A good mic on floor tom

[Wakena2003]

Hi,

I need a good mic for floor tom. I don't know what the better choice:

Sennheiser md 421 or EV RE20? Any advice? any other mic?

Mainly rock music drums.

[Nutmeg II.]

MD421 is a good one that will be nice on other things like guitar/bass cab and trombone too.
It has a sound and is definetly a mic you should have in your collection (even 6 of them are nice to have).

The RE20 is a realy nice mic and it will rawk on all kind of stuff, like kick, bass cab, horns, vocals, ... another one of the classic mics that are nice to have one or two of.

I would go for the MD421 because it is a bit cheaper and it will fitt better into the place that is usualy tight with drumkits.

[Jeff16years]

i always use the 421 on floor toms as long as it is a relatively hard hitting drummer. if it is a wimpy hitter then i use a LDC

[opentune]

The SM58 works great for rock drums.

Some people are like "don´t you have decent tom mics??", but after
listening to the tom sound they change their mind.

Give it a try!

[HudHudson]

U87, Beyer M88, or 421 all work for me on floor tom.

[AlexLakis]

Either one is a good choice. If you can, try them out, and while you're at it, try them out on your voice. See which one you like better. They're both great multi-purpose mics.

[mltamisin]

Audix D4

[chetatkinsdiet]

I have or have owned just about all the ones mentioned here.....M88, MD421, RE20, etc....
I've been having luck with the cheapie ATM25 mic on ft and kick. It doesn't cost much to give this one a try.....$75 or so.
later,
m

[bpatural]

414s are great ...but don't forget that pad.
-brian

[EngineEars]

Anyone tried AT2020's on toms? They are only $100 so if the drummer hits it you don't have to swallow your tongue. I haven't tried them, but if they can take the SPL and sound ok might be a good option.

[NathanEldred]

Pretty much the ultimate in my book without going crazy with cost is the Soundelux U195. I have been using Neumann TLM103's for years too, I have 4 that are very beat up that get used exclusively for this app (and not much else). AKG D112 sounds best for a dynamic IMO.

[Curtis Franklin]

421

large diaphram condenser works well if you want more of a "kit" sound.

[dave-G]

another one slightly off the beaten track is a low-glamour omnidirectional dynamic like the EV 635A.. The lack of proximity effect and the less-wonky off-axis leakage sometimes makes it really easy to bring up into the drum mix.

-dave

[olzzon]

Depends on the style.
LDC are great for acoustic sound. Even some cheap Chinese can do it.
A medium rock sound, a 421 would do great.
If you wan´t a more agressive sound, a 57 is great.

I have also used the re20 sometimes, but prefer the others.

I haven´t tried a 58 but will soon.

[andychamp]

Whatever you use, try adding a bottom mic (don't forget to ø it in relation to the top mic). If the drums are on a wood or stone floor, you might even try a cheap Radio Shack PZM on the floor, beneath the tom. The larger floor surface will enhance the PZM's low-end response
Then use the top mic for attack, and the bottom mic for boom. Gates/mutes/automation might be helpful during mixdown.

[MJGreene Audio]

Pretty much anything mentioned above but I would also suggest bottom micing with a Yamaha Sub Kick. It fits under really well and even though I don't always love it on kick it really gives the floor tom an amazing amount of bottom end that works great.

Michael Greene

[Ollie]

Senn 421, Beyer M88, Gefell UMT-70 U87

[djui5]

AT AE2500

[everybody's x]

Originally Posted by opentune

The SM58 works great for rock drums.

Some people are like "don´t you have decent tom mics??", but after
listening to the tom sound they change their mind.

Give it a try!

if it's good enough for Michael Wagener it's good enough for me thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

[john caldwell]

Originally Posted by opentune

The SM58 works great for rock drums...Give it a try!

I'd not have guessed that, and I will try it. 421 at my place of our 16 inch floor and 12 rack work well.

Best,

John-

[Doublehelix]

Usual stuff...MD421...Audix D4...D112. My fav is the 421 however.

[davenutz]

421, D112, 441

[bigbone]

AT ATM25 and my floor toms is more than happy.......

[axismatt]

SM7 for me.....