In the BP7 microphone package, you will find seven essential mics designed by Audix for use by performing professionals. Specifically built to withstand the rigors of live performance, these are all dynamic microphones designed around Audix’s VLM (Very Low Mass) technology. Inside the sturdy die cast, zinc alloy body, the Audix VLM diaphragms deliver a natural sound with what sound engineers like to call exceptional transient response. In layman’s terms, that means that these microphones will give you a lot of good sound on stage. The BP7 microphone pack features four microphone models. So, it pretty much provides all the essentials to mic up a small band in one box.
i5 Dynamic Instrument Mic – Designed with a cardioid pickup pattern for isolation and feedback control, this workhorse mic can impressively handle sound pressure levels (over 140 dB) without distortion. It also has a wide frequency response of 50 Hz – 16 kHz that makes the i5 ideal for mic’ing a wide variety of musical instruments, guitars and bass cabinets. The i5 is sturdy, compact and easy to position.
We used the i5 alongside other highly-rated instrument mics and found them to be very comparable and, maybe more importantly, they sounded good on everything we tried them on. They were at their best for close snare drum mic placement. For the price, we thought the i5 was a great choice for bands doing their own sound and pros who might be looking for alternatives for some of their best and, perhaps, more fragile mics.
D6 Dynamic Instrument Mic –The D6 has a distinctive can-like shape with a cardioid pickup pattern for good isolation. With a frequency response of 30 Hz – 15 kHz and the ability to handle even higher sound pressure levels than the i5 (in excess of 144 dB), the D6 works very well for mic’ing instruments that demand extended low-frequency reproduction. This is why you frequently find them positioned at kick drums, large toms and at bass cabinets. The D6 has a transformerless design, low impedance and balanced output allowing for interference-free performance even when cable runs get long.
Several drummers I work with have been swearing by their D6s for years and will tell you how these mics can take a beating on the road. More importantly, the D6s consistently gave us good sound where we needed it and under all sorts of conditions. Again, the price point makes this mic attractive for bands or audio pros who need a good sound and reliability in a reasonable package.
OM2 Dynamic Background Vocal Mic – The OM2 is a dynamic vocal microphone with a wide frequency range (50Hz – 16kHz) and a cardioid, polar pattern, that helps isolate vocals from the instruments on stage. The ability to keep other sound on stage from “bleeding” into the microphone is essential to getting a good mix and preventing unwanted feedback.
We thought the OM2s presented very clear full-range sound and were better in most situations than most of the industry standard choices. They rejected feedback well and could be equalized nicely to make singers happy and allowed their voices to ‘cut through’ the mix to be heard.
OM5 Dynamic Lead Vocal Mic – This mic has an extremely tight and uniformly controlled hypercardioid polar pattern, which isolates a lead vocal from the rest of the sounds (instruments, vocal monitors, drums) on stage. With greater isolation and a wider frequency range (48 Hz – 19 kHz) than the OM2, the OM5 gives the lead vocalist everything they need to ‘get out in front’ with their performance. In addition, the OM5 pleases sound engineers with its natural attenuation at 120 Hz to reduce boominess and handling noise. With a mid-range response tailored to provide extra presence in the vocals, Audix boasts that the OM5 allows the lead vocalist to be easily heard, which we found to be true.
As with any mic that has a tight pick-up pattern, it is very important that singers sing directly into the mic at close proximity (within 2 inches) to get a strong, natural sound. Singers who don’t naturally sing “up on the mic” might take some time to get used to the proximity nuance of the OM5, but it’s well worth the effort.
After trying the OM series mics in some demanding situations, it is clear why they are popular with some big-name professional performers and engineers and a good alternative to the industry standard microphones that have been around for a while.
The BP7 band package includes a sturdy, custom foam padded aluminum road case; three i5 snare drum/instrument mics; a D6 kick drum mic; two OM2 vocal mics for background vocals; a OM5 lead vocal mic; six MC1 mic clips and a DCLIP mic clip for the D6.
MSRP: $975.00 Street Price: $699.00
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