favorite mic for toms?

[MX582]

im interested in hearing what you guys prefer to use on toms?..im trying to decide whats best.. sm57, md421, ae3000, or re20?

 

[AStacy2]

I use Sm57's (got them for free) but I think md421's are definately better and I'd go for those.

 

[LSD-Studio]

Audix D1 D2 !!!!

 

[Nebulous]

I liek the following from my experiance
Rack toms: SM57
Floor/ Large toms: Beyer Dynamic M88

 

[Aaron Smith]

I've used an RE20 on the floor tom several times with good results. It has a very distinct sound, though...it's kind of hard to describe. I think it's the attack mostly- it's a little less clicky and more thwacky than other mics...but it will definitely work well when EQed just right. I have since picked up a couple MD421s, and I have been incredibly happy with the sound of those. There's a reason that they're used so frequently on toms! I'd pick the MD421 over the RE20, but I wouldn't feel bad about using an RE20, either. Anyway...everyone knows that good recording results come primarily from a good sounding source, so just keep in mind that good tom sound is 99% about having the toms tuned well, and the newer the heads the better. You can get recorded toms sounding better using crappy mics placed and EQed well, than you would ever get them to sound with MD421s if they're out of tune.

 

[Nebulous]

I almost get worried about not being into the MD421's, but i remember when somone posted up a few clips comparing different mics on a tom, and i didn't like it then either. Guess it's just not the flavour i like.

 

[Nebulous]

Here's the link to that mic comparison for toms:

http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225178&highlight=tom+mic+comparison

 

[ThatGuitarGuy]

MD421

 

[unsilpauly]

sennheiser e604s are great. super good value for what you get. small mic with great clamps, easy to place. super good sound with plenty of low end which makes for a good deep tom sound. 421s are great as well but for 3 it would cost over 700.00 more than the 604s. depending on the drums the tuning and the room, i dont think they are over 700.00 dollars better. the audix d1,d2 are great as well. get what you want to get and make them work for you. as aaron smith stated above, tuning is the most important thing when it come to toms, second is the drummer, third is the room. all the gear comes after that imho.

 

[blackcom]

Audix D2/D4 combo or Sennheiser E904. I prefer small mics that don't get in the way and has clip'ons. beyer Opus88 are cool if you like condensors. Favourite preamp for toms are API. I don't EQ toms separately but i've found URS N12 to be awsome on the tom buss.

 

[Matt Crooks]

421. It just seems to make the toms sit in the mix with little EQ. Like someone else said, tuning the tom is more important that the mic. It's also important to get the right amount of ring. I usually wind up putting a little pice of tape (or a cotton ball taped down) on the head of the floor tom to keep some of the ring in check.

 

[MX582]

thanks for all the input guys..yea im aiming more towards the 421 and 57 but i havent tested out any of the audix mics yet.

 

[006]

A drummer came in here a while back with a set of e604's from Sennheiser and I had never really even seen them before. I was quite hesitant to use them instead of our 421's, but when I armed the tracks and heard the sounds I was sold. Great mics for the money, for sure. I was originally going to just tell the guy they were too crappy so that I could use our 421's, but like I said, I was extremely surprised at how good they sounded. Honestly after that experience, I don't know that the $300+ tag on each of our 421's is justified. I'm getting the e604 3-pack + 2 more for my studio to use on toms. The built-in clip is really cool too...I only had a stand for the snare, ride, hats, kick, and OH's....imagine not having 3 more stands...or usually what I get is 5 toms in a kit with these metal heads around here. That's 5 less stands I have to worry about. Yummy.

421's are good, don't get me wrong. It's just after that, I don't know if they are worth their price. I've done the Chili Peppers thing before as well, using all SM57's on the toms, worked out cool...but it's actually hard to make it work in every situation with all 57's...it can work though, just takes more work with certain kits/styles than others.

~e.a

 

[006]

Oh wow, I just checked out that thread comparing mics, and the e604 gets a lot of praise. Lots of people saying #1 being a good overall sound, and I even agreed, and then I scrolled down to read for the revealing of the mics and it just happened to be the e604 The 421, #2, was commented as being "less body" "flat" "no character". I wouldn't say that...but I do like the sound of the e604 better in that comparison.

~e.a

 

[MX582]

hmm ill have to check out that one too..yea i dont really get why the 421's cost as much as they do..there good but i dont know if there THAT good

 

[KeithRT99]

i just used 57's on some toms yesterday, and i've used 604's in the past. they both work pretty well, but the 57's seem abit flat compared to the 604's.

 

[Jacob Hansen]

I've used e604's on a number of albums, because I thought they were so easy to place and use, but 2½ years ago I started using MD421's and they sit just so much better in my mixes. The attack, which initially sounded good, in the604's, came out as "clicky" and annoying in the mix, whereas the 421's fuller tone, and softer attack suited me very well. I know many who prefer the 57's over the 421's, but I think they get too thin.

 

[musickey]

Well i hope e 604's are the shit! becouse i just bought the 3 pack and one extra last week, to track a band this weekend. I havent even tried them out yet, i just had to try something other than 57's