search box

The various types of microphonesThere are 4 different types of microphones and each has a purpose.

1- Dynamic microphones are for vocals mostly in live performance. The Shure SM57 dynamic mic is the most common microphone used to record snare and guitar cabinets in the studio but is also often used for vocals in many situation. Dynamic microphones do not require phantom power but phantom power doesn't kill the microphone either. They represent the human voice very well but have a fairly low bass response as well as a low high frequency response. These microphones are usually the cheapest and most common.

2- Condenser microphones can be used for just about anything. They are more fragile than dynamic mics so on stage use is less frequent but still are used on stage as well as the most common microphones in the studio. These require phantom power and come on the small and large diaphragm varieties. Large diaphragm are used commonly used for studio vocals, drum overheads, room mics, acoustic guitar, etc. They pick up more details than dynamic mics and can be switched to various pickup patterns which may be good or bad depending on what you are recording. These microphones can be some of the most expensive and the ones that are on the cheap side tend to be very low quality.

3- Ribbon microphones are very fragile and can be destroyed with phantom power. But they most closely record exactly the way the human ear is hearing live. This can be used in many situations. Very good for live orchestra recording as well as a superior room microphone. In very loud situations such as guitar cabinets the ribbons in the mic can be destroyed, they only have a certain tolerance of db. There is generally not a cheap ribbon mic but they can range from mid price to very expensive.

4- Piezoelectric microphones (sometimes called pressure microphones) are used for 2 things mainly. They can be placed on a mall or floor to get a cool room sound or inside of a bass drum to capture the sustain of the bass drum in combination with another mic used to capture the attack. It works when pressure is applied to it. So It can pick up sounds that are difficult to hear with out picking up the room noise other mics would. There are not many of these made but they are all in the mid-range price and a very similar in response.There are other types of more abstract microphones but these 4 are the ones almost always used either in the studio or on stage. Depending on what you are recording, your microphone choice can be very different but they all serve their purpose.