New Mics. Help me choose

[Mark7]

Hey Home Wreckers!

I'm looking to buy a set of mics, primarily for toms; but with other uses besides.

I've budgeted around £200 (less postage if I have to buy mail order) and narrowed it down to the folowing three options.

1. Pair of AKG D321s for £130. I already have one of these so I at least know what it sounds like. Whether it'll work on toms or not is another question (which no one is able, or willing, to answer).
   
2. Set of three Shure SM57s, £202 from Thomann.de. A fairly well known mic within our circles. Shouldn't be too big a risk.
   
3. A Beyer M201 and an Audio-Technica ATM25, £182; also from Thoman.de. I already have one 201 and I think it'd do a good job on toms (though I haven't had the opportunity to test my theory yet). The 25 I have no experience with, but everything I've read leads me to think it's a no-brainer.
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   So, are there other possibilities you'd like to throw at me?

 

[closer9:18]

Look for the Sennheiser 3-pack of clip-on mics. I honestly can't remember the model numbers.

I apologize for not being able to quickly convert currencies, but the 3-pack can be purchased at www.musiciansfriend.com or www.zzounds.com/a--2676837 for about $298. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that's on the 200 - 250 pound range. I used to be more on top of how money exchanged across the pond, with a quid being roughly equal to $1.50 over here. UnfortunatelyI just haven't thought about it in a while.

The Sennheisers sound amazing to me. They're mainly suited for live sound reproduction, and with the clip-on capabilities they can be used on brass or other percussion easily. They also record quite well. I don't have anything better to compare them to, but I can say that in the past when I've been able to use Sennheiser 421's, the sound is quite comparable.

Hope this helps in some way. Good luck.

 

[Mark7]

Hey Closer.

Thanks for responding. One thing I'd like to know is whether or not the E604 (that's the mic you're talking about, right?) can be attached to a mic stand. For some reason the thought of clamping them directly to the drums for a recording session doesn't exactly fill me with confidence. I can get them from good old Thomann.de for about £85. But since I'd need three they're a little over my budget at the moment (£255). Oh well, thanks for trying

 

[DJL]

Yes, the E604 can be un-screwed from the swivel mount and connected to a mic stand.

 

[Mark7]

Ever used one as a vocal mic?

 

[DJL]

No.

 

[Mark7]

What about to mike up a guitar cab?

 

[DJL]

I've been using the Sennheiser MD421 and Studio Projects B3 a lot lately on guitar amps.

 

[Mark7]

But not the E604? Which suggests you don't view it as suitable for that application.

 

[DJL]

Well Mark, I've never tried it... so I really don't know. My Marshall MXL990 sometimes sounds good on guitar amps also.

 

[cavedog101]

I have an ATM25 that gets its primary use on kik drum and it IS a no-brainer.Excellent. I have used, extensively, D112 D12e MD409 421 and SM57...the ATM25 is as good if not better than all of the above although my old old D12e was a thing of beauty. I've also been using the 25 on guitar cabs lately and have used it on a bass cab and as a harmonica mic.. works great...peace

 

[Mark7]

I suspect the choice of an ATM25 for the Floor Tom and a pair of M201s on the Rack Toms might be the way to go. Though I could be a real cheapskate and get a couple of these:

And, maybe, one of these:

 

[DJL]

Yea, I have a lot of mic's too, and the ATM25 is a great mic.