Long considered one of the finest dynamic microphones ever made, the Sennheiser MD 421 has been a favorite of recording engineers and broadcasters since its release in 1960. It was so successful and well-designed that it has only had one significant modification, the MD 421-II in 2002. Sonically similar, this mic is manufactured in a more economically efficient fashion.
Building on the legacy of this reliable stalwart, Sennheiser is launching the MD 421 KOMPAKT. Essentially a mini-421 and 3.75” shorter, this mic has the same components, and is the most readily visible update of the 64-year-old design. Offering versatility for any recording or live sound application, the smaller size and arguably more rugged built-in clip make this an appealing alternative to the traditional design.
Upon visually inspecting the MD 421 KOMPAKT, there are two major functional changes. First, the Five position bass roll-off switch is noticeably absent. Most music engineers will not miss this feature at all. In my experience, checking that switch had the sole function of making sure that it was in the Music setting and had not been accidentally switched to the Speech setting.
Next, the clip for the MD 421 has long been the bane of many engineers’ existence and has been a source of complaints for decades. The MD 421 KOMPAKT deletes the old-style slide in and click fast clip, (which could accidentally release the mic), and features a non removable clip—a serious improvement! This feature is further enhanced by the optional MZH Drum Clamp that securely screws into the MD 421 KOMPAKT clip to create a fail-safe mechanism for drum miking.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with these Sennheiser microphones, they are most commonly used on drums, guitar amplifiers, woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments. They are industry standard to record tom toms and bass drums. Being a dynamic mic, they would not be first choice to record an orchestra, or as drum set overheads where the more traditional Condenser microphones would be best used.
Virtually sonically identical to the Sennheiser MD 421-II, The MD 421 KOMPAKT handles exceptionally high sound pressure levels and delivers clean sound reproduction. Its compact size offers enhanced versatility for any recording and live sound environment, and redesigned mounting clip enables easy, worry-free mounting. Feedback rejection helps maintain focus on the source audio for accurate sound reproduction and a wide frequency response range of 30 Hz–17 kHz makes this an outstanding choice for any application where a dynamic microphone will shine.
Microphone $279; Mic with clamp $299; Clamp $19.95
