Recording January 2024 - 65

Second Opinion
After putting the DK7 kit through its
paces in my home studio, I contacted
my friend, Jared Fox, a GRAMMY-nominated,
JUNO Award-winning mixer,
engineer and producer. Jared runs Fox
Den Studios in Nashville, TN. I thought it
would be valuable to have his ears evaluate
these mics as well.
Here's what he had to say:
" The DK7 Drum Kit System was
my first introduction to some of these
Earthworks microphones. I've had an
opportunity to use some of their other
condensers in the past, like the QTC50,
and I always remember their ability to
capture a source accurately.
Setting them up, we opted to use
some traditional stands since they were
already in place, but I can see the rim
mounts being a real asset to keep things
tidy, especially in a live application or
even a video shoot.
For the signal chain-the kick, snare
and overhead mics went through a
Teegarden Magic Pre 4100. The toms
went through a pair of Heritage Audio
HA-81 preamps just to have the option
of a little EQ if we wanted.
David played the drums while I dialed
in some levels, and then we recorded a
short passage. He came into the control
room and we talked about some initial
impressions, and we decided to tweak
the placement a little.
The SR25 condensers on overheads
felt the most " familiar " right out of the
gate. They sounded really wonderful.
They felt open and had a lot of clarity
without getting harsh on the cymbals,
even when experimenting with boosting
a little top-end EQ.
Since I'm more accustomed to using
dynamic mics on close drums, it took a
few listens to get used to what we were
hearing with the DM20 on toms and
over and under the snare. After accounting
for the differences (mainly having
more top-end), I really like the way the
DM20 paired with David's low-tuned
Gretsch snare. It made the snare sound
huge with plenty of attack and top-end.
With condensers not being my usual
tom mics, the bleed was a little more than
I'm used to with hypercardioid dynamic
mics (though not by a lot), but the bleed
that was there was a little more pleasing
since it was more full frequency.
Lastly, once I put my usual API EQ on the
SR20LS kick mic to get it closer to what I am
used to for kick tones, it started to show its
character: punchy, tight and transient with
plenty of attack. As David mentioned, this
is a mic that will need some EQ.
Overall, I was impressed with the
Earthworks DK7 Drum Kit System. While
it's a little more pricey than one might
spend for a similar dynamic mic setup,
in addition to its sound and transient response,
the DK7 has some unique features
that make it a great option. It seems
like a no-brainer for someone looking
for a low-profile, tidy solution, especially
where they want to keep the floor space
clear of traditional mic stands.
As a bonus, the SR25 mics would see
much use as a great sounding general
purpose,
strings, ensembles, acoustic, etc.
Final Thoughts
The Earthworks DK7 Drum Kit System
offers a compelling package for drummers
seeking a high-quality drum mic
solution. I just want to drive home that
these deliver the authentic sound of your
instrument with no flattery and no coloration,
perfect for anything requiring an
organic and true-to-life sound.
Price: $2,999
More From: earthworksaudio.com
low-noise, accurate pair of
condensers in the studio for sources like
The drum tracking space at
Fox Den Studios
RECORDING January 2024 65
http://www.lewitt-audio.com http://www.earthworksaudio.com
Recording January 2024

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