Avantone Kick Sub-Frequency Kick Drum Microphone
Avantone Pro brings back bygone classic as aptly-named sub-frequency kick drum microphone. It is an aptly-named sub-frequency kick drum microphone that effectively brings back to life a well-known extinct example by utilizing the affordable high-quality audio products producer’s own reproduction ‘white cone’ low-frequency driver to capture lower frequencies than a standard dynamic microphone, giving kick drum sounds that still-sought-after subsonic signature.
While using a speaker as a low-frequency capture microphone is nothing new — after all, The Beatles used this technique on their chart-topping ‘Paperback Writer’ way back in May 1966, watching people dangling a speaker from a makeshift stand, rewiring a monitor driver, or hot-wiring a combo amp to try and capture those lows is far from a pretty experience with results not necessarily assured.
Kick ably addresses this by bringing the boom from appropriate instruments out to the forefront, making large-sounding sources sound massive. Moreover, it neatly does so with a sub-frequency microphone that utilizes its well-known reproduction ‘white cone’ low-frequency driver — not just any driver, though… the driver!
Kick Sub-Frequency Kick Drum Microphone Specs
- Type: Moving Coil Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 50Hz-2,000Hz
- Output Impedance: 6.3 Ω
- Pattern: Figure 8
- Element: AV10-MLF 18cm cone
- Connector: Male XLR
- Shell: Birch Ply
- Drum Head: Mesh 10”
- Size: 11.375” W; 11.375” H; 5.5” D (without stand)
- Weight: 3.1kg; 6.8Lbs (without stand) / 4.6kg;10.1 lbs (with stand)
Avantone Pro’s AV-10 MLF low-frequency replacement driver used in its CLA-10 recreation of an iconic studio reference monitoring mainstay — and compatible with the Japanese original — is also at the beating heart of Kick.
It has a single continuous press-formed cone to match that classic sound and allows a much higher level of quality control and consistency during the manufacturing process as well as delivering strong bass reproduction. In Kick’s case, the AV-10 MLF’s distinctive 18cm cone acts as a microphone element. The microphone itself is of a moving coil dynamic type, with a 50Hz to 2kHz frequency response, 6.3 Ω output impedance, and figure-eight pattern, plus a male XLR connector. All are housed in a birch plywood drum shell with a 10-inch mesh drum head.
Having said all that, to then mount Kick on a standard mic stand simply would not do the job justice — which is exactly why Avantone Pro provides a stage- ready, double-braced drum stand. Studio-bound or on the road, the comprehensive Kick package is really ready to deliver!
Pricing and Availability
Kick is available at Avantone Pro’s US Dealers with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $349.00 USD. European SSP (Suggested Selling Price) is €399.00 EUR, including VAT, with worldwide Distributors listed by country here.
