Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic 

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

everyone doing sound or recording needs to add this mic to their collection.

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

Looking for a professional kick mic back in 2007, I explored my options within the ~$200 range. I was leaning towards a D112 and a youtube video inspired my confidence in the D6.

Since then I've used the D6 on two albums and several applications within the studio. After five years here are my thoughts for you :

If you are looking for a set-and-forget mic for the kick drum, this should be your go-to. It is pre-EQ'ed and (in the proper position) has a very snappy and thick sound. The EQ curvature (without looking at a chart) seems to cut the mids and gives you a great hard rock/metal kick sound. A lot of beater. Some folks hate this mic for that reason. It almost seems like a preset. Granted if you do not use your head at all and expect that sound out of the box you are mistaken. There is some thinking and proper placement required; although not much experimentation is required to achieve a useable sound.

Unfortunately this is also its downfall. It seems to have one sound, which it does well, but versatility is not one of its strong capabilities. BECAUSE it is Pre-EQ'ed out of the box, it makes changing the tonality in recordings or on the board especially difficult. If you are looking for a mic to shape and EQ, DEFINITELY look elsewhere.

For what it is, it's a good application mic. It is not versatile, but it does one thing very well. I have grown tired of the 'one sound' that I get out of the mic, and may soon be looking elsewhere. I may have to put some thought in since my D6 and I have bonded well.

One thing is for sure - nobody has complained about their kick sound from the recording booth. :-)

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

Used this mic for a 22" kick at church for a couple of years, now have it mounted on a Kelly SHU inside a 16" kick that I use for most gigs. Never given me a problem, sound guys love it. Amamzing what kind of sound we get with a 16" kick when the sound system sub is cranked! Over time I will buy more and mount inside every kick drum I have for use on live applications.

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

I've used the samson Q kick, the shure beta 52 and the akg d112. To me, this is the best kick my i've tried so far. Basically cause it's focused for recording rock drums. Lot's of lows and highs with a nice mid scoop. There's no way you'll get it wrong with this baby! I LOVE IT!!!

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

For those of you that like that kick sound that has a smooth click and captures the resonance of the kick drum, check this mic out. I was using a Shure Beta 52 before a friend of mine convinced me to try this mic. The Beta 52 did a good job, but I had to fight with it quite a bit with our kick drum. There was nothing wrong with our kick, I just think it was the wrong mic for this particular one. The first time I used the D6, I set it in the center of kick, by default, aimed it at the beater with no EQ or compression and started from there. It sounded great. I was really quite surprised at how good the sound was to begin with. There was a little too much bottom so I moved it closer to the beater and added a little compression and I was done. It required very little EQ.I have yet to try the D6 in a live setting. Looking forward to getting the chance soon.

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

I have a love/hate relationship with this mic. On some bass drums, like my old Yamaha YD, I was able to get a very decent kick sound pointing it right at the port hole. Granted, I had to pull it back about 2-3 feet to get a full sound with plenty of "click", otherwise the sound was woofy. And forget about sticking it inside of a bass drum, this mic just doesn't work that way. On my new Yamaha kit with better shells, this mic doesn't do very much justice to the wonderful sound of the kick. Pulling it back enhances the click but enhances the bleed, while moving it in closer gives me a tremendous woof sound. Needless to say it's very hard to get something usable in a short amount of time. My last record was recorded with this mic but I think after this next project I will be trading it for a D112. It's not that I'm lazy, I'm just tired of spending hours trying to get a great kick sound and then more hours EQ'ing and Gating afterward to get what I'm looking for!

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

I have been using AKG D112's for years and really like them. The Audix D6 kicks the D112. I put the D6 inside of the drum close to the batter head and adjust the distance to taste. Very little EQ required and get a bass drum sound that has both definition and punch. The D6 requires more gain on the trim. After listening to recordings of the same kit I find that I prefer the D6 every time.

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

I Use this mic live and have also recorded with it.Its a fantastic mic for kick drum. It has a built in curve tailored for the kick that reduces or eliminates any need for EQ. No need to find sweet spot. The AKG D112 will give a wider response but usually requires perfect placement and alot of EQ'ing. The D6 will make a bad kick sound good and good kick sound better with minimal effort. If you're a drummer or a sound man,.. you should own this mic.

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

This mic is DEFINITELY contoured for 1 type of sound. Ridiculously bassy with a presence peak that is really up there. Like 6kHz+ which leaves a good part of the beater sound scooped out! Be prepared to do some serious Hi-Pass (low cut) on this baby if you want more than just woof to come through the mix and you want your finished recording to be anywhere near commercial volume. Maybe mine was broken but I just couldn't use the thing except 1 time when the kick drum was really lifeless and thin sounding (I wasn't hired to tech the kit). Every other time I tried it, I had to scratch my head... a Beta 52 sounds much more turn-key and the PR40?... Forget about it. If you want the drum to sound like a DRUM, stay away from this mic. BUT if you mic really quick, tight and/or muffle kicks, this may actually be your optimal solution. I gave it a 3 overall because a tool's a tool and you can't have too many options at your disposal... Don't buy this as a first kick mic!!!!!

Comments about Audix D6 Sub Impulse Kick Drum Mic:

This microphone smokes the kick drum competition in almost every concieveable way. When I got this thing in the mail, I was a teeny-tiny bit skeptical of the negative marks that it's "only for speed metal", and "has attack but not low end", etc. I recorded a pass on my Yamaha kit and burned it onto a disc, threw it in my car, and the sound from my kick drum FILLED my car. Just took charge. I hadn't even spent maybe 1 minute tweaking mic position - this thing sounds terrific in almost any spot and is relatively versatile enough to place strategically for a different sound. For the price, it's a steal. Bye bye Shure and AKG.