Developed for clean and powerful kick drum and bass miking.

On stage or in the studio the AKG D 112 Kick Drum Mic is the microphone to use to clean up the dirty low down. Stays free of distortion even at high sound pressure levels. Solid and powerful response below 100Hz. Very low diaphragm resonance, relatively narrow-band rising high-frequency response at 4kHz, and extremely robust construction are other outstanding features. Also works great for bass cabs, trombone, and other low-frequency instruments.

Channel Strips of the Stars: Ronan Chris Murphy

World-class producer/engineer/mixer Ronan Chris Murphy s credits include King Crimson, Steve Morse, Terry Bozzio, Victor Bisetti, Gregg Bissonette, Tony Levin, and projects with members of Tool, Ministry, Weezer, Dishwalla, and Yes. A huge fan of A Designs Audio, Ronan was kind enough to share some of his drum-recording signal chains: Well all of the drums for Terry Bozzio's Jazz trio were recorded with all A Designs Audio solid state preamps. For drum overheads I used Shure KSM32 condenser mics (#270141) into a Pacifica; for kick drums, AKG D112s into A Designs Pacificas (189903). (I prefer the Shure Beta 52 (#270267) for kick but they (D112s) were pre-mounted inside Terry's (Bozzio) kick drums. Actually I have used the Shure KSM32 into Pacifica combo on tons of great drummers, including Terry Bozzio, Victor Bisetti (Los Lobos), Gregg Bissonette (Santana, David Lee Roth), and Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Mister Mister, The Rembrandts).

Note: for more information about individual units in the signal chain, enter the Item ID# into our search box.

AKG D 112 Kick Drum Microphone Features:

• Handles up to 168db SPL with no audible distortion
• Low diaphragm resonance
• Extremely robust construction
• 2-year parts and labor warranty

Get a really good kick drum sound for the first time.

AKG D 112 Kick Drum Microphone

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Average of 30 User Ratings

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nhdrummer

Posted by nhdrummer from NH on Aug 12, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Live/Studio Drummer & Sound Tech

Reviewer's Play Style: Almost everything....

It's really simple, this mic works great on kick drums. If you use this and end up with a bad sounding kick drum, look elsewhere for the problem. I recomend a compressor/noisegate if you are gonna pump your kick and drums through a really powerful pa with a sub, (the presonus ACP88 is my personal choice for that job, you can't beat it). I bought one of these mics over 12 years ago, have used it live and in the studio for all that time, and i'll be using it again this weekend..! This thing is a workhorse that doesn't know the meaning of the word quit..! I prefer mounting it inside the kick pointed right at the impact point of the beater. You get plenty of attack on the signal which helps define the front end of the kick notes. This mic picks up all the thud you need no matter where you put it. If you buy this mic and you still want more kick drum in your shows, buy a bigger pa system..!

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This thing cuts clean

Posted by Sam from CA on May 3, 2009

Experience w/product: I have used it

Reviewer's Background: Traveling drummer

Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive/indie

First off I'll just say this is a great mic. My band just played a gig at a pretty large theatre and the sound guy honestly just butchered everyone's sound. The clarity of how he had mic'd the guitars and bass cabs sounded terrible. However when it came time to sound check my kick I was shocked that this came through fat and punchy. It's apparently just a superb mic because I will guarantee it was not the sound guy upstairs who made it sound good. I can only imagine what this could be like with a better sound guy.

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D 112 or Beta 52?

Posted by Van Maddox from Orange County, CA on Feb 23, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Recording Engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: 60s/70s Rock, Acoustic, Blues

So every one had that choice between D112 and Beta 52. I was lucky enough to have bought the D112. I heard the Beta 52 when I was gigging and was simply unimpressed. I've recorded and gigged with the D 112 and it is perfect. It's the best mic I've ever used for Bass guitar (except maybe a 421). And it makes for a good kick mic. The Beta 52 sounds almost the same wherever you put it. It has those subtle variations but it always produced that same low frequency boost I just wasnt keen on. For accurate beautiful productions use the D 112.

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Worth it

Posted by Joe from New Jersey on Aug 18, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist

Reviewer's Play Style: experimental

I record home studio projects in my spare time and have been using the CAD KBM412, which is, by all means, a terrific mic for the money. However, I finally decided to upgrade and it's incredible how improved my kick sounds. I moved the 412 to my floor tom, got a 57 on the snare, beta 57 on the high tom, and audix f15s as overheads, and have a near pro drum sound on a pdp fs series kit in an untreated basement! This one mic drastically improved the kit as a whole.

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Solution to all my bass needs

Posted by Dustin from Louisville, KY on Jun 3, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Recording Engineer

Reviewer's Play Style: Folk/Americana/Rock

Alright, so building up my studio, it came down to a choice between this and a beta 52 for my kick mic. I'd read that the beta has a tendency to color the signal a bit and produce a punchy sort of sound in the drum, which is nice in some circumstances, but what about when that's not what you're looking for? This lead me to by the 112, and I haven't looked back. As for features, it's a mic. Nothing flashy, no pattern switching, but nothing bad either, so why penalize it? It's built like a tank, and records low end percussion like nobody's business. I was especially pleased running a small, solid state bass cab over this thing. It made a low end bass rig sound incredible, and that was just running through my presonus pre's! I can't imagine how amazing this would be run through a high end mic pre. I know it may have all of the aesthetic appeal of a 1950's Cadillac, but you just can't go wrong with this mic.

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AKG D 112 Kick Drum Microphone

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