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[tag-tec]Microphones[/tag-tec] are used to capture, amplify and communicate sound.

There are many different uses for microphones and literally 1000s of products on the market to choose from. Here you’ll learn how to quickly simplify your options by asking yourself a few key questions…

Microphones fall into categories based on

• Application – type of sound source, and where used
  • vocal, instrument, drum
  • live performance, studio or location recording
• Technology – how they are designed
  • dynamic mics
  • condenser microphones
  • ribbon mic
• Pick-up Pattern – sensitivity variation around the mic
  • omni-directional
  • Uni-directional
  • Bi-directional
  • Cardioid
• Connection – how they link to the audio system
  • wireless microphones
  • corded microphones
• Price range – how much they cost
  • consumer
  • home recording
  • professional

In this article you’ll learn how the way you plan to use your microphone should affect the kind of microphone you should select. (We’ll follow up shortly with a second article covering microphone technology, including pickup patterns etc.)

I question I’m often asked is “Would I be better spending my limited budget on one more expensive higher quality product, or to purchase several less expensive ones?”

Once you identify your needs and your budget, your search task becomes much more focused and manageable – so you save time, and probably money as well.

The Performance Microphone

Performance microphones are used for live performance and studio recording. They are equally relevant for everyday practice, or studio recording. There are four main types of performance microphones.

1. Vocal Mic

There are two categories of vocal microphones

• spoken word vocals
• singing vocals

It is important to identify what the main application of your vocal microphone will be because even though they are interchangeable, using the one best suited to your needs will deliver better results. A microphone for singing is generally just as effective for lead or back up vocals.

 

There are two main types of instrument microphones:

Each type is characterized by their different sensitivities, so you should choose the one designed for what your type of use.

2. Acoustic Instrument Mic

For example, if you are playing an acoustic guitar, a condenser microphone will sound better than a regular studio microphone.

3. Amplified Instrument Mic

Also, if you are playing a heavy style on electric guitar, you will need a microphone that can handle the sound volume and distortion levels.

4. Drum Mic

When miking percussion it is important to consider the diversity of needs and the variety of sounds.

There are microphones designed specifically for lower end bass drum sounds and others for close proximity use with other drum kit elements.

There are microphones on the market that can cover the entire drum kit, if having specific microphones for each section of the drum kit is not a viable option.

Wireless

There are different wireless microphone systems for each mic type. They vary in design in the same way as corded microphones do. Wireless microphone systems are very popular for live performance for obvious reasons, however as they are becoming more affordable and refined there are becoming more readily used in recording studios as well.

As with every performer, each microphone has its strengths and weaknesses.

Recording Microphones

Recording microphones are becoming more affordable and diversified with the growing popularity of home recording. Home recording has opened up the door for a variety of creative opportunities because recording to a hard drive is not expensive and you can avoid the time pressure of a traditional studio. A home studio allows you the ability and time to re-record and re-edit as many times as it takes with the only on-going expense being time and effort.

Reproducing vocal and instrument sound is an art, and using the right equipment is crucial. There are two main types of recording microphones:

1. Studio

A studio microphone is known for its diversity to record almost anything. The studio microphone is known to be durable and a flexible staple to any studio. This microphone has the ability to capture not only a variety of sounds but record effectively from an assortment of different sound sources.

(We’ll discuss this further in the next article.)

2. Condenser

The condenser microphone is the most common microphone used for home recording. Condenser microphones are characterized by their ability to be more sensitive to sound. This is due to their light construction and therefore they are known to be more accurate than most other types. Condenser microphones are used for their ability to record sound as it truly is. This is important for accurate sound reproduction but it can be a negative attribute because flaws are more easily heard.

As with most technical equipment there can be a lot of criteria that makes it successful. It is important to pair up the right instrument and or vocalist to the right microphone with the appropriate qualities. Performing and recording with microphones is a trial and error process. Every microphone has its own unique sound that will vary depending on the venue, the musician and the instrument. It is an individual choice and it really comes down to personal preference. Finding the winning combination can take some time but so does everything else in the world of music.

Filed under: Microphone Basics on July 1st, 2007