Earthworks DM20 Small-Diaphragm Condenser Review:
What To Expect from This Mic
Quality
The quality you get from the DM20 is the main thing that everyone looks forward to when they buy this mic. The best thing about it is that you get an extremely accurate recording that is true to the room that you’re playing in.
The overall tones are very clean and clear with a lot of punch, and you’d be surprised at how powerful this mic is compared to standard dynamic ones.
You can also EQ very well with a few of these.
Construction
The construction quality is top-notch. Typically, microphones with goosenecks can be a bit temperamental, but we’ve never heard of anyone having any issues with the gooseneck on a DM20 mic.
The gooseneck design allows you to position the mic in the most flexible ways, making it fantastic for getting that perfect tom or snare sound.
The silver casing also looks sleek and professional, and we love how it contrasts with the rims on a drum kit.
Performance
You’ll find that this DM20 has a lot more bleed than dynamic mics that you’d typically use on snares and toms. However, the bleed from the cymbals isn’t very intrusive, and it actually adds an overall wholeness to your drum mix.
You just need to place the mic in a way that stops as much bleed as possible. Positioning is everything and having the mic pick up more cymbal sounds than it should will make it hard to work within a mix.
Price Value Ratio
The price is the biggest drawback of the Earthworks DM20 microphone. It’s about three times more expensive than other industry-standard options for snare drums and toms.
However, you can get a much richer recording with this one, so it’s well worth spending the extra money. You’ll also use it for decades to come, so the investment will pay off quite quickly.