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Picks up sound from all
directions; good for ambient
sound and group vocals
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A mic that is equally sensitive to sound from all sides is called an omnidirectional mic. Omni mics are great for picking up natural room sound and are also very good for capturing group vocals.. Omni mics also tend to be more "forgiving" because they pick up sound even when the mic is rotated at different angles.
Be careful working with omni mics in the studio. If they're not positioned correctly, you may end up with too much ambient sound in your recording.
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| Picks up sound only in front of the mic; most common type |
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A unidirectional mic is sensitive to sound only in a specific direction. The most common type features a cardioid (heart-shaped) pattern that rejects sound coming from behind the microphone. This can be very useful for reducing bleed when recording a guitar amp sitting next to a drum kit. A supercardioid mic has an even narrower pickup pattern, further reducing bleed from nearby sound sources.
Sometimes it's better to stick with cardioids when you first start recording. They're a good balance between the omnis which have the widest pickup pattern and the supercardioids which have the narrowest.
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Tightest pickup pattern; ideal where multiple mics are used
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Cardioid and supercardioid mics are good for crowded spaces (like group recording sessions) where multiple microphones are positioned close together. |
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To understand the difference between these types of microphones, you have to know something about how they work (which gets a little technical).
In a dynamic mic, a coil of wire is mounted on a diaphragm, which sits inside a magnetic field. When the diaphragm is moved by the sound source the resulting fluctuations in the magnetic field create an electric current that travels from the mic through the rest of the recording system.
Dynamic mics are rugged and can handle high sound pressure levels, like those delivered by kick drums, snare drums, and high volume guitar amps. They're also good for loud, aggressive vocals. Most people start out recording with dynamic mics because of their lower cost and high durability.
A condenser mic utilizes a constant electric charge, provided by a battery or phantom power in a mixer. Because condenser diaphragms have less mass, which requires less energy to move, condenser mics are more sensitive than dynamic mics and are very responsive to high frequencies produced by an acoustic guitar or cymbals on a drum-kit.
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Some condenser microphones are called "small-diaphragm" condensers. This configuration is used for vocals in live performance, and for live and recorded instruments. Here are some examples of small-diaphragm condenser mics. |
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Large-diaphragm condenser mics are often chosen for recording vocals. These condensers may be considered a luxury for people who are new to home recording, but they're a good investment if you want an immediately noticeable upgrade in recording quality. |
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That covers the basic differences between microphones. Which mic you choose will depend on what you're recording (specific instruments or vocals), the room you're recording in, and, most importantly, the sound you like. You may want to start by borrowing some different mics and experimenting with them.
If you want to learn more, Shure has several informative booklets, including Microphones and Multitracks and Mic Techniques for Studio Recording that go into much greater detail about choosing the right mics for sound recording. Visit shure.com to download them or request mailed copies.
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