Earthworks KP-1 KickPad

About 18 years.
Recorded lots of chart albums.
Using Pro Tools.
Mackie speakers TLAudio VTC desk

AKG D112 and SHure Beta 52a
Kick drum Obviously.
I recorded this into my DAW on a flat setting on the desk ... I then repeated the process without it in-line ... Comparing the two signals the one with the earthworks in-line was quieter (pad), so in the spirit of fairness i turned up it's respective level to match that of the uneffected recording ... I can honestly say that myself and my Pro drummer of choice (both eager to be impressed by the way) could not tell the difference between the two sounds THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE!!!!! Be warned... if you can't tell the difference when the two sounds are isolated, what chance have you got in a mix????
RUBBISH!!

Playing drums for 9 years, 5 years as a project studio engineer

An overrated bit of kit. It does make a slight bit of difference to the kick sound but nothing that manual EQ couldn't do better. It certainly isn't a miracle fix thats for sure. I do a lot of recording of rock tracks and like to EQ the kick for a real punchy slappy sound, and use a danmar PDKP patch on the batter head of the studio kick drum for extra attack. It was my hope that the Kickpad would improve the raw recording to the extent that post-recording kick EQ would not be as necessary - not the case. Final opinion? Not worth the money

Reviewer Background:
FOH Engineer. I've done Front of House for these bands:
bane,flyleaf,terror,matthew,norma jean,the chariot,panic at the disco,from autumn to ashes,the receiving end of sirens,the lonely hearts,destroy destroy destroy,lovedrug,comeback kid,haste the day,stretch armstrong,still remains,the golden sounds,kiss army,casting lots for judah,the red chord,zao,as cities burn,cartel,sinai beach,the guns of navarone,starfield,mortal treason,the wedding,fear before the march of flames,with faith or flames,house of heroes,throwdown,biology,tony danza tap dance extravaganza,with honor,in passing,extol,embrace today,modern life is war,evergreen terrace,kane hodder,remembering never,the agony scene,

What this Mic Pad does is emphasize the fundamental frequencies of a kick drum and it cuts out those that are problematic. Genius, what a time saver.

Overall Rating: ++++++++10
This is BY FAR the single most amazing device I've ever come across!! You can turn an SM57 into one of the best kick mics you've ever heard, and an actual kick mic, like an audix D6,AKG D112, BETA52 into the most amazing kick drum sound you'll ever experience. BUY THIS THING!!

I would recommend this to ANY studio OR live sound engineer on the planet who cares anything about having their kick sound the way it has always been meant to be heard.

Been playing drums about 30 years now, and trying to play any and everything I can get my hands on for 25 years. Started recording on 4track cassette now I’m using the computer.

Let me just say that in all the years of trying to get good drum sounds recorded, this is the best investment I have ever made. This little thing kicks big ass. It’s a passive processor that plugs in-between the mic and mixer. It will make a 20 dollar vocal mic sound like 300 dollar bass drum mic and on and on. My god people if you record acoustic drums you have no choice you have to get one.
How can I say it so you can understand the magnitude?
Alright, when I upgraded to a high end bass drum mic I was pleased with the results, when I plugged the kickpad into that mic I was blown away by the tight punchy focused sound. This thing does 99 percent of the work, you pretty much just have to set the level.

Would I recommend this to others? Heck I’ll be giving these as gifts to everyone I know this holiday season.