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Avantone Pro has announced availability of Kick which they say is a sub-frequency kick drum microphone that effectively brings back to life a well-known extinct example by utilising their 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. Here's their press release with the full details...
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 utilises its well-known reproduction 'white cone' low-frequency driver -- not just any driver, though... the driver!
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. Indeed, 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 ohms 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.
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