Diving into the world of bass drum mics can be super confusing if you don’t know what to look for. They can come in a range of prices, but they all do the same thing, right? Well, some bass drum mics are better positioned for inside your bass drum, and some are better for outside. Some focus more on your drum’s low frequencies, and others focus on the tone of the sound.
It can be easy to grab the most expensive mic (if you can afford it), but that doesn’t mean it's the best one for you.
5 Best Bass Drum Mics
Now you know what to look for and where to put your mic, it's time to see the best bass drum mics out there. We are going to show you mics with a range of price tags, but know that they are all good in their own way.
Like we said before, it’s all about what makes sense for you and your drum set. The most expensive drum mic isn’t automatically great for the sound you want to create.
OUR TOP PICK
After reading where you can put your mic, you might already have an understanding of how everything is going to be positioned. If you want an inside mic, then you should take a look at the Heimu.
The Heimu is made to be placed inside, as that is where it will get the best sound for you. It has a built in dynamic locking stand, which is a fancy way to say that the stand is stable, adjustable, and locks into place so you don’t have to worry about it when you are banging away on the drum kit.
When it comes to the frequency, you should be looking at 30hz or lower. The Heimu only goes as low as 50hz. That means that the sound won't be as crisp as the other mics on the list, but if you are after a thud that sounds powerful rather than crisp then this high frequency shouldn’t be a problem.
If you did want a more defined sound in your thud, then have a look at the other mics, because this isn’t the only inside mic that we have to show you.
You might be after a “cheap but good” mic if your budget is on the lower end, and you will find that in the Heimu. The Heimu is the cheapest mic on the list, which might have contributed to the 50hz frequency, but it's still a great pick if you wanted something powerful.
Pros:
- Built To Be Placed Inside The Kick Drum
- Adjustable Stand
- Cheapest Mic On The List
Cons:
- Frequency Of 50 Hz, So Doesn’t Have A Clear Sound.
EDITORS CHOICE
The Shure BETA 52A has a steel mesh grill designed to resist normal wear and tear, but also hardy abuse. If you are a rocker that likes to jump and kick and throw your equipment about, then this mic will still be working after you’ve had your gig.
Being durable tends to go hand in hand with being simple, and the stand which comes with the Shure is just that, simple. It is designed to go inside your kick drum but can be used outside too, and it has the same locking mechanism as the Heimu. It isn’t as adjustable as the Heimu though which is why we consider the Heimu to be better suited for inside the drum.
Unlike the Heimu, the Shure BETA 52A has a frequency as low as 20 Hz. That is the perfect frequency for a crispy and powerful attack. It can also go as high as 1,000 Hz meaning you can use the microphone for your toms and snares or even guitars. The Shure is designed for the drums, but because of this high frequency, it is more interchangeable than most other mics on the list!
Pros:
- 20 Hz Perfect For Kick Drums
- Durable Materials
- Designed for Inside the Kick Drum
- Can Be Used on Other Drums/Guitars
Cons:
- Not Super Adjustable
BEST VALUE
This microphone is very sensitive, meaning that you can move it further away from the drum set and still get a crisp sound. This is because of the mic’s large diaphragm, which captures the high pressure and tone of the drum’s attacks. Backed up with a low frequency of 20hz, the Sennheiser e602 II is without a doubt the best outside kick drum microphone on the market.
The Sennheiser can also reach frequencies of 16,000hz, which is a ridiculously high number and no way near what you need for a drum kit. You might like the range this mic gives, and you can use it for multiple instruments, but if you’re after something less expensive then you can avoid the mic that tries to do it all.
If you want a lightweight mic to make carrying equipment to gigs just that touch easier, then the Sennheiser would pique your interest. It weighs only 0.32 pounds which is by far the lightest microphone on the list, but that lightness also makes it the most delicate. The Sennheiser calls itself robust, but it should be handled with care, making it better for soul sets rather than rock outs.
Pros:
- Best Outside Kick Drum Mic
- 20 Hz Perfect For Kick Drums
- Extremely Lightweight
Cons:
- Delicate
RUNNER UP
Like some of the other mics on this, the AKG has a low frequency of 20 Hz. Unlike the other mics, the AKG also has an integrated humming compensation coil. What this means is that the vibrations and outside noises or “hums'' are reduced to a minimum.
The coil keeps the low sound still sharp and clear, making it the best sounding bass drum mic on the list! It’s not a shock that this mic is used on stages worldwide because of that amazing sound.
The stand that comes with this mic is versatile and flexible, meaning you can easily put it inside your drum or outside and not find the process a hassle, so you can use it for whatever sound you would like. And the large diaphragm dynamic design keeps the sounds you create accurate to what you hear on your drum.
The only downside to this mic is the price tag. We said it was used on stages worldwide, and that kind of recognition would bump up any product's price tag. This mic is the most expensive mic on our list, and although it is amazingly good, if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on one piece of equipment, then the quality of sound isn’t worth it.
All the mics on this list are great, so you won't be losing out by a massive amount if you decide to go with the cheaper brands.
Pros:
- 20hHz Frequency, Perfect for Kick Drums
- Humming Compensation Coil (Reduces Background Noise)
- Adjustable Stand
- Best Sound Quality
Cons:
- Very Expensive
RUNNER UP
The DM-90 is on the cheaper end of the market which is one reason why it’s a great pick for beginners. It has a great sound quality because of the large diaphragm, so it can capture the intensity of your attacks, punches, and high SPLs focusing on the pitch and tone of your music.
When it comes to sturdiness, the DM-90 has a die cast body with an internal shock mount, as well as a hardened steel grill. All this means that it is ready to be knocked about in your van and shouldn’t be a worry when you rock out a bit harder than expected.
The DM-90 only produces a 50 Hz frequency though, meaning it won’t make as crisp a sound as you may want. But for your first buy, it should still do the job well.
Pros:
- Durable
- Large Diaphragm
- Cheap
Cons:
- Frequency Of 50 Hz, So Doesn’t Have A Clear Sound.
Best Bass Drum Mic Buying Guide
What Should I Look For in a Bass Drum Kit?
Knowing what to look for in a bass drum mic will help you sift through all the mics that are out there. Bass drum mics are designed for the low frequencies and power thuds that drummers create, this is why you shouldn’t buy just any mic.
For example, if you used a vocal mic for your kick drum, the powerful thuds will come out muddled instead of crisp because the vocal mic was looking for something more delicate than your booming sound.
Low Range of Frequency
For a kick drum, you want the range of frequencies to be low. That way the sound your drum creates can be captured by the mic and give you a clear “punch” effect.
Ideally, you should be looking at 30 Hz to get these lower sounds. 40 Hz would be fine, but 50 Hz is better for a snare or tom drum rather than a kick drum. Remember that Hz is about frequency and not volume, so don’t get distracted by the larger numbers you might find.
Large Diaphragm
Large Diaphragms need higher sound pressure levels (also known as SPLs) to pick up sounds, but drums have no problem creating that kind of pressure. You want a large diaphragm because of that reason, otherwise, your microphone might break due to the pressure.
As a rule of thumb, the larger the diaphragm is, the more durable it is. And that's not just because of the pressure. These dynamic microphones can be kicked around, dropped from heights, be stomped on, and still survive. That’s why they are great for drum sets because if you get a bit too frisky and kick the mic, it probably won’t break.
Adjustable Stand
Okay, so this one isn’t really about the mic itself, but the adjustability of your stand really matters, especially if you tour. Everyone's drum kit is set up differently, so you want a stand that can turn and twist to get into the right place for you. If your stand is too static, you’ll have to readjust the drum set itself and that could distract you when you’re playing.
This brings me to my next point, where do you put the mic?
Where Should I Put My Drum Mic?
There are basically two places to put your mic, on the inside and on the outside. They both create different sounds, so the choice is down to what you want to accomplish.
Mic Placed Inside Your Drum
A microphone placed inside your drum will capture the “attack” or thud on the first hit of the drum. You can put them on top of the drummer’s pillow or blanket that they might already have inside their drum, or you can use a stand to angle the mic through the porthole.
If you want a stronger attack then move the mic closer to the beater, if you want a softer feel to the thud then move the mic closer to the resonant head.
Mic Placed Outside Your Drum
If you want the microphone to focus more on the pitch and the tone of your drum, then place it outside. If you want more of the pitch and tone, and hardly any thud, then move the mic close to the rim.
If you want to make the drum sound more like it does in a room, just louder, then move the mic farther away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Dynamic Mics good for drums?
Dynamic mics give a weight to a sound. They also don’t tend to capture that much detail. That is why they shouldn’t be used for anything other than drums.
Drums don’t tend to give a subtle sound, meaning that a dynamic mic can isolate the drum sound easier than anything else. This will also cause less crossover and less background noise from the other instruments.
How many mics do you need for live drums?
Two is the good number of mics to have, but whatever number you go for, they need to be the same type of microphone.
This is so that you don’t create an echo of sound or interference.
Summary
All of the mics we have picked out will do a great job as a bass drum mic, but the best one for you still depends on what you want out of the mic.
If money isn’t a problem, go for AKG D112 MkII. If you worry about breakages, then go for Shure BETA 52A. If you need something lightweight, then grab the Sennheiser e602 II. Or if you are just starting out and want something affordable, then pick either the Heimu or the DM-90.
Play about with the positioning of the mic so you can figure out where the best sounds are. It could be that for one song you need the mic inside, and for another, you need it outside. There is no harm in playing around with the mics, if anything it’s part of the fun!