AUDIO-TECHNICA DRUM MICS

103
WWW.RHYTHMMAGAZINE.CO.UK FEBRUARY 2013 |
VERDICT: Whether recording or working
in a live environment, these mics are
suited to both. There are cheaper
options available from Audio-Technica
but these review models are worth the
extra expenditure.
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
RATING
each mic, it was time to go out on the road for
a live gig. The kit was ‘reinforced’ using a
compact but powerful RCF PA with a sub and
a 12" cab sited to either side of the stage. The
PA is used exclusively for vocals and the
all-important drums, while the bass guitar and
lead/rhythm guitar had their own back-line
set-up.
As it’s a live gig, I can’t run around
swapping and changing mic positions, so I
make the decision to position the ATM250DE
directly inside the kick about four inches away
from the batter head and directly opposite the
beater itself. At the risk of overloading its
condenser portion, I have applied the pad
switch. The AE3000 is positioned an inch or so
from the head on the small 12" tom (an SM57
is used on the fl oor tom), and the ATM350 is
fi rmly clipped onto the rim of my snare.
Bearing in mind I haven’t used these out
live before, it only took a few minutes to
get a decent overall kit sound which is also
well-balanced and striking. The kick is
PRICES
ATM350, £299;
AE3000, £260;
ATM250DE, £399
FREQUENCY
RESPONSE
ATM350: 40-20,000 Hz;
AE3000: 20-20,000 Hz;
ATM250DE: 40-20,000 Hz
(condenser), 40-15,000 Hz
(dynamic)
POLAR PATTERN
ATM350: cardioid;
AE3000: cardioid;
ATM250DE: cardioid/
hypercardioid
ELEMENT
ATM350: condenser;
AE3000: condenser;
ATM250DE: condenser,
dynamic
DYNAMIC RANGE
ATM350: 122dB, 1 kHz at
Max SPL ; AE3000: 137dB;
ATM250DE: 122dB at Max
SPL (condenser)
MAXIMUM SOUND
LEVEL INPUT
ATM350: 149dB ; AE3000:
148db (158db with pad);
ATM250DE: 148db
LOW-FREQUENCY
ROLL-OFF
ATM350: 80 Hz, 12dB/
octave; AE3000: 80 Hz,
12dB/octave; ATM250DE:
80 Hz, 12dB/octave
(condenser)
CONNECTOR
ATM350: 3-pin XLRM
(Power module); AE3000:
3-pin XLRM; ATM250DE:
5-pin XLRM
POWER
REQUIREMENTS
ATM350: 11-52V DC;
AE3000: 11-52V DC;
ATM250DE: 11-52V DC
(condenser)
LEADS SUPPLIED
ATM350: 4.0m
(permanently attached to
mic); ATM250DE: 5.0 m
with two 3-pin XLRM plugs
CLAMPS
ATM350: UniMount
instrument mount;
AE3000: AT8471 isolation
clamp; ATM250DE: AT8471
isolation clamp
MOUNTING
THREADS
5/8", 3/8"
ACCESSORIES
Soft leatherette cases with
zipped fasteners
CONTACT
Audio-Technica
0113 277 1441
eu.audio-technica.com
Essential spec
incredibly punchy and unusually focused too
– I don’t think I have ever heard my kick sound
so good! The snare is (considering the tiny mic
capsule) unexpectedly beefy but it also offers
clarity and detailing from every striking
position on the drum. Even with very little
adjustment of the EQ (to cope with the odd
shaped venue), it’s possible to hear every
stick strike on the 12" tom followed by a
deep low-end resonance which quickly
tails cleanly away.
Also try…
1
SAMSON
DRUM MICS
We say: “Clear overhead
sound. Good value.”
2
LEWITT DTP
BEAT PRO
We say: “Affordable
microphones for use
on both stage and in
the home studio.”
I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER HEARD MY
KICK SOUND SO GOOD, WHILE THE
SNARE IS (CONSIDERING THE TINY MIC
CAPSULE) UNEXPECTEDLY BEEFY
ATM350
Unobtrusive snare/tom
mic is designed to be
able to fi t into the
tightest of spaces
CASES
Mics come with
soft leatherette cases
with zipped fasteners
RHY212.gear_at.indd 103 12/12/12 3:34 PM