I have observed that many drummers playing in small to medium venues locally do not have a microphone on the bass drum.  In the small clubs and the low volume clubs, where customers want to be able to converse without shouting, drums are typically not miked.

Now, it is also typical for many drummers to cut a hole in the resonant side bass drum head.  The purpose is to facilitate easy placement of a microphone and to make is easy to adjust any muffling material placed inside the bass drum. 

Hence the question….. Should a bass drum played in an acoustic setting be ported or not?

In my personal experience, a ported bass drum head does, indeed, facilitate easy placement of a microphone.  If the drum is tensioned for use with a microphone the sound results can be outstanding.   I’ve also found that for me, without using a microphone on a bass drum tensioned the same way……the bass drum just doesn’t sound full and solid.  Sometimes, in certain rooms….it can even sound bad.  That’s because I set the head much looser for miked situations. 

That’s why I have both ported and non-ported front heads for my bass drums.  When I am miked I can set the bass drum up for that kind of tensioning and the desired miked sound.

When I am not miked, I use a non-ported front head to add musical tone, and depth to the sound of my bass drum. 

You may prefer the sound of a ported bass drum, whether it is miked or not.  Likewise, you may prefer the sound of a non-ported bass drum whether it is miked or not.  Some of you may…… like me……. find that to obtain the best of both worlds……you have to switch the resonant side bass drum head to fit the miked or not-miked situations.

It’s a personal choice, but the point of this piece is that you aren’t limited to any ONE way.   Do what rocks YOUR world.

Tags: Bass Drum