In terms of microphones, it’s crucial to choose the appropriate one for the task. It’s like trying to push a screw in with a hammer while holding the wrong microphone. Even if you succeed, it won’t be done appropriately. There isn’t a universal microphone, just as there isn’t a universal tool. A wide variety of choices exist that may be used in various contexts. To choose the right microphone, you must first decide what its use is.
It’s not just about picking a live performance and a studio microphone. As a starting point, decide if an instrument mic, drum-mic or vocal-mic is required. Determining what kind of audio you want to capture is perhaps the most critical stage in obtaining high-quality audio. Even if you get the most expensive microphone, the sound quality will be subpar if you’re recording in the incorrect setting. As per forecasts, the demand for microphones and other audio-visual equipment in Australia is expected to double in the next five years.
What kind of microphones are there?
Once you have a clear idea of what you want to capture, we can go on to the fun part. If you’ve never heard the phrase before, the nitty-gritty specifics may be a bit perplexing. Generally speaking, microphones may be divided into two categories: condenser and dynamic.
1.Dynamic: Dynamic microphones are the most common. The mic that a performer or perhaps your favourite comedian uses on stage is most likely a dynamic microphone if you’ve ever seen one. These microphones are excellent in loud settings because they have an extended dynamic range. They’re equipped with an internal sound-sensing coil. When sound waves move the coil, an electrical signal is generated that may be recorded and played again. If you’re interviewing someone on the street or recording a live performance, these are great tools to have on hand. You can even use them to capture instruments like guitar. Additionally, dynamic microphones are preferable for these situations because the magnets and coils used are stronger than those in various microphones. They’re not challenging, but they can often take a pounding before they’re smashed to pieces.
2.Condenser: Condenser microphones, on the other hand, are widely used. Instead of using a coil and magnets, this system utilizes capacitor plates. Technically speaking, you may go as far as you want. But for now, you should know that they are more sensitive to tiny vibrations compared to dynamic microphones. Condenser microphones should never be used with bass drums, even if they are dynamic. They can be handy while recording podcasts and used by singers for picking up minor nuances in their voice. Because capacitor plates in condenser microphones are more brittle than in dynamic microphones, their applications tend to be more static. These microphones are popularly known as studio microphones.
What are polar patterns?
To describe a mic’s sensitivity pattern, we may use the polar pattern. This pattern describes the direction from which an incoming sound is accepted or ignored. Sound originating from any direction will be picked up by an omnidirectional microphone. When using a Figure 8 microphone, also known as a bi-directional microphone, you may pick up noises coming in from the east and west but not the north and south. If you use a unidirectional mic, you’ll only be able to hear noises coming from one way.
