Choosing The Correct Tom Mic

When it comes to capturing the best sounds out of your tom drums the microphone options are endless. There are a few that are preferred and stand out from the pack, so I went ahead and compared their strengths and weaknesses. The models tested were the Sennheiser 421, Sennheiser e904, Shure Beta 56A and the Audix D2.

The first mics tested were the Sennheisers 421 and the e904. The 421 is the industry standard that has been used to mic toms for over 35 years. The tone was precise and the low end was full and warm. It lacked mid range pop but is overall a great sounding microphone. The e904 was not far off with similar fidelity in the high end and great response in the lower frequencies. The e904 performed greater under higher SPL delivering more precise sound.


One of the more affordable tom mics the Shure beta 56A is a standard in any small recording studio. The microphone has a nice warm sound with a good punch in the mid range. It lacks the low end that one looks for when capturing larger floor toms but makes up for it on the smaller toms with its high punch sound. The last mic tested was the Audix D2. The D2 instantly had a noticeable higher noise floor compared to the rest of the microphones. The low end was real large and thumpy with not to much accuracy. The mids were nice and warm but the high end lacked fidelity and clarity.

 Overall every microphone has its own personality and unique sound that can be used in different circumstances. If looking for the most precise clean sound I would pick the e904 or the 421. For dirty more grungy sound the beta 56A would suffice, and for muddy low end rumble the Audix D2 is a winner If you’re looking for the best sound and don’t want to sacrifice, I would recommend using either of the Sennheiser microphones.