds
- Comes with a very reliable integrated stand mount to keep the mic in place
- This may not be that versatile
- Has a permanent mic clip
How to Choose the Best Kick Drum Mic
Kick drum mics are always exposed to high sound pressure level (SPL)because they are placed closer to the sound source – powerful punch and very deep tones. Hence, it’s very important that you should know what to look for in a kick drum mic.
Below are a few factors that you should look into to really pick the best one:
Durability
First, you should consider the durability and quality build of the microphone. Best kick drum mic should come with durable and reliable mounts that safely keep the mic in place. Dynamic microphones are best and they are extremely versatile and strong.
Sound Pressure Level (SPL) Response
Next to the durability is the mic’s ability to handle high SPLs. This means that the microphone should have the capacity to handle lower frequencies so well before they start to distort. In this way, kick drum microphones accurately capture the drum’s sounds even in very low-frequencies without distortion.
Frequency Response
A good kick drum mic can accurately capture frequencies as low as 20Hz.
o, before buying a microphone, look for the frequency response specification. The lower the frequency response, the better is the mic to deliver the real sound of the bass drum and other instruments playing at low frequencies.
What is the Best Kick Drum Mic?
Shure BETA 52A is the best kick drum mic. This supercardioid dynamic kick drum mic is ideal for live studio recordings as it captures low-frequency sounds efficiently. It also has a studio quality performance even at high-pressure levels, which should be ideal for any kick drum mic.
