All About Microphones and Which One is Right For You
By Max on Dec 24, 2007 in Home Recording
It is a well known fact that you must have a good quality microphone when recording sound. Poor quality mics often do not push the entire signal through, causing it to sound like you’re singing into a tin or worse–frequency static.
So what is a good mic? In order to answer this question, you must understand the different types of mics and their places in sound.
Dynamic microphones
First there are “Dynamic” microphones. These are nothing more than speakers that have their wires switched so that they input sound instead of out. In fact an old studio trick for getting a great kick drum recording was to take a large speaker and switch its wires to make it a microphone. These are great mics for live performances as they are less sensitive by nature than other mics.
Condensor microphones
Next are “Condensor” microphones. Condensor mics are extremely sensitive and work best in the studio because they have limited use on stage. These microphones are generally found in studios and they pick up every available sound, regardless of whether or not you want them to.
The size of the diaphragm (the thing that actually converts the sound into an electrical signal) is usually the thing that defines how sensitive the mic will be. Most common condensor mics have diaphragms between 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Some higher models come with two diaphragms for added sensitivity and noise reduction, and also can make it a stereo signal.
Electret microphones
“Electret” microphones are basically the same as condensors, only smaller. These you usually find attached to small clips as seen on t.v. interviews, in churches, in toys, small voice recorders and cell phones. You will also find them in lower budget microphones used for film recording and on video cameras. These mics sometimes cause a lot of static in the recording when used improperly but can offer extremely good recordings otherwise.
Ribbon microphones
“Ribbon” microphones are even more sensitive than condensor mics. These work by using a strip of metal as the diaphram. Every time a sound hits the ribbon, it shakes, producing an electrical signal. These microphones were the main things used in radio stations and studios during the early part of the 20th century but fell out of fashion as they are extremely fragile. Recenelty they’ve made a comeback because of their sensitivity but are not widely used
Which one is right for you?
In choosing the right microphone, you want to remember that when recording, you want the most sensitive thing you can afford to give you the most “true” sound in relation to what you are recording. Obviously more budget mics will give you less of a true signal.
Before purchasing, look at the manual for the mic you have picked out. Toward the back of the manual, there should be a grid listed with the frequency response recorded on it. This tells you where the mic boosts sound (usually on the high/treble end) and where it lacks. You generally want to find something that is a flat line, but those are rare. Something that drops off in the lower (left hand side of the grid) frequencies and gives a little boost around the mid left hand side of the grid and is a great compromise.
So does this all mean that you need to spend a thousand dollars to get a good sound? Absolutely not. In fact I feel that people that people quite often spend too much money on the mic, neglecting useful software later on. But this does not mean that you will find something under a hundred dollars that is going to give you a quality recording, either. In my experience, having owned and used a full range of microphones, I suggest something in the price range of $200-$500.
My personal favorites
As for specific mics and their uses, for a stage performance, I use a standard Shure SM57 or SM58 (These are also great for recording guitar amps ina studio setting). For mic’ing drums from overhead, I use the AKG c414 and just watch the feedback. For recording loud and or screaming vocals I prefer the AKG d790 and for singing, the EV/BLUE Cardinal. If you can afford one I’d highly recommend the Blue Bluebird. This is an all-around excellent mic with a reputation for durability, decent sound, and moderate prices.
