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Best Microphones | Buying Guide : Things to consider while buying Microphone

To help you find the right mic to match your budget and needs, this guide will cover the most important characteristics of the many different microphone types and models.

Usage

The most important thing to ask yourself when choosing a microphone is how you plan to use it. Will you be using it onstage for vocals or to mic an instrument? Is it intended for home-studio recording? Or are you looking for something that can perform well in either situation?

You want to match the mic to both the environment you’ll use it in and the gear you’ll use it with. For instance, it might not make a lot of sense to spend thousands on a Neumann studio mic if you plan to use it for recording basic demos in your bedroom studio. The acoustics will likely be less than perfect and you’ll want to couple it with a high-end mic preamp, bringing your total cost up quite a bit. Consequently, a less sensitive and more affordable microphone might be a better choice.

Understanding the Specs

Getting some fundamental knowledge on microphone specifications and terminology under your belt will help you select a mic that best suits your needs. Here are the primary specs and terms you will often see in mic descriptions:

Polar Patterns

The polar pattern is the shape of a mic’s field of sensitivity, or the directions from which it accepts or ignores incoming sounds. An omnidirectional mic responds to sounds coming from all directions. A bi-directional mic, also known as a Figure 8 microphone, picks up sounds from east and west while excluding sounds from north and south. A unidirectional mic primarily hears sounds from one direction and excludes sounds from other directions.

Unidirectional mics are the most common type, and they come in three polar patterns: cardioid, supercardioid and hypercardioid. All three of these patterns reject rear-axis and off-axis sounds coming from behind the mic or from the sides.

The cardioid pattern is roughly a heart shape (hence its name), which makes the mic most sensitive to sounds from straight on and from the sides, but rejects sounds from 180 degrees opposite the direction the mic is aimed.

The supercardioid mic accepts a little more sound from a 180-degree field, but rejects more from each side. The hypercardioid allows yet more sound from 180 degrees but rejects more of the sound coming from 90 or 270 degrees.

Polar patterns are important when you are working in a noisy setting, such as when miking a vocalist in a band. Cardioid, supercardioid, and hypercardioid mics will tend to exclude all the sounds except the voice of the singer, thus preventing the signal from becoming muddied or producing feedback.

Multi-Pattern Microphones

Some microphones are multi-pattern. In other words, their polar patterns can be changed (e.g. from omnidirectional to cardioid) by means of a switch or by interchangeable capsules. This capability gives the mic added versatility in various settings.

Frequency Response

A microphone’s frequency response refers to the range of frequencies, from low to high, that a microphone will pick up. This range is referred to by its lowest and highest frequencies, measured in hertz. A microphone with a frequency response range of around 80 Hz to 15 kHz would make a good choice for a vocal mic. However for miking snares and toms, you would look for a range that starts lower, at around 50 Hz, and for a bass drum mic, you will want a low end of 40 Hz or even lower, down to 30 Hz.

Response Curves

It is important to note that frequency response only tells you the overall range a mic can reproduce. How it performs at different frequencies is another matter, and this performance is what gives a mic its character.

The shape of a microphone’s frequency responsiveness is called its response curve. Because it starts out at zero on the low end and drops off to zero at the high end, it takes the form of a curve when graphed. Within this overall curve, there will be peaks and dips in certain places that give the mic a certain character and make it more suited to certain applications. For example, a mic intended for vocals may have a spike in its upper midrange that results in smoother or more intelligible reproduction of voices.

Sensitivity and SPL-Handling Capability

Sensitivity refers to how quiet a sound the mic can detect, and it is expressed using different systems. Regardless of the system, it is perhaps enough to know that the lower the number, the more sensitive the microphone is.

SPL stands for “sound pressure level” and is expressed in decibels (dBs). It describes the maximum volume that a mic can handle, so, in a way, it is the opposite of sensitivity. This is important if the mic must deal with loud instruments such as drums. An average level is around 100 dB; a high SPL is 130 dB.

Proximity Effect

Proximity effect is not given as a specification, but is an important mic characteristic that is sometimes mentioned in descriptions.

Proximity effect causes bass frequencies to become more pronounced as the sound source moves closer to the mic. This is desirable for singers who “work the mic” to create effects. A recording engineer might select a mic with a strong proximity effect for close miking an instrument to bring out its bass tones.

Condenser mics generally produce more proximity effect than dynamic mics.

Types of Microphones

Dynamic Microphones

Dynamic microphones use an inductive coil connected to a diaphragm and placed within the field of a permanent magnet. As the diaphragm moves, it moves the coil, thus varying the voltage the coil produces. These subtle shifts in output voltage shape the mic’s output.

These mics are usually quite rugged, and have high SPL-handling capability. Most have internal shock mounting to allow hand use, and their polar patterns reject off-axis sounds. These are all reasons that dynamic mics tend to perform well in live sound situations, though some also are used regularly for recording. The Shure SM58 has been both a studio and stage staple for many years.

As a group, dynamic mics also are relatively affordable, and many of the big-name mic manufacturers have economy-series mics that give you great performance for a low price.

Ribbon Microphones

Ribbon microphones operate on the same principle as other dynamic mics, but instead of a diaphragm, they employ a thin ribbon that vibrates to vary voltage. Ribbon mics are used in the studio for recording voices and a broad range of instruments. They soften the sound and impart warmth to recorded material.

Wireless Microphones

Though they are electronically similar to wired microphones, wireless microphones include a transmitter to allow a greater range of movement. A battery-powered transmitter in the microphone’s body transmits the mic’s signal to a receiver unit that is connected to a mixer or PA system. The signal is transmitted using radio frequencies. The most common wireless systems use digital, UHF, or VHF frequencies. Affordable wireless mic systems that deliver good sound and bang for the buck typically use the UHF band. The best systems use digital technology that optimizes audio quality while also eliminating noise and signal dropouts that can be an issue with low-quality systems. Interference generated by devices such as radios, wireless phones, garage-door openers, and even fluorescent light fixtures are detected and eliminated by such digital circuitry.

Another way better-quality wireless mic systems deal with reception problems is through diversity technology. Receivers that have what is referred to as true diversity contain two separate radio modules, each connected to its own antenna. When interference is detected, a circuit compares the signal received by each module/antenna and uses whichever one is cleanest.

It’s important to note that receiver microphone frequencies must match. This is not an issue when you purchase a full system since the frequencies have been matched by the manufacturer. But if you are buying microphones and receivers separately, be sure they operate on the same bandwidths.

Wireless vocal mics come in a number of formats including hand-held models, clip-on lavalier mics, and headworn mics that have a headband. Some manufacturers also produce plug-in transmitters with which you can convert a standard wired mic to wireless operation.

Condenser Microphones

In condenser mics, a thin conductive diaphragm is located close to a metal plate called a backplate, creating a capacitor. This capacitor is supplied with a small electric charge, either from phantom power or from a battery. When the pressure of sound waves causes the diaphragm to vibrate, it changes the distance between it and the backplate, thus causing variations in the output voltage. This varied output creates the microphone’s electronic signal.

Condenser microphones use an external power supply, internal batteries, or phantom power supplied by the mixer input. These days, most mixers have phantom power on mic inputs, but if you are using an older mixer, you’ll want to make sure it has phantom power before buying a condenser that requires it.

There are many different types of condenser mics, and most of them are used for recording. A few are used for live sound applications such as overhead miking of choirs, pianos, acoustic stringed instruments, and certain percussion instruments such as cymbals.

Here are the main types of condenser microphones:

Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones

Sizable recording microphones with diaphragms from three quarters to an inch in diameter, large-diaphragm mics are usually very sensitive. They almost always require external power and suspension mounting that isolates the mic from external vibrations.

The large size of these mics and their need for suspension makes them unsuitable for such applications as miking drum kits, where space is tight, but they are excellent for recording voices and a wide variety of instruments. That is why they often serve as a recording studio’s all-purpose microphones.

As you may have guessed, the best mics in this category can be very expensive; however, a number of affordable models have become available in recent years. These cost-conscious models mimic the design of the more expensive mics, and they work quite well for nonprofessional recording.

Side-Address Condenser Microphones

Another type of large-condenser mic, side-address microphones usually have a wide, flat windscreen over a large diaphragm. These are positioned horizontally and aimed toward the side at a 90-degree angle. Thus, if the mic is vertical, a singer seems to be addressing it from the side, hence its name.

Dual-Diaphragm Condensers

Usually, dual-diaphragm mics are configured the same as side-address mics. However, they have two diaphragms aimed in opposite directions.

Naturally, dual-diaphragm mics are effective for recording duets or larger groups, and they can be great for picking up room ambiance. A dual-diaphragm condenser mic makes it easier to balance two simultaneous sound sources as opposed to using two single-diaphragm mics.

Tube Condenser Microphones

The vintage models you associate with old-time recording and broadcast studios are tube condenser microphones. Because they impart a warmth and a rounded sound to recorded material—much like a tube guitar amp colors the instrument’s sound in pleasing ways—they still are made and used in professional studios to this day.

These mics require a dedicated power supply, powered mixer, or a mic preamp that provides the correct voltage.

Small-Diaphragm Condenser Microphones

With a diaphragm a half-inch or less in diameter, small-diaphragm microphones are used in many recording applications and occasionally in live settings.

These mics do especially well at reproducing higher-frequency sounds and sound sources that change quickly in volume or have a sudden attack. One common application is overhead miking of cymbals. Like other condensers, they depend on phantom power or a battery to operate.

USB Microphones

The enormous popularity of computer-based recording has revolutionized the way music is recorded. When it comes to routing your music through the soundcard of a computer, there are many possibilities available today, ranging from sophisticated digital audio workstations (DAWs) and digital mixing boards to simpler interfaces offering connections for a single mic and /or instrument. Simplest of all are USB-powered mics that offer plug ‘n’ play convenience. These budget-friendly microphones are a great choice for someone who needs quick, convenient solutions. So, whether you’re just dipping your toes in the recording waters, or you’re a budding podcaster who needs a straight-forward solution, USB microphones are a fantastic choice.

Drum and Percussion Microphones

Because each drum and cymbal within a drum kit creates its own unique sounds, mics are tailored for kick drums, snares, toms, and cymbals. Each mic has a response curve and profile best suited to the drum for which it’s used. Because of their ability to handle high frequencies and sounds with a rapid attack, small-diameter condenser mics are often used to capture the sound of cymbals. Drum mics are often sold in special packs of four, five, or more microphones that will save you money and guarantee that you have the whole range of your drum kit’s sounds covered.

Microphones for Reed, Brass, Woodwind, and Stringed Instruments

Typically small and lightweight, these microphones have a frequency response tailored to the specific instrument, and they employ a special mounting system that attaches to the instrument’s bell or body. Since these mounts and their attached mics move with the instrument, they maintain a set distance for greater volume consistency while giving the artist freedom of movement. Clip-on microphones have been developed for violin, viola, cello, and double bass that eliminate the need to retrofit priceless instruments with pickups.

Bullet (Harmonica) Microphones

Bullet microphones, also known as harmonica microphones, are specially made for harmonica players. With a short, round casing, they can easily be cupped in the player’s hands along with the harmonica, and their crystal diaphragm elements produce the distorted sound beloved by blues harp players.