Product Review - B-Band Ukko Pack : November 2009
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information £590 including VAT.EMD Group +44 (0)1293 862612. $599.99.B-Band +1 512 266 3820. December 2009
Other recent issues: | Product Review - B-Band Ukko PackArticle Preview :: Contact Mics For DrumsPublished in SOS November 2009 Reviews : Microphone The ability to mount mics on drum shells is nothing new, but actually being able to build them into the shells, as you can with the Finnish Ukko system, is not so common. Could this alternative method put an end to multi-miking of drum kits?
Finnish company B-Band specialise in pickups for acoustic guitars. Their OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) products are found in many popular guitars and if you’re a serious six-string collector, chances are you’re already a B-Band owner. The company’s Ukko range (the subject of this review), though, comprises contact mics that stick to the inside of the shell of a drum. They connect via a flat cable that’s fed through the drum’s vent, or a specially drilled hole, to a phantom-powered preamp unit. From there, the signal is delivered to a standard mic preamplifier via a regular XLR mic cable. There are three different types of Ukko drum mics: one for bass drum, one for snare, and one for toms of all sizes. The Ukko pack reviewed here comprises five mics, for bass drum, snare and three toms. They all use the same mic (a specially designed contact pickup, to be more accurate), but the included preamp units have switchable EQ settings tailored for their intended application. Each preamp — a silver box the size of an E-bow — is mounted on the outside of the drum, either using a clip that attaches to the rim, or by bolting it to the shell, using the vent or custom-drilled hole as a conduit for the cable and the fixing bolt. Cymbals, however, aren’t catered for by the Ukko range. Conventional overhead or spot mics will still be required for these duties and any percussion, such as cowbells, you may use. Stick Down ...
Published in SOS November 2009 
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