Audix F2

Joseph "Stix" Davis

Audix F2

By Joseph "Stix" Davis - 2/1/19

The Audix F2 is part of the Audix Fusion Series of microphones. The F2 is a dynamic hypercardioid microphone designed for mid-bass and mid-high instruments. I use it on my studio tom drums, but it can also be used on toms, congas, djembe, guitar and bass cabs, acoustic, brass instruments. It can be used live, or in the studio.

Price

Prices listed are an average from several different online stores.

New: $80

Used: $70

The Audix F2 is also available as part of various drum microphone bundles, such as the FP5 and FP7.

Technical Specifications

Microphone Type: Dynamic

Polar Pattern: Hypercardioid

Connector: XLR

Frequency Response: 52 Hz - 15 kHz

Output Impedance: 580 Ohms

Sensitivity: 2 mV / Pa @ 1 K

Full specs can be found on the Audix website - https://audixusa.com/docs_12/units/f2.shtml

Drum / Head / Tuning

Before getting into the sound test, I want to share the drums, heads, and tuning that I'm using.

Drums: Pearl Vision VX - 10" x 8", 12" x 9", 14" x 14", 16" x 16"

Batter Head: Aquarian Response 2 Coated

Resonant Head: Classic Clear

Tuning (Values Are Approximate)

10"

Key

Batter: 1.5 Turns

Resonant 2 Turns

DrumDial

Batter: 69

Resonant: 80

Tune-Bot Studio

Batter: 203 Hz

Resonant: 344 Hz

14"

Key

Batter: 1.5 Turns

Resonant 2 Turns

DrumDial

Batter: 72

Resonant: 79

Tune-Bot Studio

Batter: 119 Hz

Resonant: 204 Hz

Demonstration

For this demonstration, I have the microphone about 2" above the head of the drum, right inside of the rim, and pointed towards the center. This focuses on the fundamental note of the drum, and less on the overtones. I'm testing without any muffling, with Aquarian Studio Rings, and Moongel. I'm also testing with the snares off and on.

No Muffling - Snares Off

No Muffling - Snares On

Studio Ring - Snares Off

Studio Ring - Snares On

Moongel - Snares Off

Moongel - Snares On

Six different sounds total. I start off with just the overhead microphones (Audix F9) capturing the toms. I use that as a reference, to give you an idea of what everything sounds like in person. Then I play the toms by themselves, with the F2, then the whole kit with the F2, F9s, and an Audix F5 on the snare and F6 on the kick drum as well. Finally, I use the same clip of me playing the kit, but this time, I only have the tom tracks enabled. This lets you hear everything the F2s are picking up.

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0u4mGCu7jE

Final Thoughts

The Audix F2 focuses on the mid range. Mid-bass. Mid-high. It's in the middle, so it works well on rack toms and floor toms. I'm currently using the Audix F2 on my studio tom drums, and recording country rock and hard rock music.

12"

Key

Batter: 1.5 Turns

Resonant 2 Turns

DrumDial

Batter: 70

Resonant: 75

Tune-Bot Studio

Batter: 147 Hz

Resonant: 255 Hz

16"

Key

Batter: 1.5 Turns

Resonant 2 Turns

DrumDial

Batter: 72

Resonant: 75

Tune-Bot Studio

Batter: 117 Hz

Resonant: 156 Hz