The Real Reason Your Kick Drum Sounds Like a Basketball

I’ll never forget the first time I mixed in a church where the kick drum sounded like someone bouncing a basketball on the stage. Every time the drummer hit, instead of a punch that anchored the band, it was just this hollow “thud-thud-thud.”

And the worst part? No matter how much EQ or compression I threw at it, it still sounded terrible.

👉 That’s when I realized something that changed the way I approach drums: the problem wasn’t the console—it was the mic placement.

Why Mic Placement Matters More Than EQ

Here’s the thing most people don’t realize:

If the mic isn’t in the right spot, you’re EQ’ing garbage.
Move the mic just 2 inches, and the whole tone changes.
Placement can give you body, attack, or mud—before you even touch the board.

Let me break it down:

Mic too far inside the kick → You’ll get lots of attack (clicky sound), but almost no low-end body. It can cut through the mix but sound thin.
Mic too far outside the kick → You’ll get all the boom and rumble, but no definition. Great for reggae, not so much for worship.
Mic halfway in, pointed at the beater → This is usually the sweet spot. You’ll capture both the “thump” of the low end and the “snap” of the beater.

The EQ Problem

Now, if the mic is in the wrong place, you’ll start boosting lows or highs to compensate. But here’s the issue:

Boosting lows just makes the basketball sound louder.
Boosting highs just makes the click harsh.
And no matter what you do, the mix won’t feel solid.

The Fix

1️⃣ Start at the SourceBefore touching EQ, move the mic. If possible, experiment with depth and angle. Just a few inches can make a massive difference.

2️⃣ Dial in EQ After PlacementOnce the mic is in a good spot:

Roll off the sub-rumble under 40Hz.
Boost a touch around 60–80Hz for thump.
Cut around 250–400Hz to remove boxiness.
Add a little 2–4kHz for definition (if needed).

3️⃣ Check PhaseIf you’re using multiple mics (kick in + kick out), make sure they’re in phase. Otherwise, you’ll cancel out low end instead of building it.

Bonus Tip: Drum Heads & Damping

Even the best mic placement won’t save old, dead drum heads or a kick that’s ringing all over the place. A fresh head + proper dampening (like a pillow or blanket inside) can make all the difference before a mic even touches the drum.

⚡ Pro tip: If you’re working with budget mics, placement is 10x more important. A $100 mic in the right spot will beat a $500 mic in the wrong spot every time.

💬 What about you—how do you usually mic your church’s kick drum? Do you go all-in inside the drum, just outside, or a combo of both?

— Nate

Mic all-in bass drum

Outside bass drum

I don't even know lol (learning now)

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