The 604s are awesome. I use 'em on my drummer's rack toms. I use an e602 on the floor, though, and it's massive. I'd like to try some Audix stuff, maybe a D6?
hehe, thats what they want you to think. truth is you only need 3 mics to properly mic a kit. two overheads and a kick. i started with two Samson R11 mics (one on rack toms one on floor) and an SM57 on snare and a beta 52 on kick. Slow and smart purchases is key. buy what you will use later, otherwise i look at it as wasted $. though I never bought my Samson mics (parents did for some reason and they were laying around the house), I did buy the SM57 and beta 52. since i was very cheap at first i used rubber bands and some other crap to keep the Samson R11 centered in between the rack toms. it didn't sound that bad (for the crap it was), but its far from a SM57 on them. the Samson kit may be helpful for a live setting, but definitely not for a studio.
57's definatly need a LOT of scooping to get you in that metal tom sound ball bark, but they are a relly workable sound, . 421's sound like they have it done for you!
genius
This has been my experience-- the 421's sound closer to what I want out of the gate.
I've had better luck w/ the 604's than 57's but at least part of that is their size makes placement very easy/flexible. I generally try to use something else on the floor tom (RE20 or 421) when I'm working w/ 57's or 604's on toms.