Sennheiser 421 vs AKG d112 (live application)

[Ryan Silva]

Down with the egg I say, I love all my AKG mics but I can's stand the d112 on kick drum. It has no life what so ever, it may have a touch more on the bottom end but who cares when it sounds like a cardboard box.
You know I think I could do an entire show with nothing but 421s.

Any takers?

[trodden]

Give me your d112 and a dollar.

[Harry]

I was watching the concert for Bangladesh the other day and I'm pretty sure every mic on the stage was a 421

[mixbob]

Last year my D112 quit working after about 17 years of use.
So while it was out for repair, I purchased a Sennheiser E602.

I noticed the E602 sounded good in most kick drums with little eq. and was a little more forgiving as far as placement.

When my D112 returned from repair with a new capsule, I was pleasently reminded of why I bought it 17 years ago. It sounded great ; good definition for it's entire bandwidth and it handled level very well.

I think over time all dynamic mics will degrade after continuous kick drum duty.
I have noticed this with my D112 and an EV RE20. After years of use, the high end starts to go away.

I think the MD421 sounds great almost any where you put it. I love it on toms, amps, horns, leslie lows and on vocals. ( I have seen it used on Dave Letterman's desk)
It's size and shape may be the only detractors due to difficulty in making it fit where you want.

[junkstar]

MD421 -- It's size and shape may be the only detractors due to difficulty in making it fit where you want.

Nah, it the lousy clip design that is it's main 'detractor' -- what a f'n drag that system is. All plastic threads, a slide-in clip that barely locks, ugh.

[MikeCzech]

If the PA has subs and you want to put the kick through everyone's chest, go for the D112. If you wanna slap 'em in the face with it use the 421.

[jmoose]

D112's have a whacky pattern...real loose and they tend to grab a lot of hi-hat and other hash. I dig the Beta 52 for FOH work, that generally lets the tone of the kick come though and takes EQ pretty well. The Sennheiser is great but it tends to make every kick drum sound the same, that "big rwak" sound.

[trumpetgunk]

Nah, it the lousy clip design that is it's main 'detractor' -- what a f'n drag that system is. All plastic threads, a slide-in clip that barely locks, ugh.

That's the truth! It's almost mandatory to carry around a roll gaff tape with the microphone to make sure it doesn't fall off its clip in the middle of the gig!