SM7 vs MD421?

[DanRoy]

I'd like to add some nice multi-purpose dynamics to my collection... but I can probably only afford one of these or the other at the moment. which would be more useful?

I own: B1, AT3035, SM58, EV RE11

i will probably match the B1 with another, and get a kick mic of some sort, and maybe an e609 for hi tom / new guitar amp flavor.

I guess floor tom would need to be covered, does the SM7 do that ok, or does the MD421 blow it away?

I do indeed have a few rock songs where I'd like a less bright vocal sound than I'm getting from my 3035 (mainly higher gain guitar songs)(can manage with EQ, but maybe that's not ideal), and from what i've read the SM7 is known for rock vocals, whereas I've never heard the 421 touted as a vocal mic.

also, would any of these mics work (generally) for female vocals? what's a cheap (under $200) mic that's good on galvox? i might record a lovely lady soon. she is a bit sibilant

 

[bubbagump]

I have used an SM7 extensively on female vocals and it is really quite wonderful. It is a mic that is easy to get a good sound out of. That said, it really helps to have a pre with plenty of clean gain with this mic. For more high end female vox I find it really shines. So many mics have too much air for female vocals with a high pitched tone. The SM7 sits just right for me. As for toms, I have never used it on toms. I have used it on snare and it sounds like a more polished SM57. (Which is basically what the mic is) It also works well on guitar cabs. The fact that it has a pretty controlled proximity effect is very desirable to me in that close micing guitar cabs can often be a trade off of getting the mic positioned so that it gets enough of the cone and not so close as to be boomy, but too far and you can get too much room sound. The SM7 does well close up with its less boomy proximty effect in comparison to a 57.

A 421 is the bomb on toms and some other uses, but I find it less versatile. That's just my opinion. See if you can't your hands on both to play with and decide from there.... Many places so long as you are up front with them, will be cool with you buying both and returning one a day or two later. Just be sure to get something and not jerk the sales guy around.