Introduction
The Shure BETA 91A is a boundary microphone that promises crisp sound quality for instruments, especially kick drums and pianos. Let’s dive into its features, performance, and overall value.
Design and Build
- Low-profile design for easy placement
- Solid construction ensures durability
- XLR connection for secure connectivity
Performance
- Captures low frequencies with precision
- Rich and clear sound output
- Excellent for live performances and studio recordings
Ease of Use
- Simple setup process
- No hassle in positioning due to its boundary design
- User-friendly for beginners
Pros
- Impressive sound quality, especially for kick drums and pianos
- Durable build ensures longevity
- Easy setup and user-friendly design
- Ideal for live performances and studio recordings
Cons
- Limited versatility; best suited for specific instruments
- May require additional EQ adjustments for certain applications
- Slightly higher price point compared to similar microphones
Conclusion
The Shure BETA 91A impresses with its sound clarity and durability, making it an excellent choice for musicians seeking reliable audio performance. While it shines with specific instruments, its limited versatility and price might be considerations. Overall, it’s a commendable investment for those focusing on kick drums and pianos.
CDB –
I use this thing as a kick mic and it’s probably the best you can get. You can make an 18” kick sound massive, or a 24” sound small and delicate. The detail and range is unmatched. The mounting point on the bottom also allows me to hanging it on walls or the ceiling as an experimental room mic in the studio.
Levi carranza –
Excelente
M. Gill –
I originally purchased this mic to reside in my bass drum as we were just getting ready to start recording some original songs. Enter Covid – no more gig space which meant no more electrified practice or recording. We switched to outside practice and I’ve tried using this mic at the base of my cajon. My cajon has a space where I can run the wire inside the unit and its turned out to be awesome – I now am recording my rhythm tracks with a mic on the front surface and this second mic on the inside for low punchiness. Really loving the sound.
Amazon Customer –
I’ve been wanting one of these mics for a long time and for a short time they were on special so couldn’t pass it up.
Jim F. –
I love these. I haven’t found a better-sounding mic in this price range and you don’t have the hassle of using a mic stand and trying to get it in the right place. Great mic.
Kindle Customer –
Good one . Picks up the snare a lot though .
Chris Wheeler –
Hi pass this some-britch at like 150 hz, add a kick-out mic for bottom. Cant go wrong.
Chad Daniel –
This is the mic that will end my bass drum mic journey. It sounds great by itself and eliminates the need for a bass drum mic stand on stage. It’s solidly built and perfect in functionality. I’m very pleased.
sabrina chande –
If you’re wondering why your kick mix doesnt sound like all the other kicks out there it’s because you aren’t using this mic.
It may not be the best single mic for kick drum: but adding it in with another mic like the beta 52 or akg d112 or audx d6 immediately brings out the snap of the kick. This mic adds tons of definition so you can get a full-bodied kick sound that is more than just boom. Terrific mic.
If the drummer doesnt have a porthole in the kick stab one out so you can use this mic.
Marco Ríos –
Me gusto mucho la manera de captar el sonido del bombo, lo acompaño con el moon mic y suena increíble!
Jérémy Bartoli –
Ce micro a pour moi un défaut de fabrication. Je l’ai réceptionné neuf, et je n’ai même pas pu m’en servir une seule fois. En effet la prise XLR du micro déconne ! Ce n’est pas un pb de câble, ni d’activation phantom (on a tout essayé), c’est simplement la prise XLR du micro qui est défaillante.
Et quand on regarde de plus près, effectivement la prise bouge et la solidité de l’emplacement laissé à désirer.
Et j’ai l’impression que c’est le cas sur beaucoup de micros de cette même gamme.
En effet, j’ai eu plusieurs témoignages à qui le même pb est arrivé, soit dès la 1ere utilisation, soit très peu de temps après..
Étant batteur pro, j’étais très attiré par le produit avec la facilité de le poser directement dans la grosse caisse sans passer par un pied externe… mais après l’avoir touché du doigt, en plus du prix assez élevé, je le déconseille fortement !
Active Man –
I read a few articles on using multiple kick drum mics for live sound. I normally use a Shure beta 52 A or an Audix D6. These sound great on a properly tuned drum. The first time I used the 91A in addition to the other mics the room was filled with tight kick drum hits. I was able to use both mics to get the sound I wanted in a live setting. I typically use JBL SRX cabs with JBL STX subs. I loaned the 91A to my church for our kick drum. We have a heavier rock/metal style drummer and associated drum sound and style. He unfortunately is locked in a drum cage. We (sound guys) don’t like the somewhat muffled sound. It is not bad but cage-free is much more open sounding. The second mic (91A) allowed us to get a fatter kick sound out of out PA, which is a tripple JBL VRX array and subs sunk into concrete inserts under the stage.
AC&JC –
I use this for kick drums. Even if a kick drum doesn’t have the hole in the front, you can just place this in front of the kick drum and it works awesome without feedback! I’ve even put it next to the kick drum pedal to achieve more attack without any issues! Very versatile mic that will give you great gain before feedback and solid low end performance!