Comparing metal guitar mics - SM7, SM57, i5, E906, MD421, PR20

[HollowmanPL]

I've picked up a few microphones and made this little shootout.
Sorry for mistakes and shitty playing.
Maybe this will help someone

 

[Red Phoenix]

Nice
How did you set the filter on the e906, cut, flat or boost? And the Bassfilter on the MD421?

 

[HollowmanPL]

Both are flat. No filters and boost

 

[The StabbinCabin]

I want a pair of PR20s and 57s... SM7 sounded honky at times but my ears got used to it. 906 didn't seem overly mid hyped as expected and the MD421 was pretty gross on some clips.

 

[Erik Monsonis]

i5 for the win

 

[Audiosprite]

awesome shootout dude. looks like i need a pr20

 

[hurdy]

definitely like the sound of the i5

 

[EffigyForgotten]

How would the PR20 and SM57 sound together?

 

[Skaldir]

Thanks for this shootout. Nice to hear the differences between the mics. I must say, all sound pretty good, yet they are so different. The Heil sounds interesting.

 

[HollowmanPL]

How would the PR20 and SM57 sound together?

i used to use these together but now I think it's better to combine them with MD421 and SM7.
Heil + MD, SM57 + SM7

 

[Skinny Viking]

Heil + MD, SM57 + SM7

that sounds like one hell of a winning combo based on the video

the i5 can suck it

 

[C-Martin]

The mics i liked seemed to depend on the type of playing/song style, but one thing i noticed is that the 57 just sounded right on all of them. Maybe i'm just used to hearing what the 57 sounds like on a cab. When i experiment with other mics i almost always end up with at least 57 in there. I'll combine it with a 421, R121, SM7, sometimes even condensers, but i always end up having at least one 57 somewhere in there.

The i5 is hit or miss with me, sometimes i'll dig it and other times i'll hate it immediately when hearing the results. There's something that bothers me about the high end on that mic. I often think about selling it but it can be cool on snares so i keep it around.

Cool shootout btw, thanks for posting.

 

[Scottxx]

I love PR20.

 

[AllanD]

To be honest, they all sounded pretty damn good. The only one I thought sounded nastier than the others was the E906, the

 

[mickrich]

906 for me except for clip 3.
I prefer the pr20 on that one.
The i5 has a piercing 4K fizz and the 421 sounds good but has a fizz a bit higher than the i5 and is a bit mid scooped.
I have both of those mics and find this too.
57 sounds good but the mids are more smeared than the 906.
SM7 sounds dark and boxy but would blend well with a bright mic.
My personal fave these days is the Beyer M201.
It would have been great to have heard that in the comparison.

 

[Melodeath]

Very cool shootout.

I noticed in the beginning and end you list the Sennheiser as an E609, but during all the shootouts you list it as a E906. Which is correct?

Frankly, I think all the tones are "useable," (I'm very used to working with, shaping and tweaking stuff, since I do way more mixing than recording) but I definitely have preferences. It was interesting how the differences and preferences changed based on playing style. I also thinkt he order of the mics plays a big part in how we hear it. For example, in MOST of the clips, I found the i5 to be not great, and the 421 to sound awful. However, when I listen to the 421 more back to back with the SM57, my perception is totally different. Psychology is fun.

Anyway, very cool shootout, and the whole thing really helped me see just how dependent everything is. I would never pick a mic to purchase based on this shootout. Not only is this just this particular amp, with those particular speakers, but my perception of each mic's sound changed based on riff style, and the sequence of what I was hearing.

 

[Trevoire520]

I noticed in the beginning and end you list the Sennheiser as an E609, but during all the shootouts you list it as a E906. Which is correct?

It's the 906.

I also thinkt he order of the mics plays a big part in how we hear it. For example, in MOST of the clips, I found the i5 to be not great, and the 421 to sound awful. However, when I listen to the 421 more back to back with the SM57, my perception is totally different. Psychology is fun.

I've noticed this on my own shootouts aswell. I always find when choosing mic's on my guitar amp I have to try and listen in every order possible to make sure I get a fair perspective on each mic.

 

[abaga129]

This is exactly what i needed! Awesome! thanks man. Maybe now i can make a good decision on what mic to get.