MusicRadar

• Review

This seven-piece drum mic set is one of three kits offered by American audio giant Samson. Specialising in high-tech sound reinforcement, Samson's stable includes distinctive bass amp manufacturer Hartke and digital guitar effects wizard Zoom.

The 7Kit mic set was launched in 2009, at around the same time that Korg began distributing Samson products in the UK.

Build

Included in the kit are five dynamic and two condenser mics. The five dynamic models are for close miking and are dedicated accordingly to bass drum (x1), snare (x1) and tom (x3) applications, while the pair of condensers is for cymbal and general overhead duties.

"All the nuances the ride cymbal are captured with accurcary, with the crashes remaining crystal-clear at all dynamic levels."

Also included are four DMC100 mic clips for positioning the snare and tom mics. All of the components come housed in a foam-lined hard case.

Each of the quintet of dynamic mics is prefixed with the letter Q, followed by the type of drum it's designed for. With the names being so literal - QKICK, QSNARE and QTOM - there can surely be no excuses for mismatching the appropriate mic to its designated drum.

Like most bass drum mics, the QKICK is oversized in order to house a large diaphragm for capturing low frequencies. A padded collar is permanently attached near to the output socket, which is linked to a pivoting stand-fitting.

The collar is there to isolate and absorb any vibrations, preventing them from influencing the mic's signal.

The QSNARE and QTOM mics are near-identical models that differ only in the internal mic elements. Sharing the same plastic moulded casing (in contrast to the metal-shelled QKICK) they weigh surprisingly little.

Using the DMC100 clips in conjunction with the QSNARE and QTOM mics is straightforward. The clips clamp on to the rim of each drum in a matter of seconds, and the height and angle can be adjusted independently.

The two CO2 condenser mics are the only mics in the kit that are available to buy separately. Designed to be used as a stereo pair, they also come fitted with the same anti-shock collar found on the QKICK.

In common with the rest of the mics, the pins in the XLR socket are gold-plated for improved conductivity.

Hands-on

We tried the 7Kit out at a gig and also managed to blag some airtime at a local studio. As is customary, the bass drum mic was the first to have its level checked. The QKICK got things off to a good start, delivering a fat punch with clear definition in a live setting.

In the studio trial it fared equally well, producing a thoroughly usable combination of saturated low-end and sit-up-in-the-mix presence.

Further following tradition, attention was then turned to the snare drum. Here, the QSNARE gave quite a thick, middle-y rendering of the snare drum.