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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.พ. 2018
- Which snare mic is best? (you might be surprised)
Here's another microphone shootout. This one might surprise you. I had a bunch of engineer friends recommend trying out a Sennheiser 421 on my snare drum. I have always used a Shure SM57, but I figured, "why not"?
My video course on getting solid drum recordings (regardless of the gear you currently own): bit.ly/3lUIU81 - เพลง
I rarely leave a comment when I watch TH-cam videos -- but I had to for this one. First of all, thanks so much -- as your video truly makes a point. I started recording professionally in 1976. I can't remember using anything other than an SM57 on the snare. Maybe I did -- but nothing comes to mind -- and yet I agree -- and really from the first hits on the 421 in your video that the 421 was substantially better. I am about to order a new drum kit -- and have also been shopping for a 421 -- or maybe several 421s for my studio -- which is why I watched your video. It was very informative and practically useful for me. Well done.
Much less bleed with the 421. I could hardly hear the kick and hats as opposed to the 57, so this is a real high end cardiod mic. I think absolutely the best dynamic mic of all time.
Close. But the 421 sounds slightly rounder with bottom.
like both, though the 421 was perhaps a bit more pleasing to my ear? i'll give this a shot on my own kit, thanks!
Try a 421 on kick in if you haven't!
The best example of a 421 is "Rosanna". The 421 is on Jeff's snare and Tom's and it couldn't sound better.
Nice job! 57 for me all day long
Nice work man! The 57 still takes the cake for me. ESPECIALLY considering the price difference. The 57 is still the best bang for your buck IMO. The 421 seems to have a bit more Hi Hat bleed which needs massaging where as the 57 doesn't have that natural mid scoop which also takes a bit a massaging. They both need a tiny bit of TLC but the 57 is a quarter of the price. This is just my opinion after watching this video once.
Again, great video.
Totally like the 421!!!!
57 for me still man. loved the video!!
Yeah. Ended up back on the 57 a few weeks after this. But it was a fun little experiment.
I'm currently using a 421 as a bottom mic on the snare. Sounds great.
It APPEARED and sounded like you were kinda pointing the 421 OVER the snare, not DOWN onto...less snare rattle kinda suggests this.
that said, I love you doing this, I have both and my 421 is on the bass, seriously reconsidering this now for I absolutely agree on the 421 being far superior on snare; I got other mics I'm sure will do the bass just fine.
great video!
im so indecisive... I can't decide what I like better even though they are quite different. mayyybe I prefer the 421 here... but the sm57 brings fatness that compliments the other mics for a darker, but big sound. idk
Same. 57 is what I ended up living with. If that helps ya!
@Tim Buell is this an older 421 or the newer 421 MKII? I'm trying to pull the trigger and am confused which will sound better on toms...but have good full bass response, some older ones crap out
This is totally an old one. Honestly, I never loved these on toms. Just me maybe, but, I always felt very "eh" about that. I now use the Miktek PM10s on my rack and floor tom and they have been great.
more thwack with 421 but less overall fullness compared to 57. use both lol
Ha! Not a bad idea. I've toyed around with double micing snare top.
@@TimBuell I do it all the time, the 57 for body, the 421 for thwack, and one of bottom as well! Just remember to use them like a 3 band eq, where each mic takes up a spectrum of eq, and cut the rest! That way your not taking up too much room in your mix where other things should live! If your recording digital that is, to tape doesn't matter! Nor does it really if your using a shit ton of outboard with a mixing desk!
micing on the top isnt something I usually do...just seems to sound bigger. 421 FTW
Which is the mics on the top of all the drums and the kick?
The 421 did sound more 'snare like' to me, but the high-hat bleed had a lot of sizzle and was - to me at least - quite unpleasant and would need a lot of work to make it less of a problem than the improvement in snare sound might be. Maybe.
421. Thanks for this demo
Anytime! Thanks so much for checking it out.
Left that up for several weeks. I'm back to the 57 right now. But I think they both have their place, depending on what you are going for!
I love the 421, (i have the old light colored version N, which i prefer to the newer version II) on a number of sources and it is also my first choice on snare. I use a 57 only if i have to use the 421 (i only have one) on a different source (sax, guitar amp etc.) in a live recording of a band. Nice drumming, btw.
Thanks so much for the comment and the compliments!
6:42 7:10 It seems to me that we all want a nice crack to a snare,. and that the 421 is closer to that sound. Wouldn't that necessitate less processing to get a great snare? So wouldn't the 421 be the better choice? The 57 reminds me of that "thud" from the 80's.
It also felt like you had the 57 slightly louder in the mix, maybe due to that extra low-mid energy.
I'd like to hear them all processed up.
Love the vintage Rogers Big R!
Did you checked the Rotary switch on the 421 At the bottom ? The missing Low End on the snare could be because there is a Position marked with S for speech ( low cut ) or M for music ( No cut , fullrange ) Just sayin
It sounds like that the 421 had the lo cut knob twisted to S instead of M....it lacks bottom to my ears, way too scooped.
He done did fucked up! You can especially hear the hpf on the bleed.
Your kick drum sounds awesome! What are you miking it with?
Thanks! Just a Beta 52 right inside the drum.
Interesting isn’t it how something can sound ‘thinner’ or ‘brighter’ in isolation but really works ‘in the mix’.. a bit like an 87 on vocals I suppose.. cheers.
The Mic, Price says which is better.
I’ve been tested sm57, ~ u87 with api channel strip, Avalon, liquid channel.
Something I've been messing with lately is an SM57 on top, as well as a pencil condenser on top snare as well (Rode NT5). That has been great.
Get the best of dual mics w/ the “42157” mic clip. The 42157 clip works great on toms as it combines the MD421 w/ a SM57.
Great call. I now have a 57 and an NT5 on snare top.
I now cannot mic a snare without using a mic on the bottom head out of phase with the top. It makes all the difference.
I prefer the 421 here. Less gunk. Not sure if it actually scoops the mids, or does the SM57 boost the mids?
The 57 has a bump, the 421 is flatter.
the 421 has that crack that i always want in my snare sound. sm57 sounds a little less bright. both are great to be honest, but in this case, i'd take the 421!
Honestly, thought the 421 had worse ring, and lacked overall body
On my headphones the 57 seems louder than the 421. If you a/b the clips with the 57 down a tad it's a whole different perspective.
The 57 is really fat sounding. The 421 seems to get a less exaggerated low end, allowing other frequencies to peek through more. I like both! 👍👍
Agreed! I like both as well, but ended up switching back to the 57 after a while.
Did i sililar test some time ago, was expecting more bottom end from the 421, but it turned out the 57 was beefier. So switched back pretty quickly as well. The 421 do sound really great on toms and inside kick, but I have really grown to hate the cymbal bleed in 421's. Almost always gate toms, even though I don't bash the cymbals.
I have a shoot out between a few tom mics th-cam.com/video/cr2HhtVB25g/w-d-xo.html might be of interest to you.
i stopped using expensive dynamic mics years ago.. cheap dynamic mics of a good quality (EV Co4, Behringer SL75 etc.) have everything I need.. a little EQ and they sound like a MD-421. And I dont have to cry like when I drop a vintage MD-421. If a mic out-of-the-box gives you the sound you want: get it!.. if not, EQ a cheap one (not crappy china stuff, but get the good china stuff).
If you get the chance try a Behringer SB 78A Condenser. It’s the most amazing sounding snare mic and no one knows about it.
Try a 421 on the resonant and a 57 on the batter... mix the 2.
Interesting. 421s are useful for SO MUCH more than toms haha.
Simple, Sm57 is alright for snare as long as it is not an older one as they can clip. The 421 is best used on toms, but not only ok for a floor tom.
Something about the 57 on snares is just always money. Also. Audixs i5 is great and a bit shorter making it slightly easier to place. I5 is my overall winner.
Yeah. I made this video a LONG time ago. I now have an SM57 on snare top along with a small diaphragm condenser. Between those two it gets the job done.
I like the 421
It's hard to trust this comparison when we can't see how you are pointing the mics. Each mic no doubt has a better sweet spot. I get a different sound out of my 57 than the sound you've gotten here likely because of a different snare, different player, different mic position. So many variables.
That makes sense. Try it out yourself! It was an interesting experiment.
The 421 is a lil nicer I’ll have to admit. Maybe I’d use the 421 for the studio and the 57 for live just because they’re cheap and could take a beating
Funny... You muted the racktoms because you never hit them...
Leave them off or sell them?
So, what about now? A few years later what have you concluded?? I've got 57 and a SDC taped together on the top and I'm not quiiiiite there yet -Almost, though! Think iIm gonna give the 421 a try. Got one before they became ridiculously expensive. Have heard some people like them on kick also -The 421. I'm getting a little fed up with my D112... Ha! It's just too much of a fuss eq'ing that thing!
Sm57 and a SDC is the way. I drive the SDC hard through a preamp so it saturates and compressed a hit.
The real secret to any snare mic - playing hi hats REALLY quiet. Haha an unfortunate truth I’ve accepted.
@@TimBuell I play with my hi hat super -DUPER high. Fantastic separation! It took me a second to get used to it, but now I can't have it high enough! Haha! I literally cannot find a stem high enough for my preference now... In all fairness, I'm not doing a bunch of "tica-taca" going back and forth between the snare and hats, really. I know some guys are into that. Ha!
@@boobo3763 Yeah. Over the years my hi hat height has increased. Definitely helps but weird to get used to.
@@TimBuell Yep -At first, I was like "How am I gonna do this??" Now, I can't get em high enough!!!
421 sound more « open »
High end and low end more clear to
You tuned your snare like a 14" floortom? Pretty dead.
421
you talk too much between the plays wich makes it hard to compare.
2:53 2:12
Here's the thing. Sennheiser will always have more high end, like a cheap karaoke mic but they've learned how to eliminate certain other high mid freqs to avoid sounding cheap, all while making a high quality mic. The 57 will always be better for a live mic but not for recording anymore. Royer, Tlfnkn M80 , or Adx i5 !! Search for tips on placement. 😏
421 on snare does not have enough body😒
nice playing but I gave your video a dislike because I found your commentary between audio clips to get in the way of being able to compare the two mics. It would be much better if you played them straight after each other and then gave your appraisal. I would rather make my own judgements and then hear your opinions to see wether I had missed something.
also, I was surprised at how muffled and dead your snare sounds but then I love the heavily damped drum sound on Fairport Conventions Liege and lief album. Especially on the track Tam Lin. Perhaps your snare would make more sense to me in context of a piece of music.
Thanks for taking the time to make the video and for the excellent sound quality.