Microphones

This page aims to give you a good knowledge of the different designs of microphones and what their different properties are and why you would choose one microphone over another for a particular recording task.

Types of Microphones

The mics the University have fall into three main categories:

dynamic
condenser
ribbon

The main choice you will use is between dynamic and condenser and that's what we're going to focus on. This video explains in detail the different types of microphone design and introduces the idea of frequency response and polar patterns.

You can use the frequency response data to judge how the microphone hears the world, and the polar pattern tells you how sensitive the microphone is to sounds coming from different directions. The video to the right is taken from a course on Lynda.com and explains the difference between the Dynamic, Condenser and Ribbon Microphone designs.

Dynamic micsGreg Wurth explains that a dynamic microphone is based around a magnetic moving coil called a diaphragm. He discusses the specifications for this mic type, which include a unidirectional polar pattern as well as a tolerance for high sound-pressure levels. He shares the history and features of several classic microphones that are found in professional recording studios.

Dynamic Microphones

Dynamic Microphones are durable and suitable for a large variety of different recording applications. There's another great video that explains in detail how dynamic microphones work. Here's a brief rundown of the main features:

Hard wearing and durable
Useful in variety of recording applications.
Limited response in upper frequencies due to heavy diaphragm.
Don't require external power for operation.
Uni-Directional Cardioid Pick Up Pattern.
Can handle high sound pressure levels and therefore well suited to the live environment.
Commonly found on drums, guitar amps and other loud sources.

Condenser Microphones

Condenser microphones have a different set of characteristics that mean they are better at recording high frequency detail. The finer points are discussed in the video embedded to the right. Here's a list of the main points:

Wide frequency response, especially well suited to picking up mid and high frequency detail.
Commonly used for recording vocals in a recording studio setting.
Can be made in a variety of pick up patterns and some even have selectable pick up patterns.
Always require external power in the form of phantom power or +48v.

Condenser micsGreg Wurth explains that a condenser microphone is based around a circular diaphragm. He discusses the specifications for this mic type, which includes multiple polar patterns as well as high sensitivity and detail over a broad frequency range. He shares the history and features of several classic microphones that are found in professional recording studios.

Microphones that you can borrow via SISO

The asset store has a variety of microphones that you are welcome to use, here's a list of the mics and what we recommend you might use them for:

AKG C414

This is a large diaphragm condenser microphone with selectable pick up patterns. This has a fairly flat frequency response and can be set to Omni, Cardioid or Figure 8 pickup patterns. You can also adjust how sensitive the mic is by using the 'PAD' switch and take away bass frequencies with the bass roll off selector. This would be a good choice for recording vocals in a recording studio setting.

Sennheiser 416 with Rycote Suspension Mount

This microphone is a hyper cardioid small diaphragm condenser mic. This means it is very sensitive in the direction it is pointed and rejects sounds from other directions really well. This makes it ideal for operating on a boom and recording location sound.

Rode NTG3

This is another version of the mic design mentioned above, this is what is supplied in the Sony X70 Camera kits, ideal for recording in busy locations, very directional so make sure you wear headphones and listen to what the mic is picking up as you record.

Shure SM58

Dynamic Microphone, great for live applications such as vocals or speech. Very rugged and useful in loud live applications such as music gigs.

Written by RW

Below is a selection of useful videos from Rode about recording location sound:

An explanation of different types of microphones and when to use them for location recordings:

An explanation on how wind affects a microphone and sound recordings.

Wireless mics: