What are 3 different types of microphones for recording studio?
There’s an immense number of microphones available. Also, picking the best microphones is quite an intimidating task.
But it doesn’t have to be as woozying as it resembles. Even though the quantity of microphones in composition rises each year, there are only numerous ways to capture sound waves from the surrounding.
Microphones have become essential accessories in our daily life. Wethe if it is for recording on studio, having a phone call, or playing online games with friends, we use mic daily. Hence it is our responsibility to handle microphones carefully. With increase in damand of microhone, mic test is become essential before use. The best and easy way to check your mic is to carry a mic test online. Utilizing an online tool to test my mic will help you to recognize your mic functionaity, stability and quality better.
So if you understand what microphone type you necessitate, you’ll be able to narrow down your preferences and find the appropriate device for the job.
There are 3 types of microphone:
- Dynamic Microphones
- Small Diaphram Condensor Microphones
- Large Diaphram Condensor Microphones
- Ribbon Microphones
In this article, I’ll go through all the 4 most popular and beneficial microphone varieties. I will also explain what are for they made to do best.
Dynamic Microphones
Dynamic Microphones are the workhorses of the microphone society.
They’re affordable, durable, and sound excellent on some of the most popular references in the recording.
Utilizing a movable induction coil swung between the magnetic field, dynamic mics function like a speaker in return!
Dynamic mics are receptive to transients and deal with high SPL very nicely. It makes them a reasonable option for turbulent sources like guitar and drum kit close mics and bass cabs.
Given how versatile and affordable they are, there should surely be a dynamic mic or pair in your selection.
Also, if you only have a place for one, there’s actually only a single series contender: the Shure SM57. The all-rounder SM57 is one of the most convenient gadgets use in a recording.
Of course, there’s a variety of great dynamic designs that serve for tons of studio conditions including:
- Shure SM7B
- Sennheiser MD421
- Electrovoice RE20,
While all of these microphones are great alternatives, none have the superb slam price-to-performance rate of the SM57.
It’s the must opt-to choice of several engineers for guitar cabs and snare drums—without one home studio will be empty-box!
Small Diaphragm Condenser Microphones
Small Diaphragm Condensers (sometimes termed pencil condensers) are the smaller, small flashy cousin of the LDC.
But they’re just as convenient, notwithstanding their small stature. Small diaphragm condensers have an excellent transient response, elongated top end, and constant pickup patterns.
It makes them perfect for practical stereo techniques as well as acoustic tools. Luckily If you visit a classical melody recording session, the possibilities are you would see mostly SDCs.
They usually occur in sets for radio/hi-fi recording, so they’re individually powerful for producing precise stereo images of actual acoustic areas.
Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphones
Large diaphragm condenser microphones are apparently the first name that comes to the brain when you consider studio recording mics.
They’re the big, stylish, and serious-looking microphones that you often observe in most professional recording studio conditions.
Condenser microphones run on a capacitor (or condenser) to transform acoustic waves into electrical energy. That signifies they require a power source like 48V phantom power to function.
It also indicates that they’re very more responsive than dynamic mics or ribbon mics and results in a louder signal.
Their responsiveness makes them identical for soft or greatly dynamic mediums—like vocals!
Large diaphragm condensers manifest a number of sonically charming properties for voices. They help produce that “larger than life” noise that we compare with master studio vocals.
Condenser microphones with large-diaphragm exhibit a number of sonically pleasant sound quality.
But LDCs are efficient on all kinds of references. If you’re looking for one mic that can manage every task, think about a large-diaphragm condenser.
Many modern LDCs tender selectable polar patterns making them uncommonly versatile and beneficial in tons of variety on recording situations and one of the most suitable mics for building your studio around.
Ribbon Microphones
Ribbon technology dates back to the previous days of microphones. Photos from the old stage of television are filled with presenters talking into classic ribbon microphones.
The ribbon mic utilizes a super-thin (wait for it) ribbon of electro-conductive substance swung between the magnetic poles to produce their signal. Learn the defination of ribbon mic here.
Early ribbon devices were incredibly brittle. Moving them inappropriately, or even suppressing them to high SPL could let the ribbon damage.
But their quality sound was worth the trade-off instability. Ribbon mics are cherished for their empathetic, vintage resonance.
They’re suitable for when you want to tame extreme or rigid high-end: sources like drum overheads, guitar amps, or brass.
Ribbon microphones typically produce an exact figure-eight polar pattern and react to EQ much good.
Lit Tip: Yet though today’s ribbon microphones aren’t very as brittle as the previous devices, they’re still sensitive to breakage than dynamics or condensers. Hence, Be cautious while handling ribbons!
The most significant law of ribbons is: never supply 48V phantom power to ribbon microphones. You risk burning the ribbon itself!!!
Boundary Mics
You infrequently notice them used in home studios. And some studio proprietors have never still aware of them.
But to several experts, boundary mics (aka PZM mics) are crucial devices in their recording project.
Here’s their working principle:
Rather than utilizing a mic stand, boundary mics position against a horizontal surface in the studio, such as the wall or floor.
While other mics endure from comb filtering, (when linear and reflected acoustic combines out-of-phase), Boundary microphones are protected because up against a wall, the pair automatically lineup.
Shotgun Mics
While not ordinarily used in the recording workshops, Shotgun mics used so often in films and TVs. People usually wonder about what they’re.
Naturally used for outside work such as news reporting and wildlife documentation.
These mics are prized for their unique strength to segregate sound.
They do so, utilizing a design called an interference tube, which emphasizes a series of slots designed to deny off-axis sound. The larger the tube, the sharper the pickup angle.
Utilizing these mics, you can record distant from the sound origin, in much louder surroundings.
And while professional sound engineers might handle them in the studio infrequently, most like us will nevermore.
But at least luckily you know everything about them.
USB Mics
You will not see them in a professional studio. Also, until nearby 2005, they didn’t even exist.
But with the current rise of bedroom studios and streaming,
USB mics are NOW more widespread than ever.
Corresponded to regular mics which need preamps, interfaces, etc
USB microphones plug directly into your computer device, with no separate gear requirement. Some USB mic even work with tablets nicely!
This ease-of-use feature makes them identical for anyone who demands to diddle in-home recording without spending on a “real” studio.
Wireless Mics
Probably, the less used kind of microphones in-home sessions (or often pro studios for that matter), wireless microphones have raised huge in the past few years. It is Somewhat because of the increase in content creators and YouTubers, who demand quality sound in any circumstances, even when far away from the camera.
They’re the one “liberating” mic, on top of being essentially hidden.
Now going wireless indicates they’re also more complicated, whether it’s the frequency they work on, the circuitry type of the receiver, or simply the type of wireless mic.
Select microphone types carefully.
The selection of the right microphone is probably the most crucial factor that comes after the device quality. Hence for recording purposes, make the proper decision and opt for the right device. Consider all the factors before buying a microphone to obtain the best results.
Be prepared to get it right by choosing the right microphone design and opt for the most suitable mic for your demands.
Now that you understand when to pick dynamics, ribbons, or condensers, go back to your music and mic something up!