NS10/kick drum woes

[thecrashfactory]

I've been playing around with the 'NS10-low-kick-mic' trick, but I'm getting terrible results. I'm actually using a studiospares SN10 cone (8") wired to an XLR, fed into a decent pre (amek).

My recordings are horrifically low level and full of noise. I hear you usually have to eq out a bit of hiss and low mid to get at the really thud sound I'm after, but what I'm getting is silly. I did it a while ago with a 12" celestion guitar speaker and got much better results. Has anyone got a dry NS10/subkick clip they can post?

What am I doing wrong?!

[Tony Shepperd]

You could just buy a Yamaha Subkick.
Yamaha SKRM100

[thecrashfactory]

I wish I could!

I just want to get an idea of exactly how far out I am, as I understand you have to 'work' with these a little to make them useful.

Suggestions? Many thanks in advance.

[Lord Fear]

Originally Posted by thecrashfactory

I've been playing around with the 'NS10-low-kick-mic' trick, but I'm getting terrible results. I'm actually using a studiospares SN10 cone (8") wired to an XLR, fed into a decent pre (amek).

My recordings are horrifically low level and full of noise. I hear you usually have to eq out a bit of hiss and low mid to get at the really thud sound I'm after, but what I'm getting is silly. I did it a while ago with a 12" celestion guitar speaker and got much better results. Has anyone got a dry NS10/subkick clip they can post?

What am I doing wrong?!

i think you may have put it together wrong. your soldering job may be the problem. most times i have to use a -20db pad on my ns10. so something is obviously wrong, maybe post a picture to show what you have going on there...

[Raw-Tracks]

Here's a link to a clip of a kick through an NS10:
www.raw-tracks.com/NS10_Kick.mp3

I don't see any mention of a DI box in your signal flow. This clip was recorded: NS10-->DI box-->API 512 preamp --> Studer A827.

[Lord Fear]

you don't need a di box if you put an XLR connector onto the speaker...probably clouds the sound somehow...

[imacgreg]

I think you need some method of transforming the impedance of the speaker (~ 8ohms) to a source impedance that the mic pre would like to see (on the order of a couple hundred ohms). I think a passive DI box can do this, but I would try and find a transformer that could step up the impedance. You should also get a gain increase due to the transformer as well. Try something with a turns ratio of anywhere from 1:2 to 1:8.

Someone may want to check my answer above, I haven't had much caffiene yet...

Ian

[UnDeFiNeD]

I think you need some method of transforming the impedance of the speaker (~ 8ohms) to a source impedance that the mic pre would like to see

you could try a reamp DI box, thats used for reamping line level recordings to an accpetable impedance for a guitar amp.
could do the trick...

[drumvan]

i took the plunge and made a bass drum subkick this past weekend. it wasn't that hard to do.

$10 8" fisher brand woofer from a local audio repair shop
1 $8 hosa 2' xlr cable (i couldn't stand to cut the end off a long one i had)
a $22 hosa in line pad (set to -30 db) highly recommended
scrap 2x2's and plywood from the garage
black paint

voila, $40 later, a kick boootay subkick

i'm using a 14x22 8 ply rogers maple bass drum
clear ps3 batter head w/ impact patch, 1 ply clear front
medium muffling (towel)
pearl eliminator quad beater (soft plastic side)
audix d6 and sub into m-audio octane preamp, protools 6.4 le
there's a bit of eq and compression on the d6, no eq and some compression on the sub

hope this helps

van

[Ravian]

you have to put the shield cable with the - cable on the same connector.

[pan]

Originally Posted by Ravian

you have to put the shield cable with the - cable on the same connector.

Not necessarily... my DIY subkick is wired + to hot - to cold and the shield wired just at the male XLR - I could shure use a pad but it works like a charm straight into the mic-input - no noise or hum...

[nadumr]

Originally Posted by pan

I could shure use a pad ...

That's funny!

[NowandThen]

I noticed none of the home made sub kicks have closed backs.
What about polarity issues with back reflections?
-Chris-

[pan]

Originally Posted by nadumr

That's funny!

that's what I thought, when I reread my answer, LOL
I thought I screwed up, but that's what I meant... the signal is hot but not too hot;-)

[davew]

here's my subkick. 10" fisher 'old' stereo speaker, akg d112 inside - 2" from beater. no preamp. sorry, this was also recorded with snare and hh. snare was in bad shape!

http://www.ironpoet.com/downsir/subkick10.mp3

[Gerax]

After reading the various posts on this thread I'm wondering if there's something particular about the NS10 cone, or if any 8" speaker cone with 8Ohm impedance will do...