10
Positioning the microphone

Kick drums

In order to prevent interference due to crosstalk between

adjacent sound sources, try to position the microphone so

that the interfering sound source is located in the angle

area of the highest cancellation of the microphone

(approx. 180°; see polar diagram).

Position Resulting sound Commentary
Much resonance,
much attack
Less attack: Turn
the microphone
away from where
the beater strikes.
Position the
microphone at the
bottom of the kick
drum, approx.
10–20 cm from the
batter head.
The 901 is used
for picking up the
attack, the 902 for
picking up the
fundamental.
Combined with an
902 positioned at
the resonant head.
The lower micro-
phone must be
phase-reversed to
avoid phase-
cancellation effects
due to the second
microphone being
on the other side of
the drumskin.