Tom microphones

[audioluche]

Hi,

I am looking for new tom tom microphones and i would like to have your opinions. I've used mainly EV 468 and sennheiser 421 in the studio over the past years. I would like to have feedback from people who have used Audix D2, sennheiser E904, shure SM98 or other microphones and what you liked (or disliked) about them.

Thank you!

Luc

[albee1952]

Its hard to beat a 421. I have used the Sennheiser e604 and like it. The Shure 98 is good live but I think dynamics have a bit more tone/body when recording. Also, the older SM98 sounds better than the newer Beta98. I have not had great results with the Audix but have heard others get good results. Some mics seem to be more dependant on the drum tuning. A Beta52 sounds great if the bass drum is tuned and damped just right, but if it is not, I can never seem to dial it in where some other mics are more forgiving. For toms, I also like the Shure KSM27/32 and the AT3050 works well on floor toms. The large diaphragm seems to work well on low frequencies and attack is really good.

[Alécio Costa]

For a few years I have been using only condensers on toms: MXL2001, GT55, MXLV67G, C3000Bs.
Cheap condensers but they do it really fine.

[JFreak]

I would like to have feedback from people who have used Audix D2

D2's are very nice on tom tops, soft and warm, perfect when coupled with SM57 bottom mics (perhaps coupled with Whirlwind Combiners). Sometimes I use D4's on floor tom tops, but there's a whole lot more rumble so that's not a good idea in a rock band live project.

[RobMacki]

D112 on a floor tom sounds nice nice and big.

[Steve MacMillan]

Audio Technica ATM25s are a good choice. They are a nice and meaty tom sound but have a smoother off axis responce than the 421.

STeve

[EGS]

I like the Senn E604's. They sound good, but need a little EQ to make it great. Tuning/heads are critical.

[storm-01]

K.E.L. Audio.. the HM-1. They sound amazing on toms, however, I think they sound the best on batter coated heads. If your toms are tuned, (and you have a nice kit) you really don't even need EQ... just some compression and you're good to go! They only cost about $130 new and they also sound amazing on guitar amps, overheads, and hi-hat.

Yeah, 421s are great and you should have a few of those, but for the money you can't beat these multi purpose mics! Seriously, check them out!!

[brianjanthony]

ATM25

not AT25

bought 3 and never looked back. much easier to place than 421, and less of a target too.

great on gtr amps too.

[Andre Knecht]

And when they get hit (they always do) they’re far less likely to have their shape “modulated.”