Joseph "Stix" Davis
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Audix F2 Tom Drum Microphone
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
Sound Test
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.
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
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.
Joseph "Stix" Davis
info@josephstixdavis.com
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