Recording - October 2020 - 55
mids and top end are broader and less
forward and aggressive than a Shure
SM57, but the top end peak of the MD
421-II is pronounced and can help a
source pop forward in a mix with ease.
In Use
At sixteen years old, the first mic I ever
sang into in a recording studio was a
1980s MD 421-U5. The owner of the
studio used them on darn near everything
from drums to bass cab to vocals. All these
years later, the MD 421-II is a favorite mic
of mine on toms, kick drum and bass cabinet. I like how its 4.5 kHz peak highlights
the kick beater, the stick hits of the toms,
and the pick and fingers of the bass guitar.
While the MD 421 in general has garnered favor as the other dynamic electric
guitar mic, I actually prefer the slightly
smoother sound of my older U4 model. Not that I often use dynamic mics on
acoustic guitar, but here too I prefer the
MD 421-U4, as the MD 421-II pushes the
upper end forward with a slightly metallic
squonk. On vocals, it's a toss-up, depending on the singer or speaker. Here I'm
glad to have both models available.
A second opinion from the
past:
As I was writing this review, I
came across noted mic guru Paul J.
Stammler's review in the November
1998 issue of this magazine. Many
of his thoughts echo mine-or should
I say, mine reflect his. Paul found the
brighter, almost metallic edge of MD
421-II well suited to drums, but said
that for vocals, he'd reach for the
smoother, older model.
Fun Fact
I found it interesting that the price
of the MD 421-II in 1998 was $485.
Using an inflation calculator, that
would be $791 today. Today, a
new 421-II costs $379 street, which
would have been $238 in 1998-
how's that for a deal!
Conclusion
Twenty-two years on, the Sennheiser
MD 421-II remains an industry staple.
Where so many companies have abandoned past glories for new ones, I'm
glad that the MD 421-II remains proudly
available in the company catalog. Like
the MD 21, we can keep our fingers
crossed that as long as there's a Sennheiser, there'll be an MD 421-II.
Price: $379
More From: en-us.sennheiser.com
http://en-us.sennheiser.com
http://www.usefulartsaudio.com
Recording - October 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - October 2020
No label
Fade In
The tried and true—classic mics you can still count on!
Royer Labs: R-121 Studio Ribbon Microphone
Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Assembling a Plugin Locker
Neumann: KM 184 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Audio-Technica: AT4050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone
Talking Mics with Massy
AEA: R44CX Ribbon Microphone
DPA: 4006 and 4011 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphones
Shure: SM7B Vocal Microphone
All Analog at Muscle Shoals: Recording Bless Your Heart by The Allman Betts Band
Electro-Voice: RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone with Variable-D
AKG: C414 XLS Reference Multipattern Condenser Microphone
Sennheiser: MD 421-II Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: Everything But the Mic
Oktava: MK-012 Pencil Condenser Microphone
TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik: ELA M 251E Large Diaphragm Tube Microphone
Readers’ Tracks
Recording - October 2020 - No label
Recording - October 2020 - Cover1
Recording - October 2020 - Cover2
Recording - October 2020 - 1
Recording - October 2020 - 2
Recording - October 2020 - 3
Recording - October 2020 - Fade In
Recording - October 2020 - 5
Recording - October 2020 - 6
Recording - October 2020 - 7
Recording - October 2020 - The tried and true—classic mics you can still count on!
Recording - October 2020 - 9
Recording - October 2020 - 10
Recording - October 2020 - 11
Recording - October 2020 - Royer Labs: R-121 Studio Ribbon Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 13
Recording - October 2020 - 14
Recording - October 2020 - 15
Recording - October 2020 - Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Assembling a Plugin Locker
Recording - October 2020 - 17
Recording - October 2020 - 18
Recording - October 2020 - 19
Recording - October 2020 - Neumann: KM 184 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 21
Recording - October 2020 - Audio-Technica: AT4050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 23
Recording - October 2020 - Talking Mics with Massy
Recording - October 2020 - 25
Recording - October 2020 - 26
Recording - October 2020 - 27
Recording - October 2020 - 28
Recording - October 2020 - 29
Recording - October 2020 - AEA: R44CX Ribbon Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 31
Recording - October 2020 - DPA: 4006 and 4011 Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphones
Recording - October 2020 - 33
Recording - October 2020 - Shure: SM7B Vocal Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 35
Recording - October 2020 - All Analog at Muscle Shoals: Recording Bless Your Heart by The Allman Betts Band
Recording - October 2020 - 37
Recording - October 2020 - 38
Recording - October 2020 - 39
Recording - October 2020 - 40
Recording - October 2020 - 41
Recording - October 2020 - 42
Recording - October 2020 - 43
Recording - October 2020 - 44
Recording - October 2020 - 45
Recording - October 2020 - 46
Recording - October 2020 - 47
Recording - October 2020 - 48
Recording - October 2020 - 49
Recording - October 2020 - Electro-Voice: RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone with Variable-D
Recording - October 2020 - 51
Recording - October 2020 - AKG: C414 XLS Reference Multipattern Condenser Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 53
Recording - October 2020 - Sennheiser: MD 421-II Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 55
Recording - October 2020 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: Everything But the Mic
Recording - October 2020 - 57
Recording - October 2020 - Oktava: MK-012 Pencil Condenser Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 59
Recording - October 2020 - TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik: ELA M 251E Large Diaphragm Tube Microphone
Recording - October 2020 - 61
Recording - October 2020 - 62
Recording - October 2020 - Readers’ Tracks
Recording - October 2020 - 64
Recording - October 2020 - 65
Recording - October 2020 - 66
Recording - October 2020 - 67
Recording - October 2020 - 68
Recording - October 2020 - 69
Recording - October 2020 - 70
Recording - October 2020 - 71
Recording - October 2020 - 72
Recording - October 2020 - Cover3
Recording - October 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com