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Sennheiser · Famous Mic

Sennheiser MD 421 — the tom-mic standard for sixty years

Introduced in 1960, the Sennheiser MD 421 II is on every drum kit in every serious studio. Its five-position bass-rolloff switch lets engineers dial in tom drums, broadcast voice, or kick drum from the same body. ~$400.

TypeDynamic
PatternCardioid
Released1960
Price~$400

What it is

A large-grille cardioid dynamic with a five-stage bass switch

The MD 421 has a tough, clip-on body design that mounts well on tom-drum rims, plus a five-position rotary switch on the back that adjusts the low-frequency response from full bass response to heavy roll-off. That makes the same mic flexible across drums, broadcast voice, and other applications.

How it sounds

Solid, present, slightly aggressive — a real character mic

The MD 421 is brighter and more aggressive than a Shure SM57, with more low-end weight on toms. It’s a different flavor of dynamic — one with personality.

Famous uses

Where you’ve heard one

Should you buy one?

The short answer

Get one ifYou record drums and want the tom-mic standard, or you want a broadcast dynamic with more character than a Shure SM7B. The MD 421 is one of the most-loved mics in pro audio.

Alternatives

Other mics in the same family