If you’re looking for a good dynamic microphone to use for drums, Electro-Voice isn’t one of the popular brands that you’ll see being recommended. However, they offer some fantastic options, including the ND44.
In this review, we’re going to take a deeper look into this microphone to see if it’s worth getting as a tom or snare drum mic.
The Electro-Voice ND44 is a large-diaphragm dynamic mic with a fairly unique casing. It has an offset XLR jack and a low-profile pivoting head.
It has a tight cardioid polar pattern, along with an incredibly high sound pressure level.
When you purchase this mic, it comes with a neat carry case as well as a rim mount to place it on a counter hoop.
The great thing about this ND44 microphone is that it works well on both snare drums and toms. However, we thought it sounded a lot better on toms, whereas a snare drum mic may need a bit more detail.
We were impressed by how accurate it made the toms sound, reflecting the same sounds that you can hear in person. This is thanks to the tight polar pattern.
The mic also doesn’t make a lot of noise due to the internal shock mount that stops sympathetic vibrations.
We wouldn’t say the quality is as good as higher-end mics, but it’s perfect for drummers looking for something in the mid-range that’s affordable.
The construction quality is arguably the best part of the Electro-Voice ND44 microphone. The most notable feature is the offset XLR jack, as it makes positioning the mic incredibly easy. You never need to worry about cables getting in the way once you’ve placed it.
It also has the DRC-2 rim clamp, which has a clever pull and push design that stops you from needing to tighten and loosen the clamp to get it off a rim.
Lastly, the diaphragm is relatively small, so the mic will keep a low profile when placed on a drum.
The ND44 mic is highly reliable. You can take it out with you on the road or keep it in your practice room, and you’ll typically get the same results.
The accuracy of tom tones is the standout part of how it performs, but you can get a decent snare drum sound too.
The accuracy reduces the amount of time that you need to spend on EQing, which is fantastic for all drummers that use microphones.
The price tag of the ND44 isn’t very high, but it’s not low either. It costs a bit more than what you’d spend on a Shure SM57, but it’s not nearly as expensive as something like an Earthworks microphone.
We think the price-to-value is quite good, as you can happily use this microphone in professional environments. If you have a full drum kit to mic, getting three of these to place on your toms won’t set you back by much.
Yes, the ND44 is definitely a pro mic that you can use at live gigs and in recording studios. It has excellent sound quality, and it makes mixing and EQing your drums relatively simple.
However, it’s essentially a mid-range microphone, and there are better options out there if you want superior quality.
You can, but you may find that it lacks depth in the bass frequencies. It’s better to use dedicated bass drum microphones, as they’re designed to pick up all the low-end sounds accurately.
Overall, we highly recommend getting a few Electro-Voice ND44s for your toms. You can also get one for your snare drum, but the accuracy this mic has on toms is a lot more notable.
It’s not too expensive, and the clever diaphragm design and rim mount mechanism make it a lot easier to use than many other microphones.
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.
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