MD421 II vs MD421 Kompakt | Guitar Cabinet Comparison

[@ScienceofLoud]

Sennheiser's classic MD421 microphone is one of the best mics for studio recording. The new Kompakt version is almost half the size and half the weight, making it easier to get the MD421 sound for drum and guitar cabinet recording. EU: MD421 Kompakt - thmn.to/thoprod/598567?offid=1&affid=367 MD421 II - thmn.to/thoprod/128331?offid=1&affid=367 US: MD421 Kompakt - sweetwater.sjv.io/eKdKQ1 MD421 II - sweetwater.sjv.io/g1y1rg This video contains product provided by Sennheiser. More details on how Science of Loud implements product promotion - www.csguitars.co.uk/disclosure #scienceofloud #microphone #md421kompakt More from Science of Loud: Support on Patreon: www.patreon.com/csguitars Join Science of Loud Discord - discord.gg/uJHFgJRunb Buy Science of Loud Merchandise - www.csguitars.co.uk/store Website - www.csguitars.co.uk Contact - [e-mail] ___________________________________ *Description contains affiliate links. Purchasing using one of these links will generate a small commission for Science of Loud at no additional cost to you.*

[@garys2892]

That's total BS. "half the size and half the weight" that alone makes identical sound impossible. Everything affects the sound, including the size and shape of the mic body. Listen to several other clips and it will be easily obvious to anyone that these two mics are NOT the same at all.

[@wheeljork]

No bs here, I hated the kompakt. Mine sounded about as bad as yours. Like they dipped a 421 in wax or something. I resold it immediately.

[@JohnShalamskas]

The Kompact is flatter response, while the original sounds like there's a big peak on the higher treble. Could be due to positioning.

[@DrMackSplackem]

I can confirm a presence peak, but somewhere between 1-2k IIRC. I tend to prefer SM57 for toms in part for this reason but maybe more so because it's what I'm already used to. These two were really close, closer than the difference between two old 421s I've had to work with, even!

[@JamesTLangford]

the classic has a eq setting where the mic plugs in is the dettings

[@AiiZStudio]

The kompakt sounds like it doesn't have the harshness of the II version of the 421 and sounds more like an OG. Which is very cool!

[@Bloor005]

The moment they released this I searched for decent examples on guitar cabs and couldnt find any. I think your video is the first I've seen. The Kompakt sounds a little darker in your tests, reminds me of the e609 quite a bit

[@hewdawg83]

My MD421 Kompakt arrived in the mail last week. I love the 421 sound with portability and ease of positioning. I tracked guitars for a client and really love the result! The differences between this and the 421 II aren't vast and can easily be made up in EQ.

[@landonbailey]

Mortal Kompakt!

[@DMSProduktions]

LOL eh!

[@PippPriss]

Cast your MIC!

[@DMSProduktions]

@@PippPriss Made In China!

[@flapjack413]

Considering the 421's popularity as a tom mic, my only concern with these is that some drummers may see this as an excuse to lower their cymbals even more, and leave engineers to deal with even more cymbal bleed, lol.

[@flowonyourbeat]

My trick for this is using hypercardio bc the cancelation on the sides of the mic is bigger. For floors and ride I try to use a cardio mic with the back side towards the ride. With a little bit of gating and EQ I can get enough tom and less cymbal

[@mrpres17]

Do you really think drummers are going to do the research to find that out? 😂

[@mondragon9282]

​@@mrpres17 hell no I'm not. Lmao

[@BobBriessinck]

That's called communication & mutual respect between the drummer and yourself =D Though, some a$$h0les just won't give in. Screw them!

[@PedalPlayhouse]

Could hear how they both were still very similar, the lightweight of the new one and even with slight variance is possible to have it’s applications range expanded in the new version.

[@bobvines00]

Surprisingly, I heard more bass out of the MD421 II than I did out of the Kompakt & therefore prefer the MD421 II. Of course, my hearing sucks now and I've reached the point where I need to get some hearing aids. I'm still surprised that I feel like I heard more out of the MD421 II.

[@KenjiKitahara]

Great video

[@lylaznboi01]

I don't know if it's just due to the positioning, but I prefer the sound of the Kompakt version as it sounds better in the ears.

[@ChrisWeinhardt]

Dang, I liked the Kompakt far better. Have been using the OG to record toms for years, maybe it's time for an upgrade. Thanks for this, great video as always!

[@vincentklein4455]

Were these positioned exactly the same? Because the difference is more noticeable than I would anticipate

[@ScienceofLoud]

Did you not watch the part of the video that explained how the mics were positioned?

[@flapjack413]

@@ScienceofLoud I saw, but I do have a question regarding the position of the speaker itself. Are the points on the cone where the wires are adhered on the bottom (or top) like in the pic in the video? Because if they were on one side or the other, that would put them closer to one mic than the other, and could potentially lead to one mic sounding a bit brighter or darker than the other due to the speaker orientation. I'm guessing you took this into consideration already, but just wondering.

[@vincentklein4455]

@@ScienceofLoudI’m sorry I actually missed it

[@mrpres17]

​@@vincentklein4455you should really watch the whole video (if it's not super long) before you comment

[@vincentklein4455]

@@mrpres17 I had, I was expecting the methodology after the comparison and checked that part twice, somehow missed it before the test

[@compucorder64]

The Kompakt sounds smoother. More like the older 421 U4/U5 series. Which is awesome, because these Kompakts are more convenient, especially for toms. It's a definite design improvement. Great they finally made these, but also makes you wonder why it took literally decades to make this sensible decision, and to execute it properly.

[@callejarvholm]

I like the compact more, It sounds really natural, where the II has a bit of a peak in the high end

[@moliver_xxii]

i mean... i hear a difference, but they both sound ok! the main difference i think is the high frequencies, above 3kHz... and that must [probably ???] be comb filtering at close distance, see the Steve Albini/Electrical Audio video about miking cabinets for an explanation... the real differences i hear are playing nuances, and that's always the most important when playing guitar!

[@ZymanoKentaro]

Even though this is how you use the mic (and it does sound great in this application!), to test the similarity to another mic it's better to sit in the far-field where the different parts of the source (conus) have more or less blended with each other and the room sound. Great recording anyways though! The mics sound amazing.

[@mypal1990]

I've been meaning to get the original MD421 but the price tag says otherwise. Might start to look into this now! Thanks.

[@ScienceofLoud]

I was watching a few old ones on ebay for a while, but those prices were also a contributing factor for why it's taken me so long to own a 421.

[@ichibandude]

I prefer MD421 II. It has more clear top end which will be better for my voice. If you want milder tone, kompakt might work.

[@bachmannmanuel1562]

is it just me, or seems to sound the 421 a bit "wider" than the compact?

[@klausfritsch4350]

If anything, the Kompakt sounds better to my ears.

[@pacocalimari]

Kompakt seem a little more high Mid. It should really sound the same if its supposed to be a smaller version of the same thing. (my opinion)

[@yackohoopy]

The regular MD421 has a beefier low end and the compakt sounds like the high mids seem to come through more.

[@andrewooleongwei3543]

still md421 classic deliver more details

[@ChunterInfo]

The real test is going to be switching the same capsule between the two bodies

[@Bloor005]

Might not work. Sometimes one generates more voltage or current than another.

[@JamesTLangford]

@@Bloor005 remember the original has eq settings research that i'm supprised he didn't mention that

[@DMSProduktions]

A bit of difference but they AREN'T drastic! ARE there generic copies of this type of mic?

[@Bloor005]

If you cant afford the Kompakt then the e906 and e609 are voiced similarly for half the price. Also look at tom/kick mics by Audix, Subzero, SE, etc. These can be had dirt cheap used as people dont realise what they have or sometimes buy them for the wrong reason.

[@DMSProduktions]

@@Bloor005 Cool! I know the Behringer copy mic is pretty identical to the Senheiser. I will look those up! Thanks Flapper!

[@Bloor005]

@@DMSProduktions dont buy the behringer. Terrible company. Their mics have the same shape bodies but the gubbins are vastly different ..even a used e609 will be cheap but reliable considering. Subzero do a 57 copy thats pretty good too

[@DMSProduktions]

@@Bloor005 I've had LITTLE problem with Behringer mics!

[@samchoate1719]

@@DMSProduktionstheir beta 91 copy sounds like doodoo

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

I need to confess. I always thought the 421 was specifically for drums, so I never gave the 421 the time of day.

[@ScienceofLoud]

421 is fantastic on drums and the Kompakt will make micing toms easier - they even sell it bundled with drum clips. However, I've always known it as a guitar cab mic. If the guitar wasn't captured with a SM57, there's a good bet it was captured with an MD421! It has a mostly flat response up until the upper mids where it gets more sensitive, so it works exceptionally well for high gain guitar tones where you really need the tone to bite.

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

Should I use it in conjunction with an SM57, or outright replace the SM57? (For context, this in Drop A, Dual Rectifier, and a Rockerverb.)

[@lylaznboi01]

Most of the time, I see it used in conjunction with an SM57 in a rock/metal guitar mix where, if it's in phase correctly, can give more body to the guitar tone than just your standard SM57 by itself.

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

Thank you for the advice.

[@Bloor005]

If you've heard Undertow by Tool, its on the guitar and bass cabs. Its also on mid 80s Van Halen blended with a 57 iirc.

[@TheNocturnalEvil]

The Kompakt sounds a lot like the original non neodymium MD 421.

[@KubaTestujeTV]

Like kompakt more

[@gorbrushthreepwood]

I just record everything through my old PS2 Rock Band mic. It does the job perfectly, as long as the job is to sound utterly abhorrent.

[@wintyrqueen]

Those sound notably different. I prefer the compact

[@flapjack413]

New one's a little brighter, old one's a little honkier in the low mids.

[@bryancahill2949]

Sennheiser?? more like... SLAMheiser aammmiiirrrriiieeeeeghhhhhttttt