Operation Manual

Using the 5KIT

Microphone Placement and Tone Quality

When you position your mics on the drums, it will be easy to get a great sound

since, in general, they are positioned so close to the sound source. You can make

slight adjustments to the height and angle that will have an effect on the sound.

The changes in sound may be difficult to notice at first, especially in live sound

applications, however the more you use your microphones and listen to the sound,

the more you will understand, and hear, the effect the microphone placement has

on the sound. As always, experimentation and experience are the best teachers.

Obviously, in live sound applications you can’t always hear the final results of the

sound you’re getting because most of the time your drum kit will be positioned

behind the PA speakers, so rely on a band mate or sound engineer to help you dial

up the sound. In recording applications, print some scratch tracks and check the

sound by listening to your headphones and to the control room monitors.

By the way, the “Golden Rule” of getting a great sound miking any instrument,with any micro-

phone, is to start with a great sounding instrument. Be sure that you pay careful attention to

the tuning, and if necessary, the dampening of your drums. Miking your drums is similar to

putting the sound under a microscope.Any unwanted buzzes and rattles coming from your

instruments may be much more noticeable when you mic the kit.

You’ll get a great sound just by positioning the mics close to your drums however,

there are some basic principles and fundamentals that should be followed. (If not,

at least understood.)

• The 5KIT drum microphones have cardioid pick up patterns, which means they

pick up sound directly in front of the microphone, and reject the sound behind

the microphone. This means in order to get the best separation between the

drum you want to pick up in a particular mic and the ambient sound around it,

let’s say your cymbals or other drums, you can aim the mic so that it is facing

away from the cymbals or other drums. As with any drum miking situation,

you’ll have to make some compromises with the ultimate position for sound

and interface to your playing style.

For more information on polar patterns, see the section Polar Pattern on page 9 of this

manual.

• All microphones, especially uni-directional or cardioid microphones, exhibit a

phenomenon known as “proximity effect.” Very simply put, proximity effect is a

resulting change in the frequency response of a microphone based on the

position of the mic capsule relative to the sound source. Due to the result of

the proximity effect, slight adjustments of the microphone position and angle

can make a big difference in sound. Specifically, when you point a cardioid

mic directly at the sound source (on axis) you will get the best frequency

response, however when you start pointing the microphone slightly away (off

axis) you will notice the low frequency response dropping off and the micro-

phone will start to sound thinner. Knowing that the bass will decrease as you

change the mic angle can be a big help if you are getting a “boomy” sound

from your drum.