SubKick

[frey01270]

Just wonder if anyone could tell me if using a SubKick,Can you still get that Clicky Bass Drum Sound ?

 

[dtk]

its my understanding that the subkick is in addition to...and not a substitute for, traditional mic-ing

 

[JazzyJeff]

its my understanding that the subkick is in addition to...and not a substitute for, traditional mic-ing

This is correct. If you use only a sub kick for a kick drum mic, all you have is mud.

 

[frey01270]

The thing is i am considering moving to a front Bass Drum Head with no hole in it,I am wondering if a SubKick might be helpful for a better sound.

 

[JazzyJeff]

The short answer is not unless you use it with a conventional bass mic. The SubKick is used to add low end in a mix, not as a replacement for a standard kick mic.
Think of it like this, the SubKick is akin to a snare side snare mic. If you use only a mic on top of the snare, you get a nice typical snare drum sound. Adding a mic to the snare side along with the standard, you get some added crispness, from the snares and a little depth. If only the snare side mic is used, you get a rattley mess.
Theres better, much more technical info out there on this, research it more before spending the $$$.

Theres nothing wrong with micing an unported head. Done it for years.

 

[dwdave]

Sub kick mics are very limited in frequency response. maybe 50-100hz wide. great for getting just the low end 15-60hz. The click sound is much higher. You may want to go with an internal mic.

 

[Seb77]

With a double-headed (complete front head) bass drum, if you want to capture a clicky attack in my experience you either need to mic the batter side or put a mic inside the drum. Mic'ing the reso works for a mellower, more rounded sound. Astandard mic on the reso side will already have a lot of woofy low end, a subkick might be overkill.

 

[TheDrummerFromAmsterdam]

I use one for years now.

On to the contrary believe, you can use it stand alone, but... it will be a bit muddy. So using one with a conventional mic is always the best.

I use an internal mic aimed and closer to the beater head for more attack. The Subkick is that icing on the cake to give capture the extra lows.

Its a capture device, not a low frequency enhancer (like a woofer a'la DW)

 

[frey01270]

Thank you all,You have confirmed things that i have always thought,and answered questions that i needed answers too,so this has helped me a great deal,again thank you.

 

[Dave H.]

It is very easy to make your own Sub Kick! I have seen videos of it. you can just use a 6 to 8 in speaker a snare stand & cord with a mono phone jack.

Slawman

 

[xsabers]

The sound company that does our local Concerts in the Park only uses a Subkick. It moves the subs and you can feel it, but I do believe there is a lack of attack to a degree. Still sounds good though, through the right PA.

 

[Buffalo_drummer]

The thing is i am considering moving to a front Bass Drum Head with no hole in it,I am wondering if a SubKick might be helpful for a better sound.

I had a subkick and an unported reso head, FOH guy loved the lows from the subkick but had to do some EQ'ing on the mic he had on the head as well to get the mid-mid-highs he wanted.

 

[Seb77]

A double-headed drum with a clicky mic inside and a subkick out front should offer all degrees of click vs. boom/rumble.
As I said, not sure you need a subkick at all with an unported head, though, you could use a regular mic on the front head and get all boom tfrom that as well.