Which Mic do I use?

September 24, 2009 | By Max Penning In Sound Basics |

So you’re getting ready to record your friends in his basement playing his guitar. You’re getting ready to set up and you pull out a couple of microphones. Which Mic do I use? There really isn’t a simple answer. Ask yourself a question, what do I want it to sounds like. There are hundreds of microphones out on the market, some are cheap, and some are way out of price for most home hobbyists. No matter what mics you do have, you need to know what they are capable of because mics can change the characteristics of sound.I’m going to talk about three different types of microphones today and hopefully it will help you make a decision on which to use. The three types are Dynamic, Condenser and Ribbon.

Dynamic Mics

Usually have rougher responses
Are rugged and reliable
Work in hot, cold, and high humidity
Can handle higher volume without distorting
Great for drums and amps (can take the edge off of instruments)

Ribbon

Gives sound a warm smooth tone.
Delicate and easy to brake
Great for digital recording

Condenser

Smooth and wide range of frequency response
Detailed with extended high frequencies
Sharp and clear with transient attacks
Great for vocals, cymbals, and acoustic instruments.

Now that we know the different types of mics, they can also have different traits as well. Microphones have what is called a Polar Pattern. This patter shows how well a mic can pick up a sound from a given direction. There are five polar patterns that you should be aware of when selecting a mic. These are: Omni, Cardioid, Supercardioid, Hypercardioid, and Bidirectional. Any omnidirectional mic can pick up sounds equally from all directions, while a cardioid will pick up sound from the front and zero from the back. He are some illustrations that are found in the specs of microphones.