In my last post I discussed recording software that I use for
music production. In this post I will be discussing another great asset for
music producers, microphones. Microphones are used to record audio or sound,
which can be anything from vocals in a studio, to recording a guitar amp and
live drums. Even though all microphones accomplish the same goal, there are
different classifications of microphones, the three most popular being
condenser, dynamic and ribbon. Every microphone is different in regards to its
frequency range (the range of frequencies the microphone is able to
pickup/record) and its polar pattern (the direction in which the audio is
recorded). Despite the fact that all microphones can record sound, some are
better for certain uses over others.
Condenser Microphones
The first class of microphone I will talk about is the
Condenser Microphone. Condenser microphones use a capacitor to convert
acoustical energy into electrical energy. The capacitor is made up of two
plates with a voltage passing in between them. One of the plates known as the diaphragm
vibrates when sound waves hit it, changing the distance between the two plates
and therefore changing the capacitance. Condenser microphones also require a
constant voltage, which can sometimes be supplied by a battery in the mic, but
usually comes from an external power source known as phantom power, which uses
48v exactly. This is also something to take into consideration when buying this
type of microphone as it will need an audio interface that can provide the
phantom power, otherwise it will not work. There are a lot of great affordable condenser mics out there. Starting from cheapest to most expensive, three that I would recommend are the Audio Technica AT-2020, the AKG C214, and the AKG C414. All are great mics and are really good with recording vocals. The AKG C414 is also great with recording live drum rooms as it gives a nice crisp full sound.
Dynamic Microphones
Dynamic microphones are generally more durable and stronger
than condenser microphones and are ideal for general-purpose uses. The dynamic microphone uses a wire coil and magnet to create the audio signal. Dynamic
microphones are also better suited for handling high volume levels making them ideal
for recording drums and guitar amps. The Shure SM58 dynamic microphone is often
used at live shows because they are generally cheap and can take a beating and
still work great! Another great dynamic microphone is the Electro Voice RE20.
It is often seen in radio stations, but is also great on kick drums. The
Sennheiser e604 microphones are great for recording toms and can take a hit
from the drummer’s stick and will still work. Dynamic microphones can be used
for microphones, but are generally used from recording drums because of their
sturdy exterior.
Before you purchase a microphone be sure to ask
yourself a few questions like, “What do I need from this microphone, what am I going
to use it for and most importantly, how much am I willing to pay?” Once you ask
yourself those three questions your list of possibilities should drop considerably
and you should be able to narrow your list down to one. Also be sure to keep a
clear vision of what you want to achieve out of your microphones, because even
though any microphone can be used to record virtually anything, certain
microphones are better suited in certain situations over others.
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