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Studio & Recording > Studio Microphones > Drum Microphone Bundles > Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System

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May is Microphone Month at Sweetwater, and we've partnered with Earthworks to make it easy to add that coveted Earthworks mic to your collection. From April 30 through May 31, 2012, use your Sweetwater Musician's All Access Platinum Card to purchase Earthworks microphones, and you'll pay NO INTEREST for 18 months! Minimum payments are required, and some restrictions apply. Click Here for full details.

Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System

Item ID: DK25R

Drum Microphone Kit for Recording with 2 TC25 Omnidirectional Small-diaphragm Condenser Microphones, and 1 SR25 Small-diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone with KickPad, Windscreen, and Case

Special Order, But We Can Get It Fast

Because of our great relationship with Earthworks, we can get this item as fast as or faster than anyone else. Please note that special orders are non-returnable and non-cancelable - Order online or call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for information.

Note: While most of the items we sell ship for free, this item does not qualify for free shipping due to special circumstances.

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  • Retail Price$2299.00
  • Sweetwater Savings-$750.00
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  • Sale Price:$1549.00
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From Our Research Team:

Optimum Sonic Accuracy and Superior Drum Sound!

Do you know what the latest thing in drum recording is? It's making the kit sound like a cohesive instrument recorded in a real space, not just a bunch of drums recorded in a dead space with each drum processed with different effects. That sound is why real drums have been replaced in recordings with electronic drums - and why rock drums have never been the same since the days of The Who and Led Zepplin - when a drum kit was recorded with three mics instead of seven. If you want to give your recordings the sound of live, cohesive drums with the feeling of being there, then the Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System is for you.

Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System at a Glance:
  • DrumKit System provides a dramatic improvement in the sound quality of miked drums.
  • The DK25/R DrumKit System contains two TC25 Omni condenser mics and one SR25 cardioid condenser mic, KickPad™, Cherry wood case, and windscreen.
  • KickPad: Kick drum optimization in an external XLR package.
  • DrumKit system can be used for other instruments and vocals.


Exceptional Clarity and Cohesiveness
The typical practice of miking drums is to use a separate mic for most elements of the drum set, along with two overhead mics. This normally involves the use of five to seven microphones or more. While developing a new 25kHz Series of microphones for percussion, Earthworks went into the studio to try them out. They only used two mics for overheads and one for kick drum. Then they made a comparative recording of the same drum set using seven other mics that are some of the industry favorites for miking drums. In comparing these two recordings, the difference in detail and sound quality of the three Earthworks mics vs. the seven industry favorites was staggering. The Earthworks microphones captured every nuance of sound from each piece of the drum set with such an exceptional clarity and cohesiveness, that it sounded like a live set of drums, not a bunch of pieces. This discovery led to the development of the innovative DrumKit System, providing a "dramatic improvement" in the sound quality of miked drums. When we heard the DK25/R DrumKit System, it absolutely blew us away!

Three DrumKit Microphones
The Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System is for recording and has two TC25 omnis for overheads, an SR25 cardioid for kick drum, a KickPad and a windscreen. The Earthworks DrumKit System comes in an attractive solid wood carrying case. The patented cardioid pattern on the SR25 provides a more uniform off-axis response and less susceptibility to acoustic feedback.

The KickPad
A good kick drum microphone needs to be designed and optimized for that specific purpose. This means the microphone is great for kick drum and nothing else. Therefore we designed the kick drum optimization in an external XLR package - the KickPad. Just plug the KickPad into the mic line going to the SR25kick drum mic for magnificent results. With the KickPad removed, you can use the same SR25 for most anything.

Versatile Mics
All three high quality Earthworks microphones in the DK25/R DrumKit System will provide stunning results on a wide variety of instruments and vocals. As an added bonus, the KickPad will improve the sound of other popular microphones used for kick drum.

Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System Features:
  • Superior Impulse Response; the speed and accuracy in which a microphone responds to a signal with fast rise times.
  • Fast Diaphragm Settling Time - how long it takes a diaphragm to return to rest.
  • Patented Pick-up Pattern Technology - maintaining accuracy and uniform frequency response throughout the pick-up pattern.
  • Extended Frequency Response - capturing high frequency details and overtones.
  • Beautiful Cherry wood carrying case.
  • Patented windscreen included.
  • SR25 Frequency response: 50 Hz to 25 kHz ±2 dB @ 15cm.
  • Polar pattern: Cardioid.
  • Sensitivity: 10mV/Pa (-40dBV/Pa).
  • Power requirements: 48V Phantom, 10mA.
  • Peak acoustic input: 145dB SPL.
  • Output: XLR (Pin 2+).
  • Min output load: 600 between pins 2&3.
  • Noise: 22dB SPL equivalent (Aweighted).
  • Dimensions (L x D): 165 mm x 22 mm (6.5 x .860 inches).
  • Weight: 160g (.35lb.).
  • TC25 Frequency response: 9 Hz to 25 kHz +1/-3 dB.
  • Polar pattern: Omnidirectional.
  • Sensitivity: 8mV/Pa (-42dBV/Pa).
  • Power requirements: 48V Phantom, 10mA.
  • Peak acoustic input: 145dB SPL.
  • Output: XLR (Pin 2+).
  • Min output load: 600 between pins 2&3.
  • Noise: 27dB SPL equivalent (Aweighted).
  • Dimensions (L x D): 165 mm x 22 mm (6.5 x .860 inches).
  • Weight:160g (.35lb).

The Earthworks DK25/R DrumKit System is truly astonishing - you must hear it for yourself!
Specification Detail
Manufacturer Part Number DK25/R
What Does "Special Order" Mean?
A special-order product is one that we don't normally keep in stock. We order it from the manufacturer as soon as you order from us. We have great relationships with all the manufacturers we carry, so we can get your special order to you as fast as or faster than anyone else. Remember that special orders are non-returnable and non-cancelable, so make sure the item is right for you. A Sweetwater Sales Engineer can help you decide - call (800) 222-4700 for assistance!

Can We Help?

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Reviews

based on 3 reviews

SMASHING!

by Michael from Carlsbad, CA
August 1, 2011
Music Background: Jazz Fusion
We had the pick of the litter to choose from when we were recording our Jazz Fusion album this spring. The engineer suggested we use the Earthworks Drum Kit system on our Top Kit. The detail was amaz... read more [+]ing and the bass drum sounded as big as a Nimitz Class submarine. We would never think of recording without it again. close [-]

Clean, Clear, perfect.

by Daniel Hodges from Charlotte, NC
August 22, 2010
Music Background: Recording Engineer, Producer, Live Sound Engineer
I have used Earthworks mic's on everything from strings to room for electric guitar. The DK25/R kit will definitely not let you down, some of the cleanest most beautiful acoustic guitar tones I've eve... read more [+]r gotten where with the TC25s, and I dont mic drums with out a pair of earth works, my favorite set up right now is the tc25s in the room or high over head, and the sr25 for underhead snare! the kick pad is great too! try using it as a boost with the earth works for a super natural sound, or throw it on a RE 20 for some old school mids and extra punch in the lows! Spend some extra time squeeling these guys out, and even use them live! close [-]

Sweetwater Advice

Carson McClain
Three mics on a kit!!?? That's right, three mics on a kit for the best sound you have ever heard. Perfect for music where the acoustic kit and room are critical to the mix. A lot of recordings go for a minimal approach and these are the mics to do that. You will be amazed with the detail, depth and quality of your recordings.
Ted Hunter
I've had a pair of Earthworks omnidirectional microphones over the top of my kit for the past eight years or so, and contrary to popular misconception you don't have to be in the ideal acoustic environment for them to sound great. The imaging and sonic quality they provide are astounding, and with the KickPad as part of this bundle you can easily get a huge bass drum sound as well. It works great both as a minimalist drum recording package or supplemented by close microphones (although people to often find themselves using less of the close microphones than they expected with this package).

Great for certain situations

by Jake D. from Roanoke, VA
July 2, 2009
Music Background: engineer
1st thing 1st; if you don't have a booth for drums, and you'll be tracking bands together, this system might not see a lot of use. I have owned the DK25/R for a couple of years. It has been used as in... read more [+]tended very little, but I use the mics on almost every session. Most of the time with the omnis as a spaced pair for drum room mics, and the cardioid on hi-hat. The TC25s' absolutely kill as room mics. I have also used a TC25 and SR25 as a M/S array for drum room sound, which works very, very well.

The TC25s are pretty noisy. They work best for drums and percussion, which is no surprise. You won't be doing any critical, quiet sources with them, but they aren't intended for that.

The SR25/kickpad for kick drum doesn't do a lot for me. It can work, but only here and there. You need a drummer who knows how to tune a kit, and has good control over tone and dynamics. Even then, it can be a little unruly. The isolation from the rest of the kit is terrible. Makes it hard to dial the kick drum in. I've used the SR25 for a ton of other things, though. Anything from acoustic guitar to percussion. It's a good mic. I'm just less that crazy about it on kick.

All that said, the best drum sound I have *ever* captured was with a U47 type mic on kick, the SR25 on snare, and the TC25s as a Glen Johns setup in a huge room.

These are great mics. Well worth the loot. Very versatile. I've just never used them like they are sold to be used. close [-]

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See Also: Drum Mics , Earthworks , Earthworks Drum Microphone Bundles , Earthworks Drum Mic Bundles

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