DPA has announced the introduction of the 4055, a new condenser microphone designed primarily for live and studio kick drum applications that the company states is not pre-tailored to any specific sound in order to allow engineers to shape the sound as desired.
With an intentional use for kick drum-specific applications, the 4055 is engineered to deliver the true, clear sound of the instrument, offering a linear frequency response both on- and off axis. It has an asymmetric design intended to make it easier to position when slid into any size drum without risk of a tear in the drum skin.
It can also be placed both inside or outside the drum. A large housing and ample wind damping foam, positioned in front of the capsule behind the grille help deal with turbulence in front of the drum holes.
“We’re very excited for the creative possibilities and high-quality sound that this new kick drum microphone provides in both live and recording applications,” says René Mørch, product director, DPA Microphones A/S. “While people turn to DPA for our miniature solutions, we know that they are also used to using a large kick drum mic that can handle high SPLs and dampen the inherent wind created by the movement of the drum skin. We took all this into account when designing the 4055 kick drum mic and working with several engineers throughout the development, created a solution that is large, yet unobtrusive, and delivers the best sound available on the market.”
With a flat on-axis and a controlled, linear off-axis, the sound of the 4055 can be tailored as necessary, depending on what genre is being played. The condenser design offers a fast response and is designed to produce clean sound at high sound pressure levels (stated max SPL is 164 dB).
The DPA 4055 can also be deployed for electric guitar cabinets, bass and horns. Pricing begins at $730 USD, excluding local VAT/tax, and it’s available now.
