Technology

Microphone Knowledge Overview

Posted on by Avoicemic

Microphone Knowledge Overview

Microphones can be broadly categorized into two types: condenser microphones and dynamic microphones.

Condenser Microphones: Simply put, condenser microphones use the principle of charging and discharging to make a thin metal or gold-plated plastic diaphragm sensitive to sound pressure, collecting sound signals and converting them into electrical signals.
Advantages: Wide frequency response, nuanced sound quality.
Disadvantages: Higher environmental requirements and generally more expensive than dynamic microphones. They are commonly used for karaoke, recordings, and live broadcasts.

Dynamic Microphones: Dynamic microphones are made using the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. When sound waves cause the diaphragm to vibrate, a coil attached to the diaphragm also vibrates, inducing an electrical current (electrical signal) in the magnetic field. This signal is amplified by a speaker and produces sound.
Advantages: Inexpensive and durable; many low-cost microphones available online are dynamic mics.
Disadvantages: The recorded sound tends to be muffled with a narrower frequency range. They are generally used in situations where sound quality requirements are not high, such as gaming or casual voice conversations.

Considerations Before Purchasing a Microphone

  1. Microphone Pickup DirectionRefer to the diagram below:

    • Cardioid Pattern: This pattern is versatile and suitable for all recording applications.
    • Shotgun Pattern: This has the narrowest pickup range and highest directivity among the six pickup patterns. It effectively captures distant sounds, though it’s more sensitive to direction.
    • Omnidirectional Pattern: These microphones pick up sound from 360°, resulting in more noticeable background noise. They are suitable for group singing or when accompanied by instruments.
    • Supercardioid Pattern: Similar to the cardioid pattern but also captures sound from the front and back, providing stereo sound while reducing unwanted noise from other directions.
    • Figure-8 Pattern: This pattern can record from the front and back while being less sensitive to sides, effectively filtering out lateral sounds.
  2. Microphone Diaphragm Size (Large Diaphragm vs. Small Diaphragm)
    • Small Diaphragm: Microphones of this type typically do not record as rich a sound and are suitable for recording low-frequency instruments due to their good transient response, particularly when sudden spikes in volume occur without distortion.
    • Large Diaphragm: These are ideal for recording vocals, as they detail mid-range frequencies well. However, their transient response may not be ideal, especially in cheaper models, which can distort when high notes are sung forcefully. High-end large diaphragm microphones generally do not exhibit these issues.
  3. Review Specifications
    Summary: Choose a cardioid pattern, with a higher SPL, and aim for lower impedance if possible. Sensitivity, self-noise, and frequency response are better when they are lower.

  1. Types of Microphones
    There are many applications for microphones today, including:

    • Professional Recording
    • Live Streaming and Sound Card Models
    • KTV/Performance Versions
    • Conference Specific Models
    • Mobile Karaoke Models
    • Gaming Communication Models
    • Computer Karaoke Models

Usage Types:

  • Handheld
  • Support (Stand)
  • Clip-on
  • Hanging
  • Desktop
  • Ear-mounted

Connection Types:

  • Wired
  • Wireless