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Sennheiser MD 421-II Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

Dynamic Cardioid Microphone with High SPL Capacity and 5-position Bass Roll-Off Switch
$429.00

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Sennheiser MD 421-II Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
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One of Sennheiser’s Best!

One of Sennheiser’s most popular microphones! It’s the MD 421-II’s versatility that has made this mic so widely acclaimed. Its ability to handle high pressure levels makes it a natural for guitars and drums, but that’s just the beginning. The MD 421-II’s full-bodied cardioid pattern and five-position bass control mean it’s an excellent choice for most instruments, as well as group vocals or radio broadcast announcers. One listen and you’ll know why it’s a classic.

A cardioid mic for a host of applications!

The MD 421-II is one of the best-known microphones in the world. At Sweetwater, we’ve found that its excellent sound qualities enable it to cope with the most diverse recording conditions and broadcasting applications.

Feedback rejection and bass roll-off

The MD 421-II’s cardioid pattern offers outstanding feedback rejection, making it an excellent choice for live situations or recording environments where bleed from other instruments may be an issue. And the five selectable bass roll-off settings control proximity effect, so you can use the MD 421-II in close-miking situations and still get clean, clear response with no unnatural bass boost.

A sturdy, reliable mic

The MD 421-II has a glass composite housing and hardened stainless steel basket for rugged and durable performance in the studio or onstage. The sound inlet basket is refined steel for capsule protection. When you consider the lifetime performance and versatility of this mic, it’s easy to understand why the MD 421-II is world renowned for quality and value!

Sennheiser MD 421-II Features:

  • Glass composite housing and hardened stainless steel basket — rugged and durable
  • Five-position bass roll-off switch — compensates for proximity effect
  • Frequency response 30Hz–17kHz
  • Effective feedback rejection
  • Clear sound reproduction
  • Acoustic components enclosed in inner chassis — reduced sensitivity to dust and humidity
  • Internal bass tubes help deliver accurate low-end response
  • Handles exceptionally high sound pressure levels
  • Mic clip included

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Tech Specs

  • Microphone Type: Dynamic
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Frequency Response: 30Hz-17kHz
  • Output Impedance: 200 ohms
  • Color: Black
  • Connector: XLR
  • Weight: 0.85 lbs.
  • Included Accessories: Mic clip
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 000984

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Worth every penny!

I really debated on spending the money for high quality drum mics. I've got a big project coming up so I got 3 of these (plus 2 Shure SM81's for overheads). I'm glad I did. Now I know why they call this the "industry standard" for toms. After experimenting with the placement and finding the sweet spot, this mic made a huge difference! Thanks always to Sweetwater and Jimmy Hart - You're the BEST!
Music background: Over 40 years playing bass, over 30 years recording engineer
Rated 5/5

Fantastic go-to tom mic!

I've owned a lot of tom mics. A LOT. And had varying degrees of success. I was in a friend's studio recently and he was recording a great drummer and had MD421s on the toms. When he hit the playback later, I was floored with the sound. So warm, big with serious snap and thump. I shouldn't be surprised, I know. I ordered a pair of MD421 IIs immediately. I had my first session last weekend with that same great drummer. This time in my studio. The drums sounded incredible. I've included a link to a snippet of the drums from that session.
Music background: Musician, Engineer, Producer
Rated 5/5

Great Mic!

Thanks again for the great customer service!
Great Mic!
Thanks to Kingsley! He always takes care of me when I order!
Music background: Novice
Rated 5/5

Highly recommended.

My Hardke HD75 1x12 bass amp doesn't have a line out,so in order to get the bass signal into the mixer I needed a mic capable of handling low frequencies at high volumes. This Sennheiser mic.was recommended by Sweetwaters sales associates to be able to handle anything I can throw at it,guitars,bass,drums or screaming vocals. Hard to beat this quality for the price?
Music background: Gear addict.
Rated 5/5

There's a reason everyone uses them...

These microphones are great for a lot of sources, but they capture toms in a way that cannot be described. It is a sound that can be heard on hundreds of thousands of songs, and it is so common to use 421s for toms that the first time I heard a 421 in my studio I thought to myself "Thats it! Thats the sound I've been going for all these years!!".

The downsides:
-notoriously bad clip/mount. just use a piece of gaffers tape to keep the mic from slipping out. its worth the trouble, trust me.
-they don't like being bashed by a stick, so make sure you move them back a few inches if the drummer is not trained enough to avoid hitting the close mics with a stick. They aren't capable of taking a beating like an sm57, and they're 4x
as much. be gentle!

Do yourself a favor and get an extra one, because they're also excellent for micing the inside of kicks, and one hell of a vocal mic for live tracking with a loud band.
Music background: Drummer, Producer, Recording engineer

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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Zac Borland

The Sennheiser MD421 has been the most legendary mic I've owned. It's been diversely used in all my recording applications from drums, guitars, bass, and even podcasts. The MD421 has been my most versatile mic in my locker. When recording toms I am able to capture the warmest mids, the thumping lows, and transparent highs. The MD421 has immaculate sound reproduction in my studio recordings and the noiseless output enhances my tones thanks to the 5 position bass roll off.

Stuart Niven

Listen to some of your favourite records, the MD 421 was probably there in the studio, helping the masters make history, on toms, guitar, and bass cabinets. Able to withstand the levels and pressures of nearly any musical source, in the studio and on the road they are built to perform. The MD 421 II is a go-to mic and one that you need in your collection if you are recording bands and instruments.

Nick Schenkel

The MD 421 is THE mic for getting a professional sound out of tom toms. It is also at home delivering warm, rich tones on guitar and bass amps. The mic itself is built like a tank, and is more than capable of withstanding the tortures of energetic drummers and the distress of life on the road. The only downside is that once you own one MD-421 you will want to get a couple more.

From their studio-standard MD 421 II drum mic to their trusty headphones and ultra-reliable wireless systems, there are countless good reasons why the artists and engineers here at Sweetwater are quick to recommend Sennheiser products. In our personal studios, you'll find plenty of HD 280 Pro headphones, e609 Silver cab mics, and other staples, while many of us rely on EW wireless in-ear systems onstage. Our long association with Sennheiser means we constantly have their latest products in stock and in our hands, so we're ready to tell you all about them. If you're looking for Sennheiser gear, then get the information you need from people who use it - trust your Sweetwater Sales Engineer.

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