AKG D112 MKII Dynamic Bass Drum Microphone

AKG D112 MKII Dynamic Bass Drum Microphone

The AKG D112 MKII is the second generation of one of the most recorded kick-drum microphones in studio history — the “egg” that has sat in front of bass drums on thousands of sessions. Its large-diaphragm dynamic capsule is tuned with a bass resonance chamber for the weight and click a kick needs, it shrugs off sound pressure levels beyond 160 dB, and an integrated hum-compensation coil keeps the signal clean in electrically noisy stage environments.

Key features

• Large-diaphragm dynamic capsule voiced for bass instruments
• Bass resonance volume chamber for extended, controlled low end
• Handles maximum SPL above 160 dB without distortion
• Frequency response of 20 Hz to 17 kHz
• Integrated hum-compensation coil for interference-free operation
• Refined second-generation capsule and housing
• Standard XLR connection and mic-clip mounting

Why kick drums love it

A bass drum produces enormous low-frequency energy and a fast beater transient, and a microphone has to capture both without folding. The D112 MKII’s specially engineered diaphragm and resonance chamber give the fundamental weight and the presence lift that lets the beater cut through a dense mix — the two ingredients engineers reach for EQ to find when the microphone has not captured them in the first place.

Beyond the drum kit

Anything with serious low end is fair game: bass guitar cabinets, tuba and low brass, cajón and floor tom. The cardioid pattern focuses on the source and rejects the rest of the kit or stage, and the >160 dB ceiling means close placement on loud sources is never a risk. At 320 grams in a full-metal housing, it survives the touring life its predecessor was famous for.

Placement notes

Inside the drum, near the beater, it captures maximum attack; at the resonant head port it captures roundness and weight. Most engineers start at the port, angled slightly off-axis, and move inward until the click-to-thump balance matches the song. The D112’s tolerance of level makes experimentation safe.

Getting the sound at the session

Start with the D112 MKII at the port of the resonant head, angled slightly toward the beater, and most kits need little else: a broad lift in the low shelf and a touch of presence where the beater click lives completes the classic sound. On bass guitar cabinets, place it with a large-diaphragm condenser for blend, or alone for a focused, mix-ready low end. In live work the same microphone tolerates the levels at the drum without pads or worry, and its pattern keeps cymbal bleed manageable. It is a microphone engineers buy once and stop thinking about — the definition of a standard.

Choose the D112 MKII if bass instruments are a staple of your work — the proven, session-standard answer to kick drum and low-end capture, refined for modern rigs.

Buying guide: microphone for podcasting guide

Complete your setup: Pair the AKG D112 MKII Dynamic Bass Drum Microphone with the PreSonus Studio 1810C USB-C Audio Interface and AKG C414 XLS Multipattern Condenser Microphone.