The Vintage AKG D12 VS the Modern AKG D112 - Kick Drum Mic Shootout  

Absolutely brother

Thanks for clarifying this brother

Really all they need is to not have been kicked around or dropped in their lifetime. Once they take a few bumps, the diaphragms notoriously come loose. I may not be 100% correct about this but in my experience, I’ve seen six or seven of them that have the same issue: The issue is that there’s a small little metal black ring that’s glued to the center of the diaphragm underneath the plastic mylar that comes loose. it looks like a contact lens. I spoke to a gentleman on a DIY forum who repairs these microphones that instructed me to use a specific “Pattax” glue from Europe (similar to locktite gel). You ever so slightly and gingerly lift the cardboard glued down ring that holds the Mylar down, careful not to tear the coil wire, which is thinner than a strand of your hair. Lift it with a blunt toothpick juuuuuust enough to get the smallest dab of glue on the disc. I have also fixed a D 19 in this manner. The other issue is that the Mylar stretches, or the diaphragm simply becomes worn out. Since I am not specifically a mic tech, I don’t know much more about it than that but many people say once they go they are very difficult to repair.

Nice! Yea I had a metal band in here this week and the D112 was the ticket on kick w wood beaters. Have us the clicky sound we wanted. I greatly prefer the D12 though overall but like this band proved this week (and your comment), there is no one size fits all solution and the D112 is still an awesome mic. Thanks !

$40?? Deal of the year right there! Congrats. Hot glue is easy to remove to, just scrape it gently till it’s all gone and then use pattax gel glue for a secure hold. If the bond is metal 2 part epoxy or even JB weld would work for a permanent solution. Very simple. Don’t forget, a little dab’l do ya! All you need is a tiiiiny bit, and wipe the excess. I like to use dewalt clamps overnight so there’s pressure on the crack to really make it a secure bond. Good luck!

Hi thanks Marc. I actually spent all of about 30 seconds on processing it. I’ll share with you a cheat code for mixing drums on the fly when you want to get a polished sound instantly and you’re not going for a specific sound. CLA drums plugin: Turn it on and you’re done. Even the default settings sick. It applies compression, eq, adds a subharmonic layer automatically (similar to “Bigkick” boutique plugin), reverb, a stereo expander and a handy gate. It has settings for each individual drum so I just clicked "Kick" and dialed it in. I rarely use it on records cause I’m an outboard guy but when I don’t care about getting a unique sound and I just need a super quick finished, polished sound, I pop that on, quick dial in eq, comp and verb and and wham. Done.

Great question! Id have to say no only because I have a D25 and a D12 I adore for the more classic vibey rock tone and for a modern kick tone I do sometimes like the D112. The VR series has consistently let me down. I’ve owned multiple C12 VR’s which were one of the worst mics (dollar for dollar) I’ve ever heard, hands down. I’ll admit it’s been a while since I heard a D12VR but I do recall not being a fan. If you’re gonna spring for a D12VR, do yourself a favor and save a couple extra bucks and pick up an old D12 instead. Just make sure it still retains its low end as they notoriously loose it over time. As always though, you can make great records with any gear and you can usually manipulate any kick transient to sound like anything these days ITB

@@JMLRecording good advice thanks!

Everyone is allowed to subjective opinion. However, hundreds of thousands engineers, artists and producers far better at this craft than both you and I would staunchly disagree… but your ardent opinion is one you’re entitled to. I’d push back a bit though that “the D112 is better and that’s just the way it is.” Mics are 100% source dependent too and what works on a male vocal (like the D12 did for the Beatles) might suck on a female vocal. Furthermore, the d25/20 (especially the d36) is widely considered by MOST engineers as one of the greatest kick drum mics ever made so your opinion is up against the entire community of top tier legends my friend. I don’t know anyone who says the D112 is the greatest kick mic of all time, though I love it sometimes myself too. In fact, Sir George Martin would give you a dissertation on how wrong you are… and the Beatles weren’t too shabby in the rock and roll genre. It’s ok to say you personally prefer the D112 but the D112 is certainly NOT always better than a D12 in every scenario, that’s a false statement. What sounds right to you is not “right” for everyone. Toa de Ching translates to “the way called the way is often not the way.” Cheers 🥂

@@JMLRecording Do you know drummer Joe Vitale, who is featured on tons of classic recordings? I saw this clip of him about recording drums and his statement was 'The best kick mic is the D-112'. No ifs..I loved that because he's been a session pro for ages and worked with the best msuicians and engineers. And I take HIS opinion over yours. There is no best but there is stuff that is highly overrated. I love the Beatles as much as anyone but that's not my sonic ideal in 2024.

@andigisler never heard of that dude but I emphatically disagree with his statement for the same reasons I disagree with yours (as would millions of other top tier professionals). Everyone is entitled to opinion but when you say, “my personal taste is right and yours are wrong”… you’re basically outing yourself as a bigot (Oxford dictionary states that bigotry is "intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself"). Statements like, “this is the best, I’m right, others are wrong” is a dangerous approach to life in general brother. Like my video here says, each mic is good in its own right and are source, song and performance dependent. There is no best, only most appropriate for whatever the song calls for. Toa de Ching!

@@JMLRecording I guess you heard of Crosby, Stills, Nash + Young, The Eagles, Joe Walsh and tons of other acts Joe Vitale performed and recorded with? Rather than dissing the D12 (as I said I own a pristine example, even had a Sommer EMC-QUAD cable custom-made for it) I rather 'defend' the D-112. The consensus on many audio forums seems to be that it's a bad mic. And THAT is why I brought up the Joe Vitale example. As you say, it's source-dependent and I fully agree. With a basketball sounding bass drum and the mic placed too close to the beater, (a very common mistake) it WILL suck. Even more so with mediocre playing by the talent. But what I love about the D-112 is the same thing I love about my U87 from the 80s: With a good performance it will sound like a record. There is little you have to add EQ wise. The D-112 really captures the attack/transients. Yes, the D12 might be great for certain sounds but I usually end up prefering other mics like the MD-421.

@@andigislerthat’s a statement I can get behind and agree with! ❤ I was admittedly to harsh on the D112 in this video I think. It is a good mic that still gets used in my studio often. Not as much as my D12 or D20 but still a great mic :)

Ah good info, thanks brother. Yea it’s definitely new. Got it bout 5 or 6 years ago. I don’t hate it… I just don’t like it hahaha

@@JMLRecording find a proper one and you'll love it!

Hi, Modern one means mkii which is made in China?

@@zihengwang3648 yes, also, as far as I've tested all the non Made in Austria ones

@@PabloDeBiasiThx