best kick mic for alt/country folk rock

[redddog]

I'm sorry if this has been done to death but I have been searching and can't find much.

I have a beta 52. I have used it on a session and I was very unhappy with the results. I'm pretty sure that the kick drum results were more due to my incompetence but it brought up the question to me as to which kick mic I should be using. What do you think?

[bartrose]

I use the Beta 52 almost on a daily basis. I think it's best suited for modern rock and country. Sounds like you need something smoother/more mello. You should try a tube condenser mic. They sound smooth and fat. I use the AKG solid tube for this purpose. I think they go for $600.00 to $700.00 these days. But I believe you can get a budget tube mic for around $300.00, maybe a Studio Projects mic. And if you've got tons of dough, I've heard the U47 is great for this purpose, but don't quote me on that because I can't afford one.. Bart Rose TEXAS

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by redddog

I'm sorry if this has been done to death but I have been searching and can't find much.

I have a beta 52. I have used it on a session and I was very unhappy with the results. ...

How about we start at the beginning then? What is it not doing right. That's one from the super-scooped camp. ATM-25 less so (moderately hyped?), RE-20 less yet (more towards 'natural perhaps?)..
How about out front of the kick? Just being general, for examples..

[TYY]

I think getting "that" sound is more in the mic placement and the drum itself, but yes, you probably want to stay away from the real scooped, clicky mics like D112/D6/etc (or so I've heard).

I have had good luck with a 421 in the kick for the attack/thump and large condenser(s) out in front to get the roundness/softness. I'm talking about at least 3-6' back. Try to get it in phase with your overhead(s) on the kick. You can eq/compress the 421 to get whatever you need out of it, but keep the FOK (front of KIT, not front of KICK) relatively unprocessed. You can crush a distant room mic, add it in with everything else and then compress the whole thing to taste to glue it all together.

[djui5]

D-12

[jeff deff]

I think an EV RE-20 yields the most natural sounding kick drum, hands down. I think it suits the alt country/folk genre perfectly, it is the opposite of the larger than life, fake kick sound typical in modern country (the evil arch enemy of alt country).
As a bonus, it is a good all around mic and not a specialty mic like an AKG D112. Use it on kick, floor tom, bass cabinet, guitar cabinet, horns, vocals, just about anything. As an aside, if you look at the cover of the vinyl version of Harvest by Neil Young, there is a photo where they are jamming out in a barn and they have an RE-20 on overhead! An all around useful mic.

[*CISKO*]

its gotta be an re20 for me, cause you can hear more of the lower mids, but they are not overbearing where you have to scoop the hell of them

[max cooper]

RE20 is a good call; also might try a D-12 (not D-112)

[allencollins]

the drum, tuning and the heads are more important than the mic
as is the room of course

But I don't think Ludwig or DW has a 'country' model
but then again niether does Sennheiser or Shure

Just sample a nice isolated kick drum on your favorite
Travis Tritt or Rascal Flatts cd. Then youll always have a great kick sound
at the drag and drop of your mouse.

Just like country performers Country music engineers/producers
should have no pride. If Country 'Artists' can cop out and buy their filler and hit songs
then Im sure using samples would not be any less respected in that industry

[ronzie]

Hey reddog, maybe you should think outside the box and instead of a different mic, change the beater on the kick pedal to Allen's head. That might give you the ' tone you need.

Ron Allaire, Skyline

[TYY]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Just sample a nice isolated kick drum on your favorite Travis Tritt or Rascal Flatts cd. Then youll always have a great kick sound
at the drag and drop of your mouse.

Goddamn I hope you're joking.

[djui5]

Originally Posted by TYY

Goddamn I hope you're joking.

If you think it hasn't been done a million times your wrong...

[redddog]

AC,

It seems I wasn't clear when I described my type of stuff. It's ALT country which is about 180 degress different then pop country. I honestly have no idea what Rascal Flats sounds or looks like. I'm sure though that he has flaired jeans and very pointy little cowboy boots with some kind of sparkly stuff on his shirt. LOL

Seriously, I hear you about the tuning and the room. I think rather than lay down some cake to get another mic, I'm gonna take Ronzie's advice and make the Beta 52 work.

I'm thinking about getting a well known engineer in town to come into my studio and school me with my gear for a couple of hours. That may be better money spent.

[octatonic]

Neumann 147 has the weight you are looking for- it's like a velvet enema.

[jhg]

Re-20 is great, I've been really happy with the new(er) Heil PR30 on the kick, among other things. This horse has been flogged, but it's really a great versatile mic, will set you back less - like half - of an Re-20 and wlll be used. If not, it'll last 23 seconds on the classifieds at a good price.

Regards,

jhg

[Tubetone99]

Fet47 on the outside, and RE-20 inside.

Also, if you have a decent speaker or spare monitor place the woofer part in the upper corner of the drum head. It really gives a nice, round low end that seems to mix well with an RE-20.

[TYY]

Originally Posted by djui5

If you think it hasn't been done a million times your wrong...

I know people "steal" samples all the time. I was actually referring to the poster's suggestion that Travis Tritt and Rascal Flatts recordings had kick tones that fell under the umbrella of "alt.county/folk rock". They are about as modern country "product" as you can. I'd be shocked if rascal flatts wasn't using kick samples for their own recordings. I don't think that is what the OP is going for...

[djui5]

oh yeah...

back to my hole

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by TYY

Goddamn I hope you're joking.

Just like country music................ I'm joking