KickPort, anyone saw/heard/tried it?? Usefull in a recording situation?

[tomdarude]

Future Percussion Concepts-The "KickPort Company"- About the KickPort- Instructions Download

Anyone seen or tried this?

I don´t like ported subs/speakers, will I not like that too?

Might see the live-use, BUT could this be usefull in a recording situation?



thx folks

[Jax]

Haven't tried it but I'd like to. Looks like it could be a useful gadget.

[chrisso]

Thanks.
That looks interesting.

[Jax]

I'll be trying this thing out over the weekend. I found out that the company in the link is local, so I called them and they said that the drum shop 2 blocks from my studio sells kickports. The KP co. also said the device can be removed from the reso head and used again with whatever head works best for your drum.

I'll let you know what I think soon. Maybe even post a before/after clip.

[jhall]

I have one.. and have only tried it in one bass drum so far. A 16X22 Joe Montineri drum. The drum sounds fantastic by itself.. the only "problem" so far is that the port is on the heavy side.. and so far it rattles ever so slightly on the head when I play the drum.
It does, however, work.. very well. It may NOT be the right sound for everyone, but it does increase the low end in the drum by hyping certain frequencies. Again.. it may not work for everyone but it is a cool item. I am working on how to make it not rattle on the head.
I will report back with whatever means I find to work.

[chrisso]

Interesting.
The rattling would be a deal breaker.
Keep us posted.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by Jax

I'll be trying this thing out over the weekend. I found out that the company in the link is local, so I called them and they said that the drum shop 2 blocks from my studio sells kickports. The KP co. also said the device can be removed from the reso head and used again with whatever head works best for your drum.

I'll let you know what I think soon. Maybe even post a before/after clip.

please let us know. I would be most interested in a clip of "regular hole" as the before, and kickport as the after.

I don't really understand how this is majorly different from just having a hole. I thought for a second it had a 'diaphragm' or something, but it looks like it is just an open tube sticking through the hole, right?

[rockdrummer027]

thats what it looks like to me. I cant possible imagine how it could make any significant difference.

[biggator6]

I don't really understand how this is majorly different from just having a hole. I thought for a second it had a 'diaphragm' or something, but it looks like it is just an open tube sticking through the hole, right?

I cant possible imagine how it could make any significant difference.

Ever heard of ported speakers? Same concept. The length and diameter of the tube makes it essentially a resonator - enhancing certain frequencies. That's what those holes are on some of your monitors.
"-)

[Axiz7]

As enhancing i'm thinking the low... or lower frequencies.

Try covering/pluging up that port on your monitor(s), then unplug...Yeah I could dig this thing.

Damn, my stock DW heads got those 8-10 small ports around the perimeter.

[rockdrummer027]

Originally Posted by biggator6

Ever heard of ported speakers? Same concept. The length and diameter of the tube makes it essentially a resonator - enhancing certain frequencies. That's what those holes are on some of your monitors.
"-)

I understand how it works with monitors, I just find it hard to believe that it could make a difference with a percussive instrument. Someone post some audio files and prove me wrong!

With ported speakers, the port is part of the enclosure. This port goes in the drumhead which is what vibrates to make sound. It would be like putting the port in the middle of the woofer of a monitor. And considering the immense volume of a kick drum, can a little tube really make a noticeable difference? Maybe if you place a mic directly in front of the port and ignore the "woosh."

Im not arguing the benefits of a ported drumhead. I just don't think the tube will be much different than a simple hole.

[Axiz7]

Originally Posted by rockdrummer027

I understand how it works with monitors, I just find it hard to believe that it could make a difference with a percussive instrument. Someone post some audio files and prove me wrong!

Some here...not the greatest audio.

KickPort Drum Insert | recording hacks

[soundsundergroun]

the website says it adds warm compression!!!


hahahahah lol

[Jax]

I'd laugh except Dennis Chambers 'likes it... a lot.'

If I like how the floor samples sound, I'll be getting one today and posting clips. BTW, jhall posted a review above but it looks like only one person other than me noticed. RTFT.

[chrisso]

I've recorded drums with a mic placed at the end of different length tubing (gutter pipes etc). The result is quite dramatic. So I can see a case for this working.

[orange]

Originally Posted by chrisso

I've recorded drums with a mic placed at the end of different length tubing (gutter pipes etc). The result is quite dramatic. So I can see a case for this working.

that would be because the mic would be greatly affected by resonant efect of the tube - totally changing the acoustic response of the capsule - I'm not sure that quite the same effect would be achieved using the kickport (unless you stuck the mic directly into it).

I think the analogy of a ported speaker enclosure is more accurate. Although the port dimensions (length/diameter) are always related to the interior volume of the enclosure (drum size) and the resonant frequency of the speaker (reso/batter head). So the effect is going to be very dependent on the drum/heads.

I can see it working though.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by rockdrummer027

With ported speakers, the port is part of the enclosure. This port goes in the drumhead which is what vibrates to make sound. It would be like putting the port in the middle of the woofer of a monitor. ...
.

Indeed, where are the ported shells? One tiny hole is all you see on most drums

still, you gotta love the Drum Invention Industry. One of the few areas untouched by software. So many 'contraptions'

If you want to come up with something new for drums, it has to be a physical gizmo, not a piece of code.

[jhall]

I DOES work. For those of you who question that.. put down your money and order it to find out for yourself. In a live situation.. the "rattle" is minimal and passable. I haven't 'modified' it make it work in that particular drum.. and will try it in other drums to see if different heads have any affect on the rattle. From the outside of the drum(visually) it looks like a standard hole reinforcement.. Will report with more info.

[Jax]

I got one today, but didn't have time to put it through its paces in the studio. Trying it out in the store on my kick was illuminating. It seemed to tighten up the low end and project it out into the room with a focused, tight punch, which is usually troublesome to get from my kick.

I'd have to say the effect is more apparent from in front of the set than it is when you're sitting down, playing.

When I have some spare time, I'll record and post clips. The FOK and room mics will probably reveal the sound more than will the close mic in the bass drum.

I noticed no rattle at all, btw.

[SayoNara]

I just posted an extensive review, with sound clips.

I tried two batter heads and 5 mics in 3 different positions.
I ran a frequency-response analysis and posted graphs showing
exactly what the KickPort is doing, all the way down to 10Hz.

KickPort Review

In short, I'm left thinking this is potentially a great tool for live use,
but not such a useful tool for recording, at least not for my drum and
room... but I'm looking forward to hearing other users' experiences,
especially for studio use.

[Kickport]

Hi there,

Jesse Bradman here from Future Percussion Concepts - The KickPort company.

I feel the need to respond to Matt McGlynn's/Recording Hacks review about our product The KickPort.


At the time that Matt used the product, he was using it in conjunction with a felt pad on the inside of the head which adversely affected the significant improvements/qualities the Kp offers. Since his review, he has posted a follow up on HIS site, but has neglected to re-post on other sites. The 'Getting the Most Out of the KickPort’ page which can be downloaded from our website clearly advises against any dampening/muffling materials touching the resonant head. The page also comes in packaging. Thus Matt was using the KP in a manner that it was NOT designed to be used and thus the “findings/test results” are erroneous and/or incomplete.


Because Matt was unable to provide a head without muffling/dampening, Future Percussion Concepts has generously loaned him with a head so he can use the KP in the manner it was designed and recommended to be used. As he is a drummer I can assume he understands that adding weight to the res head may also make the res head react differently. Thus, one would likely want to tune the head a bit different as well, not to mention removing most or all dampening materials in the interior to preserve the resonant space.

The KickPort is a tool and to enjoy the dramatic improvement it can offer, one must use it in the manner it was designed to be used - just like any other tool. And just like any new piece of gear, one often must make adjustments to existing setup.



I know this from playing keyboards with four platinum bands and when I received a new piece of gear...it took some work to really get the most out of it. As Jotan Afanador told me a couple weeks ago, "when I first tried the KP it was really cool, a solid improvement. Then I really spent some time with it, fooling around with different head combinations, taping off the plastic muffling ring as Jesse suggested etc." Then I played around with tuning and internal dampening materials. Now that I have this down, this thing is amazing - truly an incredible product!" If you want, email Jotan - he has a website and would likely be more than glad to respond.

We have numerous professional drummers out on the road and in the studio having tremendous success with our product. Curt Bisquera just emailed me to say "he loves it...check out this groove I recorded." Kenny Aronoff told me last week he thinks "it slams." Gerry Brown also sent a message to say "he loves it - a great product." Ashley Appling (Groove is King.com) called me to say his recording engineer was "freaking out" about the improved sound. I assure everybody, we have worked hard on this for years and it's not a gimmick!



Checout the Testimonials on our website which are a small sample of drmmers using and needs to updated.

I would be pleased to have anyone contact me directly if any of you have specific questions!

kind regards,

Jesse Bradman, Business Development/FPC-The KickPort Company. Future Percussion Concepts-The "KickPort Company"- Home

[Axiz7]

Originally Posted by Kickport

The KickPort is a tool and to enjoy the dramatic improvement it can offer, one must use it in the manner it was designed to be used - just like any other tool. And just like any new piece of gear, one often must make adjustments to existing setup.


Jesse Bradman, Business Development/FPC-The KickPort Company. Future Percussion Concepts-The "KickPort Company"- Home

Yeah...This should go without saying! Most heads by themselfs need to be tuned up or down to your liking.

And BTW got the Kickport and dig it.

My problem was the stock DW reso head has a series of 6 small holes around the perimeter...well needless to say when those were taped off and NO muffling was used against the reso head a definite difference could be heard.

[Jax]

Jesse,

I didn't see any information about "taping off" the plastic muffling ring in the packaging.

Since your goal is to have people use the KP properly, why don't you explain exactly how this is done and why we would want to do it?

[chrisso]

Yes.
I would like to add some extra nice low end to my bass drum sound, but I don't want the drum to resonate for longer.
This is a question by the way, not just a statement.

[Pawel]

That's a clever idea!

I'm definitely going to build one to try that out, I'm going to use this calculator:

PORT Size Calculations and Formulas for WOOFER and Subwoofer BOXES

Thanks!

[Axiz7]

Originally Posted by Pawel

That's a clever idea!

I'm definitely going to build one to try that out, I'm going to use this calculator:

PORT Size Calculations and Formulas for WOOFER and Subwoofer BOXES

Thanks!

That's cool...not that i'll build it...I'm guessing driver size is the bass drum head???

[Jeff16years]

digging up an old thread, any more opinions on this device for recording situations?


thanks!

[S.Filpansick]

Originally Posted by Jeff16years

digging up an old thread, any more opinions on this device for recording situations?


thanks!

Well, my kit already had one installed in it when I bought it, so I can't say how it compares to NOT having the KP; but I definitely love the sound of my kick on recordings, and it sounds amazing live.

FWIW, I'm using an Audix D6 in the drum, and a "home made" sub kick on the outside.

[Jax]

I abandoned the KP. My kick sounds better without it, and slightly choked with. It sounds like a piece of plastic and rubber mounted on the kick hole might sound - like a muffle. Something happens to the low end coming out of the front, but it isn't pronounced enough to be apparent. If anything the low end projects very mildly, but I'm not convinced that muffling the reso head to tame some low harmonics wouldn't achieve the same result.

People have been recording awesome kick sounds for 50 years without any gadgets.

[Jeff16years]

hmmm, 1 yay and 1 nay.

anyone else?