Audix DP QUAD Professional Drum & Percussion Mic Package

Here’s what Audix say:

The DPQUAD pack consists of four microphones grouped together to mic a full drum kit. This arrangement employs a left overhead mic to cover hi-hat, cymbals and rack toms, and a right overhead mic to capture the floor tom and ride cymbal. Individual snare and kick mics complete the essential punch needed for a good drum mix. All mics, clips and accessories are packed in a durable aluminium carrying case.

Key features

• Professional set of 4 drum mics for stage or studio
• Designed to capture the essence of a full kit with the least number of mics
• Combines close miking technique for kick and snare with overhead ambient mic placement.

Set Includes:

• Aluminium road case
• 1 x i5 snare mic
• 1 x D6 kick mic
• 2 x ADX51 overhead mics
• DCLIP - Heavy duty mic clip provided with D & SCX Series (x3)
• DVICE - Spring loaded rim mount clamp (x1)
• MC1 - Nylon mic clip (x1)
• WS81C - Foam windscreen for reducing wind, sibilance and pop noise (x2)

Close Miking

The D6 for kick drum and the i5 for snare are considered musthaves for every drummer. The kick and snare are considered the core of any drum kit and the foundation for every groove. Close miking insures that they will be captured in the mix. If either the kick or the snare is unable to be heard, there is simply no foundation. Being high SPL dynamic microphones, the D6 and i5 excel at “close miking”. This miking technique is required in order to capture the attack and percussive sound of the drum. Also, by having the mic close to the source of the sound, it helps to isolate and control the sound of each drum.

Overhead (ambient) Miking

Supporting the idea that “less is more”, there are many engineers who will use just two overhead mics to capture the natural sound of the complete drum kit. With two overhead mics, positioned correctly, it is absolutely true that you can capture the transients, tonality and balance of the kit in a completely phase-coherent manner. The ADX51, which is a pre-polarized condenser microphone with a 14mm gold sputtered diaphragm, is designed with overhead applications in mind. Due to its cardioid pickup pattern, high sensitivity and slim pencil design, the two ADX51 mics can be easily positioned overhead to provide a nice stereo image of the entire drum kit.

The Blend

With contemporary music and the volumes typically generated on stage, it is more practical and effective to create a blended effect of close miking and overhead miking – the exact intent of the DPQUAD. The D6 will help provide the earthshaking lows and the attack of the kick; the i5 will reinforce the depth and crack of the snare; the overheads will pick up the high-hat, tom fills, cymbals and the ambiance of the entire kit. With the DPQUAD, drums will maintain their sound integrity and critical presence, regardless of the size of the room and PA system.

I5 Specifications

• Type: Dynamic
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 50 Hz - 16 kHz
• Impedance: 280 ohms
• Sensitivity: 1.6 mV/Pa @1k

D6 Specifications

• Type: Dynamic
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 30Hz - 15kHz
• Impedance: 280 ohms
• Sensitivity: .8 mV/Pa @ 80Hz

ADX51 Specifications

• Type: Pre-polarized Condenser
• Polar Pattern: Cardioid
• Frequency Response: 40 Hz - 18 kHz
• Impedance: 100 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 17 mV/Pa @ 1kHz