Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

Hey guys- so I'm looking for a good kick drum mic, and I'm looking at either the Sennheiser MD-421 of Shure Beta 52 w/ three SM-57's (mic pacakage). Any feedback would be great. Anyone getting good results using 57's on the toms? If so, I might have to go with the Shure mic package. Thanks for all the feedback and happy recording. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

Hi H-Man!

Why do you go Sennheiser or Shure?
Why not stick to the classics?
I would suggest the classic mics like the AKG D112 or the ElectroVoice RE 20.
There´s a drum mic package by AKG:
1 x D 112 and 4x C 418 (Clipmics for Toms or Snare).
This package is awesome look for it...

Markus

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

I think for the money, the Shure package is your best bet. 57's sound fine on toms -- don't let anyone tell you different. I personally haven't heard the Beta 52 on a kick drum, but I've read some positive reviews. Besides, I don't really think the 421 is your ideal choice on kick anyway. It's not awful, but I prefer the AKG D112 or the Electro-Voice RE-20, myself.

Good luck,

Glenn

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

I would say check out the AKG package before you commit to anything. I chose the D112 over the others on the kick and love it, though I haven't heard the 418's, I believe they were designed with Toms in mind. My two cents.

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

For the kick drum I have used the Senn. e-602. The mike is fairly new I think. I rented one first but the sound was really great so I bought one. Really great mids! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

I would go for the AKG D112. The Audio Technica ATM 25's are not bad too. I haven't tried the Shure ones, and for the MD 421's, they sound simply excellent for toms. I'd keep it at the tops rather than at the kick.

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

I have been using a combination of the Beta 52 on bass drums for years now. The 52 has a wonderful, tight low end, and nice highs, in conjuction with a midrage designed specificially for kick. SM-57's are always a useful microphone, and work wonderful on toms. I have used them as tom mics many a time with no regrets.
The AKG D112 is more the industry standard, however I would stay away from the package deal with the 418's. Although the 418's work decent for live, they tend to pick up vibrations that are very undelsirable in the studlo, and they are not very rugged, tending to have cable breakage easily. Actually, properly placed overheads can often yeild wonderful sounding toms without close micing. A really good choice for this is a stereo mic, one with fixed capsules so as to not have an issue of phasing. I use the Shure VP-88 with great success. (it also makes an amazing piano mic)
The Sennheiser 421 is a good choice for an all around large diaphram dynamic, and makes a decent kick drum mic, but would not be my first choice. Another consideration is a Beyer M88.
Position is ultra critical when micik a kick drum, and the slightest movement can create entirely different sounds. I prefer to mic a kick with a mic hole, placing the mic diaphram even with the outside head, and aiming the sweet spot to tailor the top end. As with everything, I never eq when tracking.
Good luck!!www.npstudios.com

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

I've used the D-112 and Beta-52 in the past, both work great on kick. The Beta-52 is a little "flatter" and more mid-rangy, the D-112 has more top and bottom. but the Beta-52 is a bit more directional than the D-112 which is important for bleed rejection. However, just recently I picked up an MD-421, and it's my new favorite kick drum mic. Lots of punch, low end, and excellent directionality. It's a "cardioid" yet it seems to perform like a super or hyper-cardioid. -imp

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

Imp check your frequency response charts. The B-52 is anything but flat, having eq tailoed specificially for kick drum, it has much more low end boost than the D112, and a low mid cut consistant with most kick drum eq's. Also, being that it is hypercardiod, with a nice extended high end response. Place it properly, and you will have more than enough high end as well. I have found the B-52 to be the one kick drum mic that never needs eq, because of it's specific eq tailoring for bass drum. Not trying to bash you sir, just want to get the facts straight.

[ August 12, 2001: Message edited by: where02190 ]

Re: Senheiser MD 421 or Shure Beta 52 for kick drum?r kick drum mic?
 

My personal favourite kick mics are either Beyer M88 or AKG D112. Haven't used a Beta 52 yet in the studio but they are great live. Love 57's or 421's on toms.

If you want to hear my efforts with 57's on toms, 58 & 57 on snare, Sennheiser 441 on kick and PZM's for O/H and hats, have a look at www.danniielle.com. Click on 'music' and download 'Strange'. Not an expensive mic choice but they work nicely IMHO.

______
Dannii