You’ve most likely heard about Earthworks by now. This microphone company has become one of the most loved brands among drummers, and they offer a wide range of impressively high-tier mic options.
In this review, we’re going to look at the matched pair of Earthworks QTC40s. These can be used as overhead drum mics, and they’ll make your drum kit sound amazing.
We’ll look at all their features and see what makes them so good. We’ll also explain who they’re a good option for.
The QTC40 microphones have a small-diaphragm pencil condenser shape. The shape is a bit more unique than most other pencil condensers, though, as the mics are thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom.
They have an omnidirectional polar pattern, a max SPL of 140dB, and they require 48V of phantom power to operate.
When you buy this matched pair, you get two mic clips and a fairly large box to carry them in.
One of the best things about Earthworks microphones is that they offer unmatched accuracy. When you use the QTC40s as overheads, you’re going to get the exact same sounds that you hear in the room.
This is great for drummers that have dialled a certain sound in with their drum setup and want that to transfer through the microphones that they use.
The mics also offer pristine clarity and articulation. You can easily hear every subtle detail of what you play on the drums and cymbals.
They’re not the quietest microphones out there, though. However, that’s not something to worry too much about when it comes to drumming.
The construction quality of each QTC40 microphone is immaculate. The outer casing feels very solid, and the shiny silver finish is the hallmark touch of most Earthworks microphones.
The mics have an omnidirectional polar pattern, meaning you can do a bit more with them than other overhead mics that have cardioid patterns.
People often get confused between these mics and the Earthworks SR25s. The defining visual feature of the QTC40s is the purple stripe near the center of the casing.
The QTC40s are a dream to work with. The accuracy, richness, and detail that they offer make them an excellent set of mics to own.
These are the kind of microphones that you can use when you want to get certain drum sounds. They’ll make it easy to achieve those in the mix.
A pair of these microphones cost around $2000, meaning you’re paying about $1000 per microphone. That’s quite expensive for most drummers, considering that some of the most popular overhead mics only cost a few hundred dollars each.
However, the quality you get from these is completely superior. So, they’re well worth paying the high price. You also won’t need to get any other overhead mics for many years to come due to them being so durable.
As we said earlier, you can utilize these microphones to get very diverse types of drum mixes. This makes them excellent for studio applications. If you’re recording different types of music, the QTC40s will cover it all when it comes to changing your drum sounds.
They also work great for live gigging settings. The accuracy they offer means that they tend to accent the sound of the room you’re in. That can be both a good and bad thing. So, you just need to put them in appropriate placements and make sure that you’ve optimized your setup.
If we were to pick between the Earthworks QTC40s and SR25s, we would most likely go with the SR25s due to them costing less. However, the QTC40s are a better option if you can afford them.
They do such a great job of bringing out the finer details of your drum kit, and they always stay true to how your drum kit sounds in the room.
Drum Teacher
Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.
Find useful lessons, tips and reviews for any drummer. From beginners to professionals there’s always something new to learn and improve. Join our Newsletter for exclusive advice!
11407 SW Amu St Suite #ABM436 Tualatin, OR 97062
There may be affiliate links on this website, which means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to our readers.
© All rights reserved Copyright 2024
Subscribe to our ninja mailing list and get a Free E-book!
Subscribe to our ninja mailing list and get a Free E-book!
