The Basement - DIY Subkick Demo and Brief Overview

(please watch in high quality, the video's better but more importantly the sound is better!)

Here's a good page with a couple pictures and description of what you need to do:
http://wadesweatt.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/65/

The low frequencies that a subkick is used to pick up are barely, if at all, audible on small speakers or headphones, and Youtube compresses audio for video that isn't HD, so if you want to be able to hear what the subkick is doing, watch in HD, with normal sized speakers or good headphones!

Please excuse my drumming and unprepared speech, I did this video quickly!


Recording notes:
Recorderman setup
Overheads - MXL603 over snare and near floor tom
Snare - SM57
Kick - AKGD112 with subkick

Recorded in Cubase, no EQ, very light compression on drum bus to prime it for Youtube compression. Video shot on a Nikon D90.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• DIY subkick
• recording kick drum
• homemade subkick
• recording drums
• The Basement
• home recording
• home studio
• Jesse Gimbel
• Nikon D90

[jacoboscar79]

I ave a question. would it work with a 9inch speaker?? great vid by the way!!

[jessegimbel]

@jacoboscar79 Thanks! Absolutely, it would actually work significantly better than what I used here. I think most people use 10" speakers. I wouldn't recommend using a 6" speaker like I used, it doesn't give great response in the sub lows that are desired from a subkick.

[MultiTechnodrome]

what kind of camera did you use?

[jessegimbel]

@MultiTechnodrome I use a Nikon D90.

[eRealist]

That hair screams.

[jessegimbel]

@eRealist It keeps me up at night.

[jacoboscar79]

@jessegimbel cool... thanx 

[deadbirdsings]

Thanks for putting this video together. I found it very helpful.

[jessegimbel]

@eRealist This has been covered. The phase is correct - I flipped the phase, moved the mics until they cancel the most, and then flipped it back. There are many things you're not taking into account, one being that this is only an 8" speaker, which is boxy anyway in a way that out of phase sounds can be boxy. On top of that you have what Youtube's compression is doing to the sound. Also the speaker is aligned with the capsule, not the very front tip of the grill. Leave it alone.

[eRealist]

The phase kills me, use the 3:1 rule. Or go 1:1.