Sennheiser MD 421 Kompakt

Sennheiser have shrunk down their classic 421 — but have they retained everything that made it so popular?

If we’re comfortable using the term ‘legendary’ to describe a microphone, then I think it’s fair to include the Sennheiser MD 421 in that category. With over half a million sold since its introduction in 1960, the 421 is a microphone most engineers will be familiar with, and one that can be found in the mic lockers of most commercial recording studios. I don’t like using the term ‘industry standard’, but if you ask any engineer to name the most commonly used mic for recording toms on a drum kit, I expect most to name this well‑known dynamic mic. It’s not just toms, though: the 421’s ability to capture a ‘full’ sound in high‑SPL settings has made it a long‑established choice for close miking guitar and bass cabinets, brass and vocals — and in any role where a reliable, unfussy dynamic mic is a good option.

What’s New

I asked a few fellow engineers what they might like to improve about the 421, and we all without hesitation said “The clip!” In part because of the angles it ends up in when used around a drum kit, you only have to lightly press the release switch on the original 421 clip and gravity will fire the mic forwards — often spilling onto the tom below and perhaps then bouncing off onto the floor. It’s a testament to how rugged these mics are that they can handle this abuse, but both of the 421s in my collection now have electrical tape permanently holding them to their clips. It’s great, then, to see that the new 421 Kompakt now features a self‑contained clip, which means this mic isn’t going anywhere!

The clue to the other significant practical improvement is in the name: this new Kompakt version is just over half the length of the original model, making it ideal for getting into position around a busy drum kit. Embracing...