Sennheiser MD 421 Question - RESOLVED!!! USER ERROR!

[James Steele]

IGNORE THE REST... I DID SOMETHING STUPID AND HAD IT PLUGGED INTO A BOARD WITH LOW EQ CRANKED DOWN! DUH!!!


Just bought one of these which was a supposed "great" deal on Craigslist. Got it home and tried it out and granted only tried it out so far on (my own) spoken voice, but I'm struck with the the marked lack of bottom end on this mic, even with the rolloff switch all the way off and speaking close to the mic. Maybe this is why they're good on guitar cabs... dunno. There's no distortion and it's sounds very balanced overall, but not much bottom in this microphone. I'm wondering if I got a dud somehow or is this how MD 421 II's sound?

[James Steele]

Here's a 256k MP3 file:

http://jamessteele.com/MD421-Test.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe it's just playing tricks on me. The mic is supposed to start rolling off at 100Hz. It just doesn't seem to have much content there. Granted my voice isn't necessarily "rich" but I was surprised how little bottom is there and even when I eat the mic, I can't make it boomy.

I'm just worried my bargain MD421 might not have been a bargain. If you own one of these perhaps you can comment. I have a friend who has one that I know he got knew and I can borrow his to A/B tomorrow.

[Mr. Quimper]

I haven't listened to the sample yet, but it sounds like there was a reason for the 'great' deal - I'm not exactly the most experienced engineer in the world (by far), but I've never heard anyone complain about a 421's low-end response (see its near universal use on toms and kick drums). If anything, my ears have always found them to lack high-end shimmer and to live in the mid-to-low regions. Sounds like a dud to me: perhaps there's something wrong with that particular unit's much-lauded "5-Position Bass Roll-Off".

[James Steele]

Could be. That might explain it's "great" price. Mind you it doesn't sound "BAD" and the rolloff still works as I click through the various positions. I also know that is popular on toms. I'm hoping I'm just not used to the sound of these mics. I'll know definitively once I test out next to my friend's MD421.

[Frodo]

Those mics are good down to 30-40Hz which should deliver plenty of bottom. Yeah-- re: the low end switcherooney. Hopefully, it won't cost you what you saved to have it checked out, but the seller should have told you what was wrong with it up front.

[James Steele]

Those mics are good down to 30-40Hz which should deliver plenty of bottom. Yeah-- re: the low end switcherooney. Hopefully, it won't cost you what you saved to have it checked out, but the seller should have told you what was wrong with it up front.

Did you listen to the sample? I wrote the guy who sold it... asked him what was up and see if he could tell me anything. I'll see if he writes me back. Well, I only paid $120 for it. I figured maybe I just got lucky or it was near rent time. The guy gave me a bill of sale and met me at his studio so I don't think it was hot. As I said, it doesn't sound BAD, there's just not much bottom end. Usually you can eat a mic and sort of woof it out. Can't do it on this one.

Don't know how much repair would cost me, but being a good guy I can't just unload it on someone on eBay. Anybody KNOW a good mic repair guy between San Diego and LA? Maybe Jim at Audio Upgrades would take a look. He's in Carlsbad last time I checked.

[Dan Worley]

James, don't kick me if this sounds insulting. You're not talking into it like you would a side address mic are you?

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[James Steele]

Good question Dan. Actually I'm not that dumb... but still pretty dumb nonetheless. I found the problem, but only after calling the guy who sold it to me and asking him about it. His reaction was very honest and he was very surprised and offered to trade me for his other one.

Then it dawned on me. I tested the mic not using my normal nice Millennia pre, but I just plugged it into a the same cord that comes up from under my workstation that I plug in my cheap handheld that I use for figuring out vocal parts, etc. before I go out in the studio and track them through a "real" mic. Well, for a preamp for my "scratch track mic," I'm using one of those small, cheapo Behringer boards and I had the low shelf EQ cranked all the way down on the channel. Duhhhhhhhh!!!

So ME STUPID... for not checking. But I don't feel as bad since...
ME SMART for still managing to score an MD421 for $120 today! Whew!!

[Dan Worley]

Here you go, James. For comparison.

http://www.earthen.com/md421-ii.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[James Steele]

Here you go, James. For comparison.

http://www.earthen.com/md421-ii.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

c-ya,

Dan Worley

THANK YOU DAN!!! You are too cool for doing this for me! I'm an idiot and had the channel EQ cranked down. I tells ya! What a knucklehead I was!! Sorry for putting you through that!

[Dan Worley]

Good question Dan. Actually I'm not that dumb... but still pretty dumb nonetheless. I found the problem, but only after calling the guy who sold it to me and asking him about it. His reaction was very honest and he was very surprised and offered to trade me for his other one.

Then it dawned on me. I tested the mic not using my normal nice Millennia pre, but I just plugged it into a the same cord that comes up from under my workstation that I plug in my cheap handheld that I use for figuring out vocal parts, etc. before I go out in the studio and track them through a "real" mic. Well, for a preamp for my "scratch track mic," I'm using one of those small, cheapo Behringer boards and I had the low shelf EQ cranked all the way down on the channel. Duhhhhhhhh!!!

So ME STUPID... for not checking. But I don't feel as bad since...
ME SMART for still managing to score an MD421 for $120 today! Whew!!

No. No. As long as you figure it out you're smart. You can imagine why I made up that rule.

Glad you got it figured out. I have five of those mics and really like them. I only use them on toms nowadays, but they are useful on other sources as well. I never got one for $120!!! Good find.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[James Steele]

Well thanks for checking for me! I tell you... I hadn't looked under my workstation desk for so long I forgot that I had adjusted that channel to compensate for the sound of an especially crappy handheld that I use for testing vocal ideas. I got it because it had an on/off switch which is very convenient when you want to play back and not get feedback. Now I'm dying to set up the 421 and check it out through a good preamp.

Again, thanks for the help Dan... sorry for being alarmist.

[Dan Worley]

Here you go, James. For comparison.

http://www.earthen.com/md421-ii.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

c-ya,

Dan Worley

THANK YOU DAN!!! You are too cool for doing this for me! I'm an idiot and had the channel EQ cranked down. I tells ya! What a knucklehead I was!! Sorry for putting you through that!

Well thanks for checking for me! I tell you... I hadn't looked under my workstation desk for so long I forgot that I had adjusted that channel to compensate for the sound of an especially crappy handheld that I use for testing vocal ideas. I got it because it had an on/off switch which is very convenient when you want to play back and not get feedback. Now I'm dying to set up the 421 and check it out through a good preamp.

Again, thanks for the help Dan... sorry for being alarmist.

Oh, hey, no problem (especially for you). That's what we do...record stuff.

It actually got me thinking that I should try the MD421 out on a Fender cab I'll be recording--just for a little different flavor. I wouldn't have thought of it otherwise. I've kind of permanently assigned these mics to toms and I should try working them a bit more. So thank you.

c-ya.

Dan Worley

[BradLyons]

Don't feel bad---I once tracked a kick drum with the HIGH PASS FILTER engaged!!!!! I went as far as trying to replace the kick-head thinking that could have been why I had no bottom-end.

[Jim]

I have five of those mics and really like them. I only use them on toms nowadays, but they are useful on other sources as well.

Dan Worley

I have a couple. Agreed: Great on toms.

Also, great on snare, as the character is different from the standard 57. I recorded for a while with three mics on separate channels on snare (third mic: AKG condenser), and was able to choose my sound at mixdown.

Also, I love it for hi-hat. I like using dynamic mics on hats, because they pick up the clickiness, but don't sound harsh and splashy the way condensers do, and they sound like they already have compression on them. And the various roll-offs on the 421 let you control low-end bleed and just pick up the cymbal freqs.

And a lot of people use them on kick, GTR cabs, and VOX.