General ButtKicker Information For DrummersUpdated a year ago

The following are considerations when using a ButtKicker low frequency audio transducer with your kit. The ButtKicker Concert series is recommended for use by bass players, drummers and other musicians.

ButtKicker Concert Mounting:

When mounted directly to the throne seat, the ButtKicker Concert will of course deliver the most direct kick, but some thrones' seats are too small for direct mounting of the ButtKicker unit. A small platform isolated from the floor with rubber feet can be constructed on which the ButtKicker unit is mounted and the throne is set.

Signal Source:

A large factor on the signal is kick drum head tuning (loose vs. tight; low vs. high, etc.). You do not change your playing habits or drum tuning in order to advantage of the ButtKicker transducer.

Microphone:

A tap off the kick drum mic signal used by the sound system can be taken for the ButtKicker transducers' feed.

Pickups / Triggers:

The pickup's position on the head is a large factor on both the level and frequency content of the output signal.

Mixer:

A pre-fader aux send can be used to send a signal to the ButtKicker Concert. This allows a mix of whatever drum mics you want to feel, though most other drums may have little usable program content within the ButtKicker Concert's range.

Signal Processing:

No signal processing is necessary to energize the ButtKicker Concert, but some circumstances may warrant extra measures.

Gate:

If the signal contains a lot of "garbage" between beats from other picked up stage noises, you may want to gate the signal. (Compliments of Jeff Kathan, drummer for the Paul Rodgers band)

Hi-Pass:

Your kick drum signal could easily include infrasonic (below the hearing range) signals which are not relevant to your need and could cause excessive excursion within the ButtKicker Concert. This is not damaging, but it could result in lack of control, and the possible missing of complete beats. These infrasonic signals are influenced by head tuning, other sound sources in close proximity, etc. Eliminate the infrasonic signals by passing them through a Hi-Pass filter.

Troubleshooting:

Missing a beat? ...especially on the hard beats? See "Signal Processing or Hi-Pass" above.

As always, your feedback is welcomed by us, and considered important to us.