DPA Microphones DPA 4055 Kick Drum Microphone

Most kick drum microphones ship with the mix already baked in, a deep scoop through the mids that flatters one drum and fights the next. The 4055 does not: it is a linear capsule in a 57 mm body, open cardioid rather than tight cardioid, so it keeps low end and attack in proportion and leaves the shaping to the console. Move it in or out of the port and the tone changes the way the drum actually sounds, not the way a preset does.

It handles 164 dB SPL peak, which is the number that matters six inches from a beater, and its Active Drive output stage keeps the signal clean over a 100 m cable run into whatever is at the other end. Powering is standard 48V phantom at 2.0 mA on an XLR-3M connector.

Directional pattern	Open cardioid
Principle of operation	Pressure gradient, pre-polarized condenser
Frequency response	20 Hz - 20 kHz
Effective frequency range, +/-2 dB, at 20 cm	40 Hz - 18 kHz with a 6 dB soft boost at 10 kHz
Sensitivity, nominal, +/-2 dB at 1 kHz	2 mV/Pa; -54 dB re. 1 V/Pa
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted	Typ. 27 dB(A) re. 20 uPa (max. 29 dB(A))
Max. SPL, THD 10%	164 dB SPL peak
Power supply	P48 phantom, 2.0 mA; XLR-3M output
Weight / diameter	241 g (8.5 oz) / 57 mm (2.24 in)