MALIK ARSHAQ
BEGINNERS GUIDE TO MICROPHONES
While considering any kind of recording set up , microphones play an indispensable role in determining the quality and texture of sound that you will ultimately have to work with . Considering the fact that microphones are as diverse as the various purposes that they ' re used to serve , it is crucial to understand what exactly you will be needing to fulfil your requirements . In this month ' s edition of " Beginner ' s Guide " , we ' ll be looking into the different kinds of microphones , their workings and how you can decide on which microphone to pick based on your requirements as well as budget .
Microphones can be broadly classified into condenser mics , dynamic mics , ribbon mics and USB mics based on their working . Condenser mics , unlike dynamic mics , need to be powered by phantom power ( 48V ). Based on the size of their diaphragms , they can be classified into large diaphragm and small diaphragm microphones . Large diaphragm mics are ideal for recording vocals in a studio environment while small diaphragm mics specialize in recording instruments that are rich high frequency detail like cymbals and acoustic guitars . Dynamic mics on the other hand employ the use of heavier diaphragms . As a result , condenser mics are preferred to capture the low intensity high frequency sounds because the heavier diaphragms of dynamic mics are far less responsive to them . But in the case of high Sound Pressure Level ( SPL ) sources ( such as drums ) , dynamics mics are ideal as their diaphragms are way more durable . Dynamic microphones are generally preferred over condensers for on-stage purposes because they allow for higher gain before feedback since they ' re less sensitive , they have a pretty high resistance to moisture and humidity and their overall design and build allows them to be handled more roughly .
Ribbon microphones are distinctly different from condenser and dynamic mics because rather than using a diaphragm , they use a thin aluminium ribbon to capture sound . These microphones have a " figure of 8 " polar pattern which basically means that they only pick up sound information from the front and the back of the mic . These mics are usually pretty expensive because of their unique sound and isn ' t a very common accessory in most home studios . Maintaining a ribbon mic is also very important because the ribbon is quite fragile and can get damaged quite easily if not handled with care .
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With the rise of bedroom studios and podcasting , USB microphones have become extremely popular . Unlike the rest of the microphones mentioned above , USB microphones do not function through an XLR connection but are powered by a USB connection . Since they do not need pre-amps , an interface or any other equipment other than the laptop to record , they have become an ideal option for anyone looking to dabble in home recording without having to invest in a lot of equipment . Most sound engineers though will frown upon the use of USB mics because the digitizing of the signal happens in the microphone itself , which isn ' t as good when compared to the quality of digitizing done by an audio interface .
We will also be addressing a few microphones that cater to a more specific purpose . Shotgun microphones are known for their unique ability to isolate sound . They do so , using a design known as an interference tube , which features a series of slots designed to reject off-axis noise which results in a narrow pickup angle . Using these mics , you can record further from the sound source , in much noisier environments . These mics are often used for outdoor tasks such as news reporting and wildlife documentation . Boundary mics , rather than using a mic stand , mount against a flat surface in the room , such as the floor or wall . While other mics suffer from comb filtering ( occurs when direct and reflected sound combines out-of-phase to amplify or attenuate the signal ), boundary mics are less susceptible because of their design . Outside the studio , they ’ re used in conference rooms or theatre performances by laying it on the stage or on a table . They ’ re also used as room mics by mounting it on a wall and most as a kick drum " in " mic by laying it inside the shell in studios as well as on stage . While an average dynamic mic does okay on bass instruments , to capture those sub frequencies most engineers prefer a specific kind of mic designed for just that purpose , known as a bass or a kick drum mic . These microphones work beautifully in capturing the full weight of a kick drum ' s sound as they have a low end boost , a small scoop in the mids and usually a presence boost around 4k . They can be used just as well on bass cabinets as well as other instruments that have a lot of low end information .
After you get more accustomed to using each of these microphones for different purposes and get more familiar with polar patterns , you might be interested in getting your hands on a multi-pattern mic . " Polar pattern " refers to a microphone ' s directionality or pickup pattern , i . e the three