Sennheiser MD421-II

The Sennheiser MD421-II is a legendary microphone for tom drums because its large diaphragm handles the high sound pressure levels of percussive hits perfectly. Additionally, its variable five-position bass roll-off switch allows engineers to easily control the low-frequency boominess inherent in drum shells.

The five-position switch on the back of the MD421-II is a bass attenuation control that lets you roll off low frequencies directly at the microphone. Each position offers a different low-cut filter, which is highly useful for reducing proximity effect when miking vocals or guitar amps.

No, the Sennheiser MD421-II is a dynamic microphone, meaning it generates its own electrical signal and does not require 48V phantom power from an audio interface. However, accidentally sending phantom power to it will not damage the microphone.

The Sennheiser MD421-II traditionally comes with a specialized, somewhat infamous U-shaped mounting clip that requires a unique 5-pin connector. Many users replace this stock clip with a specialized 3/8-inch to 5/8-inch adapter or purchase third-party drum claws to mount it more securely on hardware.