Shure Notes Issue #28 - Choosing the Right Mic

Choosing the Right Mic
Narrowing the Field

Let’s assume, for the moment, that you’re choosing a wired microphone for a live sound application. You’ve gone online. You’ve visited your favorite music store. Maybe you’ve even checked out great deals on auction sites. Where you purchase might be the easiest decision you have to make. What you purchase is a little bit harder.

One of the most common questions asked by our customers is “Which Shure mic is best for me?” Here’s the bad news: it’s not an easily answerable question by itself. It’s a partially subjective and partially objective decision, based on what you’re miking, where you’re miking it, the sound you’re after and how much money you have to spend.

Here’s the good news: this article will help you narrow the field by:
1. matching mic characteristics to the most typical live sound applications, then
2. identifying the most appropriate choices.

Certain microphones are geared toward specific applications and we’ll cover those here.

More good news: Most microphones fall into two broad categories – vocal and instrument. Though some artists like to use instrument mics for vocals and vocal mics for instruments, you have a head start just by knowing what you’re trying to mike. Your guitar amp? Easy! Your voice? No problem!

That being said, we’ll share some conventional wisdom on how to mic:

Vocals
Drum Kits
Guitar Amps
Acoustic Guitars

Included are Live Sound 101 Notes to help you navigate through key factors like cartridge type, pick-up pattern and frequency response.

But remember this: Only YOU can determine which mic is right or best for you. The most effective decision-making tools? Your own ears.

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Final Thoughts

Now that we’ve helped you narrow the field of microphone choices by matching mic characteristics to the thing you’re trying to mic, there are just one or two additional considerations.

First – price. How much can you afford to spend? Assuming every mic you’re considering can give you the reliable performance and durability you require, do you really need that more precise pickup pattern or wider dynamic range? Is the extra cost justifiable?

Second – match the quality (and price) level of your microphone to the other gear you’re using. Unless you’re planning an upgrade in the near future, there’s no reason to use a state-of-the art vocal mic with a doesn’t-meet-minimum standards sound system.

Don’t forget that sound professionals stock a wide variety of microphones to suit many situations. They know there’s rarely one ”best” choice … which brings us back to where we started. Trust your ears.

Live Sound 101: Cartridge Types

A microphone is a device that changes sound into an electrical signal. Inside the microphone are cartridges (or transducers.) The two most common types are:

Dynamic

A simple, rugged diaphragm/coil. It handles extreme volume levels without distortion.

Condenser

A lightweight, sensitive diaphragm that precisely and smoothly captures sound nuances. It is powered by battery or phantom power supply.

This chart gives you a broad overview of some of the characteristics of dynamic and condenser mics. These are very general guidelines – there are exceptions in most categories.

CondenserDynamic

Construction	Simpler	More complex
Cost	Less Expensive	More expensive
Handling	Tolerates very rough handling	Requires more careful handling
Sound Quality	Excellent over a wide frequency range	Very sensitive, smooth natural sound even at highest frequencies
Power Source	Does not require a separate power source	Requires batteries or phantom power
Environment	Good for live performance and some recording	Good for controlled environments, recording, and some live applications
Shure Mic Example	SM58 (vocal) and SM57 (instrument)	Beta 87A™ (vocal) Beta 98/S(instrument)

Live Sound 101: Frequency Response

Every microphone has a signature. Part of that signature is its Frequency Response. Frequency response determines the basic “sound” of the microphone. It is determined by the range of the sound (from lowest to highest frequency) that a microphone can reproduce and how that reproduction varies at different frequencies within that range.

Whether you think of it as a mic’s directionality or it’s pickup or polar pattern, there are two basic types you need to understand – omnidirectional (all directions) and unidirectional (one direction).

This is the symbol associated with an omnidirectional mic. It can’t be aimed to isolate one area.

Best to use for: High fidelity recording or broadcast. Not generally used for sound reinforcement due to feedback limitations.

This is the symbol most often associated with unidirectional microphones. These are sensitive to sound coming from only one direction. The most common type of unidirectional microphone is called a “cardioid” because its pickup pattern is heart-shaped. It picks up most sound from the front of the microphone, less from the sides, and very little from the rear.

Supercardioid or hypercardioid microphones offer even greater sound isolation through narrower pickup patterns.

Best to use for: Live sound, since these mics isolate sound from one voice or instrument and can be aimed away from loudspeakers to avoid feedback. That’s why unidirectional microphones far outnumber omnidirectional microphones.

Comparing Shure Live Performance Microphones

Now, let’s look at what Shure has to offer and how various model lines differ.