AKG Drum Mics

107
WWW.RHYTHMMAGAZINE.CO.UK FEBRUARY 2015 |
AKG DRUM MICS
D12 VR, £299; D40, £79
MICROPHONE
TYPE
D12 VR: Dynamic with
active fi lters; D40:
Dynamic
FREQUENCY
RANGE
D12 VR: 17Hz–17,000 Hz;
D40: 50Hz–20kHz
POWER
D12 VR: Phantom Power
required to engage
active fi lters; D40: no
power required
TYPE OF
CONNECTOR
Standard XLR
LEAD SUPPLIED
N o
CONTACT
Sound Technology Ltd
01462 480000
www.akg.com
Essential spec
FREQUENCY
Mic has a frequencey
range of 17Hz-17,000Hz
plus 164dB maximum
sound pressure
frequencies in order to leave space for other
instruments in the mix. Here the drum does
sound tighter and not quite as thumpy –
there’s more front note and less overall
force. Flicking the switch to the left (green
light) adds a bass boost to the mid-range
scoop. This produces a wider sound and the
response from the kick is a fatter and more
saturated note. Sliding the switch to the
right for the third and fi nal position (blue
light) the two existing frequency adjustments
are joined by a high-end boost. In this
confi guration there is more presence and
airiness to the kick as well as plenty of depth
– more of a live room sound. While the fi lter
options give the D12 VR a thoroughly
modern degree of versatility, the sound
it produces as a straightforward
dynamic mic is so honest
and strong that it’s a
good enough
D12 VR
D12 VR is a reference
quality bass drum mic
suitable for both recording
and live work
VERDICT: While the D12 VR is designed
to craft a sound, the D40 will deliver
come what may no matter how noisy,
crowded and sweaty the stage is. Both
mics are solidly built so should give
years of service and excellent sound
reproduction.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
reason to own one.
If the D12 VR is a sound-sculpting tool
then the D40 has been built to capture an
instrument faithfully in the sonic equivalent
of a war zone. Placed over my snare and
then each of my toms it certainly provides a
healthy signal with no loss in frequencies. At
the same time it does little to enhance the
sound – not an issue in a live setting, but in
the hallowed confi nes of the studio it’s hard
to get excited about it. This is a mic defi nitely
more suited to its intended environment.
RHY238.gear_AKG.indd 107 12/17/14 3:12 PM