Sennheiser e 604

The clip-on tom and snare dynamic that lives on drum rims worldwide. The integrated clamp grips the hoop — no stand, no boom arm creeping mid-set — and the glass-fibre body shrugs off stick hits that would end prettier mics.

For drummers and engineers miking toms without clutter: clip, aim, play. The cardioid pattern keeps cymbal bleed civilised, and being a dynamic it needs no phantom power.

Three of them across rack and floor toms is the classic move. It covers snare in a pinch too, though snare usually gets its own dedicated mic.