With today’s technological advancements, you can freely choose a wide range of microphones. Audio companies now make microphones that can be used to record music, podcasts, games, and a lot of things. Not only that, but some microphones come with headphones, speakers, and webcams.

With that, you have to know about the different kinds of microphones and how they work to pick the best one for the job.

Getting to Know What a Microphone Is

Mics pick up sound waves in the air and turn them into the same kind of electrical signals. The output signals from the mic can be turned back into acoustic waves that can be used to recreate the original sound when sent to a mixer, an audio interface, studio monitors, or mixing headphones for recording. Before you can get good sound from your speaker, you need to make sure you’re getting good sound originally. Thus, we’ll show you the primary kinds of microphones and what to expect from them respectively.

Three Kinds of Microphones:

The three main types of microphones—dynamic microphones, condenser microphones, and ribbon microphones—each turn sound into electrical signals in their own unique ways. Let’s discuss each one of them below.

Condenser Microphones

The condenser microphone is the classy and sensitive cousin of the microphone. Who pays attention to details and tends to tell the truth. It’s easy for these kinds of microphones to pick up all the different frequencies of sounds.

Like dynamic mics, most condenser microphones have a polyester (called BoPET) diaphragm. But in condenser mics, they’re gold-coated and lighter.

The diaphragm is surrounded by a metal plate that is electrically charged, called a “capacitor.” Because of this, these microphones are sometimes called capacitor mics. For a home recording studio, condenser mics are the best choice.

Condenser mics are great for vocals, acoustic guitar, and any other high-end instrument that needs to be clear. There is a sense of air and transparency in recordings made with condenser microphones. And with these kinds of mics, you can pick up everything from the highest frequencies to the smallest details.

Perks:

·       With a condenser microphone, you can hear everything, even the room’s size and shape. If your room hasn’t been treated for sound, this could be a problem. Since this is the case, you might want to get a good dynamic mic instead.

·       Most USB mics today are actually condenser mics. The USB port on the computer gives them power. USB mics are a one-stop solution because the microphone and preamp are both built-in. It’s good for podcasts and YouTube because it can pick up on the subtleties of spoken language.

·       You can change the pickup pattern on some large diaphragm condenser microphones, but most of them have a cardioid pattern – it’s amazing how many different ways these kinds of microphones can be used. They’re pricey, but the recording studio thinks they’re worth it.

Ribbon Microphones

Ribbon mics probably sound the most natural and warm out of all the microphone types. Most of the time, they record instruments pretty close to how you hear them.

The ribbon microphone is a classic retro mic that comes from the golden age of radio. That’s how I’d describe it: the sensual and classy aunt of the microphone family. These microphones sound bigger than life, and they will give your recordings a silky warmth. This “ribbon” is very sensitive to how fast air particles are moving. Its small movements send a tiny electrical signal to a transformer to make it stronger.

Usually, ribbon mics don’t put out very much sound. But some new ribbon mics have an extra stage called a preamp that boosts the sound. This kind of mic is called an “active ribbon mic,” and it needs phantom power.

Perks:

·       A choice for classical music, these microphones sound great on acoustic guitars and grand pianos. The string and brass sections in orchestras can sound harsh when recorded with other types of mics, but these mics can really warm them up.

·       Ribbon microphones exhibit a strong close-up effect. So, the closer they are to the sound source, the deeper the bass their speakers pick up. Podcast hosts use this by talking close to the mic to get a deep, authoritative sound. They’re frequent in any of Led Zeppelin or The Beatles recordings.

Dynamic Microphones

A real workhorse in the studio, Dynamic microphones are the rougher, more durable kids in the microphone family. They’re easy to use and can work well under pressure – the stress of a live show doesn’t bother them.

Some dynamic microphones have thin diaphragms made of a material called BoPET. A copper coil is connected to the diaphragm, and a magnet stays inside that coil. As a sound wave hits the diaphragm, it vibrates, which moves the coil. Because of this, it’s also called a “moving coil” microphone sometimes.

The coil builds up an electric charge as it oscillates back and forth across the magnet. This signal is sent to the audio interface through the cable to be amplified. In reverse, dynamic microphones work like speakers. An actual speaker can be used as a microphone!

Perks:

·       Many singers choose dynamic microphones for live performances because they are flexible. Of course, because they are less sensitive, these microphones are less likely to feedback sound on stage.

·       Dynamic mics work well with sound sources that are close and loud. Another great thing about it is that it can record loud instruments.

·       They work well with instruments that have a strong low to mid-range presence because of their frequency range. You shouldn’t use them to try to record a delicate top end. But these microphones work well with bright instruments because they can tone down any harshness.

Conclusion:

Selecting the perfect microphone for your voice is very important for obtaining high-quality recordings. Selecting a good mic for vocals requires you to think about three things.

Remind yourself that musicians and rappers all have their own voice, style, and range. Sometimes, it has to do with finding a microphone that works well with the way the voice sounds. Overall, with the right amount of research, you will find the perfect microphone to match your skills and talents as a singer or music producer.