recordinghacks

Blue Microphones Kickball

Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

The Kickball is an “active dynamic” microphone — a dynamic mic with a built-in phantom-powered output balancing circuit. Designed specifically for kick drum, it finds applications around other low-frequency instruments, such as toms, acoustic bass, and bass cabinet.

Note that it requires phantom power. (Yes, it really is a dynamic mic.)

The frequency response plot shows a +10dB peak at 5000 Hz (accentuating the attack of the drum) and three switchable low-end responses, controlled by a switch on the mic body:

• (approx.) +10dB @ 70Hz
• (approx.) +5dB @ 70 Hz
• neutral

DRUM!

Though the Kickball sounded punchy enough inside the bass drum … the mikes were difficult to place on the kit quickly and efficiently…

The Kickball was well suited to an open, jazzier sound with less hype in the high and low end. On some of the rock kicks, however, it sounded a bit murky, especially when compared to the beefy Beta52 and snappy D112. The kickball picked up a low-mid wash from cymbals and rest of kit and sounded a bit wooly and tubby in comparison to the other mikes. A little EQ helped … the Kickball became quite usable.

[It] sounded great on floor tom, bringing life to the bottom end and capturing big lows and lots of tone. The sound is comparable to that of the Sennheiser MD421, though a bit less dynamic. The Kickball sounded bigger than the e604… the darkness of the mic actually helped diminish cymbal bleed.

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The mic was released in 2004.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (3.0 mV/Pa; 35 - 16,000 Hz)	Filter: +10dB @ 70 Hz (Via Switch) Filter: +5dB @ 70 Hz (Via Switch) Filter: neutral bass (Via Switch)

Coil Diameter	Impedance	SPL/Noise
n/a	50 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 162 dB Self-noise: 18.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
440g (15.52oz)	95mm (3.74'')	95mm (3.74'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 48v

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