TL;DR
- Sennheiser offers microphones for every recording need—from home studios to professional setups.
- Three tiers covered: Affordable, Intermediate, and Pro, each with recommended mics for vocals, drums, and instruments.
- Popular models include e 835, e 600 Drum Mic Set, MK 4, MD 421-II, and MK 8.
- Build a mic locker that fits your budget and delivers natural, high-quality sound.
When most people think of Sennheiser, they picture a concert stage, wireless systems, and some of our most popular dynamic mics. Yet those same engineers who perfected live microphones also created tools that thrive in the studio. From top sellers like the Evolution Series to the refined MK condenser microphones, our range covers everything from home recording to high-end audio recording facilities. These mics can handle low frequencies, high SPLs, and a wide response range with remarkable design consistency.
Whether you record vocals, drums, or traditional instruments like woodwind instruments or brass, these mics deliver a very natural sound to your tracks. Best of all, there are plenty to choose from at different price points.
Here we’ll look at three complete recording microphone collections built entirely around Sennheiser microphones. Each one fits a different level of experience, budget, and studio size.
Affordable Tier: The Smart Start for Small Studios
This tier is perfect for home studios and musicians building their first recording setup. You may be working in smaller rooms or untreated spaces, so you need reliable, affordable gear that performs in any environment and a variety of recording applications.
Vocal Mic: e 835
The e 835 is a cardioid dynamic vocal microphone known for its clarity, consistency, and ruggedness. It’s one of Sennheiser’s most popular dynamic mics because it provides excellent typical cardioid cancellation, cutting unwanted room reflections while keeping your tracks isolated from other instruments and handling noise.
Drum Mics: e 600 Drum Mic Set
An all-in-one practical kit that saves you money by bundling mics for kick, snare, toms, and stereo overheads. Though designed for live use, each microphone in the e 600 Drum Mic Set is carefully tuned to bring out the best in your drums.
Includes:
- 1x e 602-II
- 4x e 604
- 2x e 614
Instrument Mic: e 609 Silver
This flat-profile dynamic mic is an industry standard on electric guitars and percussion. Its clear sound and square form factor make it easy to position and get great sounds that sit right in the mix.
Intermediate Tier: Studio Versatility for the Serious Creator
The Intermediate Tier is for when you’ve grown beyond basic demos and are starting to fill your time with professional sessions. You’ll want mics that reveal nuance, handle the lowest frequencies cleanly, and capture very natural sound across multiple sources without breaking the bank.
Vocal Mic: e 965 or MK 4
The e 965 is a large-diaphragm microphone offering condenser detail in a handheld form. The MK 4, part of the MK mic family, is a more traditional true condenser with an extended frequency range and a sound that suits almost any voice. Both are excellent options here. Go with the one that fits your vocalist’s recording style.
Tom Mics: e 604
The e 604 drum mics are a fantastic option in any tier. Not only are they voiced specifically for percussion, but they come with an integral stand mount and clip that attaches right to the rim of your drums.
Snare Mic: MD 421 Kompakt
The MD 421 has long been a favorite snare mic for countless audio engineers. The MD 421 Kompakt puts that mic’s legendary performance in a smaller package that’s easier to position and place around crowded drum sets.
Kick Drum Mic: e 902
Designed for low frequencies, the e 902 is the Evolution Series’ flagship kick mic. Delivering deep bass response with clear attack, it reproduces both the fundamental and the snap of the beater beautifully. It also doubles as a highly regarded bass cabinet microphone.
Drum Overheads: MK 8
The Sennheiser MK Series condenser mics were designed as premium vocal microphones. But that’s only one of their strengths. Throw the MK 8 up as a mono drum overhead, and its large-diaphragm, multi-pattern versatility delivers huge, warm percussion tracks.
Instrument Mics: e 609 Silver or MD 421-II
No matter which tier you’re interested in, the e 609 Silver is always a great guitar and instrument mic. That said, we also suggest the MD 421-II, as it’s one of the most famous guitar cab recording mics in history. Its blend of midrange detail and clarity capture the whole guitar tone while ensuring it cuts through the mix.
Pro Tier: The Full-Scale Sennheiser Studio
Even established studios, professional engineers, and producers can build a fantastic mic locker using Sennheiser gear. This tier provides flexibility for stereo techniques, complex drum setups, detailed acoustic recordings, and everything in between.
Vocal Mic: MK 8
The Sennheiser MK 8 is our flagship large-diaphragm vocal microphone. It switches between five polar patterns, features a 3-position low-cut/roll-off filter, and a 3-position pad. All that, and it still delivers excellent studio-quality vocal tracks with a warm, precise character.
Tom and Snare Mics: MD 421 Kompakt
Head to any professional studio and you’re likely to see a 421 on the drum kit. This studio-standard is among our most popular dynamic mics for drummers. They love its clarity and precision, even under extremely high SPLs. And, of course, the Kompakt’s smaller size is an answered prayer around crowded drum kits and mic stands.
Drum Overheads: Dual MK 8s (Stereo)
Using a matched pair of MK 8s provides a detailed stereo field with very natural sound. These dual-diaphragm condensers’ extended frequency range gives you a big, warm sound, ideal for massive rock drums.
Kick Drum Mics: e 902 and e 901
Seeing as we’re in the Pro Tier, we’re going to recommend two kick mics. Combining the e 902 as an external mic and the e 901 inside the drum, they give you a complete sonic picture of a bass drum’s power and attack. Both mics offer excellent sound on their own, but when you blend them together, you’ll see why we recommend both.
Instrument Mics: MD 421-II, e 906, and MD 441
No Pro Tier studio has only one instrument microphone. So we gathered three of our most popular models to ensure you have a full palette of sonic options. Whether you grab the iconic MD-421-II, the e 906 for its added flexibility, or the ultra-precise MD 441, they’ll be great on electric guitars, woodwind instruments, double bass, and just about everything else.
Room Mic: MKH 8030
A great room microphone is the key to giving your recordings a professional finish. We recommend the MKH 8030 figure-8 condenser. It rejects unwanted reflections while maintaining a balanced, natural sound that’s ideal for M-S, double M-S, and Blumlein stereo recording.
Why Sennheiser Belongs in the Studio
Sennheiser microphones may be known for their stage heritage, but they’ve earned respect among audio professionals worldwide. The MK microphones represent our evolution into high-end recording, offering true condenser microphone performance with smooth response. And the MD 421-II, MD 441, and e 609 Silver are all studio favorites, especially on electric guitars and drums.
Our mics are also designed for harsh environments and a wide variety of recording applications. Their robust housings, low self-noise, and remarkable consistency make them easy to use in any room.
For many audio recording professionals, Sennheiser’s blend of reliability and fidelity provides exactly what’s needed: microphones that can survive constant use while delivering very natural sound session after session. Explore the full range of Sennheiser microphones at Sennheiser.com, and build the perfect mic collection for your recording needs.
