Picking A Microphone

WARNING! Picking a microphone is a very "personal" thing. Everyone has their opinions about what sounds the best. Unfortunately, it really comes down to personal taste and trying lots of different microphones until you find the one you like.

However, if your trying to get started in a hurry, or don't really have the budget to try lots of different units, here are a couple of inexpensive suggestions to help you get going in a hurry.

• Dynamic microhpones (like this one) are very good general purpose microphones. The frequency response tends not to be as "flat" (which means they tend to emphasize or attenuate certain parts of the audio spectrum) as a condenser microphone. However, they can usually take tremendous abuse, can stand high volume levels (like an amp cabinet or instrument) and are relatively cheap.


• Condenser microhpones (like this one) tend to have a "flatter" response than dynamic microphones. Normally they require external (phantom) power from your mixing console. A condenser mic tends to be more sensitive than a dynamic microphone, and they distort when exposed to high volume levels. If you're looking for the most accurate sound, this is probably your best bet.

Placing Your Microphone

Distance
Here's a great rule of thumb: The microphone doesn't have to be in someones mouth to operate properly. You think we're trying to be funny, but its true. For some reason people think you have to be an inch or two from the mic to get the best sound – but is simply isn't so.

Placement of a mic is very important - you can induce quite a few wanted (or unwanted) effects based only on the distance you are to the sound source. You want to be close enough to record your target, but not too close.

Here are some symptoms of placement that is too close:

• Distortion
• Too many vocal artifacts (a “wet” or poppy sound)
• “Boomy” vocals – over-emphasizes the low frequency (bass) spectrum. (Note: this is, when done intentionally, a cheap and easy way to get more low end out of a vocal.)

Here's something to watch out for when you're using multiple mics: cancellation. When you are in a setting where more than one person has a mic (like an interview), the same source of sound is picked up at two (or more) distances. Because of this, you end up with a phasing effect in the audio. You can work around this with careful placement, using microphones that do not have a omni-directional pattern, and placing the mic nulls so that you minimize everything but the primary sound source for that microphone.