MICROPHONES
DM-1B
Classy condenser microphone perfectly suited to kick drum and bass instruments
ABOUT DM-1B
The Sontronics DM-1B is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone originally designed for kick drum during a three-year project that also resulted in our DM-1S for snare and DM-1T for tom tom.
Developed with the help of top producers, recording engineers and drummers, all three microphones have become must-have tools for anyone serious about capturing that perfect drum sound, whether for live performance or in the studio.
Thanks to its incredible sensitivity and its ability to handle high sound pressure levels of up to 155dB, DM-1B delivers outstanding results on kick drum, capturing all the attack, resonance and energy like nothing you’ve heard before!
DM-1B also sounds stunning when used with all kinds of bass instruments, from bass guitar cabinets and double bass to tenor sax and tuba.
DM-1B HIGHLIGHTS
MADE FOR DRUMS
Designed especially
to get the best
from kick drums
NO EQ REQUIRED
Perfectly tuned
for all kinds of
bass instruments
HIGHLY
ACCLAIMED
A favourite with
top drummers
& reviewers too
BRITISH CLASS
Designed and
made here at
Sontronics HQ
"DM-1B sounds absolutely brilliant, right out of the box, with no need for any EQ. All the power and punch you could ask for!"
Pete Parada, Drummer (My Chemical Romance, The Offspring)
DM-1B is honed, both inside and out, to handle all the power of your kick drum and bass instruments
GETTING THE BEST RESULTS
The DM-1B is an ‘end-fire’ microphone meaning its cardioid capsule faces out of the top end of the mic. To get the best possible sound from your kick drum, this end should be placed facing the front head of the drum or even pushed slightly inside the soundhole.
Whether you’re using the DM-1B in a Glyn Johns-style mic set-up (see our Support page for more on drum miking advice) or using it together with DM-1S and DM-1T on snare and toms plus overhead or room mics, the DM-1B will reproduce all the energy you hear from your kick drum, wherever you are: on stage, at home or in a professional studio.
Positioned in front of your bass guitar cabinet or at the bell of your sax, bass clarinet or brass instrument, the DM-1B will sound sublime on all kinds of low-end sources, even male vocals too!
The 'B' in DM-1B stands for 'bass' as the microphone has been designed to give amazing result on bass/kick drum as well as other bass instruments, including tenor/baritone sax, low brass, bass clarinet and bass guitar cabinets.
"I used Sontronics DM-series drum mics with Flood at Assault & Battery Studios where we compared them to mics costing significantly more. We were blown away by how good they sounded."
Mark Rankin, Producer (Florence + The Machine, Plan B, Friendly Fires)
ALL ABOUT THE BASS
TECHNICAL SPECS
MIC TYPE
Large-diaphragm
condenser
POLAR PATTERN
Cardioid
FREQ. RESPONSE
20Hz to 20kHz
PAD
0dB, -15dB
SENSITIVITY
-45dB ±2dB
MAX. SPL
155dB (with -15dB
pad engaged)
CONNECTOR
3-pin XLR
POWER
Phantom power 48V
(±4V) required
WEIGHT
829g
DIMENSIONS
144 x 72 x 72mm
Click for the full list of technical specifications and frequency response graph
DM-1B REVIEWS
Sound On Sound
December 2011
Pro Tools Expert
video review
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Rhythm Magazine
August 2012
AWARD
Music Radar
May 2011
Paul Annis
video review
September 2011
Accordo
(in Italian)
May 2013
Recording Magazine
January 2015
Drummer Magazine
October 2011
"DM-1B is a brilliant microphone that performs exceptionally in a variety of settings. When considering price against performance, The Pro Audio Web Blog cannot rate DM-1B highly enough so we gladly award it with our Editor's Choice award and a full 5/5 rating."
John Davis, The Pro Audio Web Blog
