MicrophonesThere is a lot to know when it comes to microphones. In fact, so much that it would take pages and pages to cover everything. But that doesn't mean we can't go into essential information and basic details about them.
There are several types of microphones. Some of them excel in specific applications and some microphones are considered to be "workhorse" microphones, meaning that they can be used on just about any source and get the job done while sounding fantastic. Before we go into that, let’s first cover the types of microphones.
-Dynamic MicrophonesDynamic microphones are some of the most common microphones that you will encounter. They extend over a broad price range, are very durable, don't require their own power source, and are generally ideal for most live sound applications. One of the most widely recognized microphones in the world, the Shure SM58, has been the industry standard for both the studio and the stage for decades. Every time you have seen a singer on stage or heard a public speaker at a podium, chances are they were using the SM58 microphone. Yet, there are plenty of dynamic microphones on the market to choose from. Dynamic microphones are ideal for miking sources that put out high sound pressure levels. Since quality dynamic microphones are generally low impedance, you will need at least one XLR cable to hook one up to your mixer.
-Condenser MicrophonesCondenser microphones aren't quite as popular as their dynamic counterparts. They are widely used in the recording environment but are still fairly common in live sound reinforcement. Typically, condenser microphones are used on sources that are fairly quiet, such as acoustic guitars. Condenser microphones require power from an external source in order to operate. This is called “phantom power”. Phantom power is supplied through the XLR cable that you will use to hook up the microphone to your mixer. Most mixers are equipped to supply phantom power. Be sure and check if your mixer has this feature before you purchase a condenser microphone. Condenser microphones are also much more sensitive than dynamic microphones, making them a little more prone towards problems with feedback in smaller environments.
-Ribbon MicrophonesRibbon microphones aren't as widely used in live applications as condenser and dynamic microphones. There was a time when most microphones were ribbon microphones. Ribbon microphones use a thin (usually microns thick) strip of metal floating in a magnetic field to generate sound. They are quiet and need more gain than dynamic and condenser microphones. They are very fragile, and their wide polar pattern can make them prone to feedback issues. When ribbon microphones are used in a live situation, they are usually used on guitar cabinets. Ribbon microphones use XLR cables but beware of phantom power hitting them. Phantom power destroys ribbon microphones.
-Other MicrophonesThere are other types of microphones besides the ones listed. Since these are the most common in pro audio, we won't go into the others here.
-Choosing a Microphone
The type of microphone you use will depend on what you will be miking and on your budget. For small setups, a couple of good dynamic microphones would be adequate. For a slightly larger setup - playing 300-500 person venues – 6 to 8 dynamic microphones and a pair of condenser microphones would be suitable. Microphones come at all price points. Companies like Shure, Sennheiser, and Audix have become staples in the industry and have maintained wonderful reputations. These companies offer several lines of microphones from small budgets to large ones. There are also companies like Samson and Nady which offer some decent “budget” microphones as well.
Remember that when you are buying microphones, you will also have to buy microphone cables. Don't forget to factor that in with the price of your microphones. Microphone cables come at a wide range of price points as well. Some companies claim that their microphone cables are vastly superior and charge premium prices for their cables. Whether or not microphone cables can really make an audible difference in sound quality is debatable. If you plan on using a condenser microphone, you will also need to make sure your mixer can supply phantom power or if you will need to buy an individual microphone preamp. Remember that since phantom power is supplied through XLR cables. You will not be able to use anything other than a XLR male to a XLR female microphone cable if your microphone needs phantom power. Be sure to check out the full line of cables at www.SeismicAudioSpeakers.com .
|
|
|
Church Gear
