If you are looking for the best way to capture audio in the studio or on the road, then this is the article for you. This article will help you choose the best dynamic microphone.
The dynamic microphone is a microphone that uses moving parts to pick up sound. They are commonly used in recording studios as well as in live performances.
In this blog, we will talk about what they are and how to choose the best one for your needs.
The difference between dynamic and condenser microphones
Dynamic microphones can be divided into two categories.
The first category is called ribbon microphones. Ribbons are usually made of metal or plastic and consist of an electret battery with a ribbon-like diaphragm. The diaphragm is connected to a voice coil and a magnet. The voice coil and the magnet are attached to a stylus or a condenser head.
The diaphragm vibrates and moves when the voice coil moves and is pulled by the magnet. This movement creates a change in capacitance, which causes a current to flow through the coil and thus produces sound.
Condenser microphones work on the same principle as condensers in an air conditioner. These microphones use a capacitor instead of a diaphragm. The diaphragm is made of dielectric material that has very low resistance. When the diaphragm moves, the capacitance of the capacitor changes, and a current flows through the capacitor. The difference between ribbon and condenser microphones is that condenser microphones have much lower distortion and noise levels.
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Why we need a dynamic microphone?
In the early days of recording, the best option was a dynamic microphone. Dynamic mics have moving parts that are capable of picking up very low frequency sounds like those created by drum kits. This means that they can be used with almost any musical instrument. They also produce very clear audio.
Unfortunately, however, today’s dynamic microphones are quite expensive. They are also not easy to carry around and are therefore impractical for many live performances.
How to use a dynamic microphone?
It is an excellent way of capturing audio because of its ease of use. A good dynamic microphone can be used easily in any situation. When using a dynamic microphone, the first thing you need to do is to connect it to your computer. The next step is to turn on the microphone and adjust the gain level.
When you’re using dynamic microphone for professional uses. Its important for your pick up a separate audio interface to utilize it nicely.
The first thing is dynamic microphones captures audio coming from near the microphone capsule, and reject everything that’s coming from outside. So it helps a lot reducing buzz and background noise. So, if you record in some noisy environment, dynamic mics are perfect.
Understanding the Specifications
Microphones have many specifications that can help you make an informed choice. This is especially true when buying one for a live performance, but even if you’re recording at home you should take some time to understand the characteristics of the microphones that you are considering.
The most important specification to look at is sensitivity. Sensitivity measures the maximum volume of sound that can be picked up by the microphone.
Sensitivity is usually measured in either dB SPL or VU. If you are unsure of the difference, don’t worry about it. Just use the highest number that your mic has. So, overall most important thing is, where are you gonna use the microphone.
Polar Patterns
A polar pattern is a type of microphone polar pattern that describes the radiation patterns for a microphone. A microphone with a certain polar pattern is better at picking up sound from a certain direction.
A polar pattern is usually given in two parts:
* A diagram showing how the sound comes into the microphone
* A diagram showing how the sound comes out of the microphone
Polar patterns can be circular or elliptical, and they can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Polar patterns are used to describe microphones that are placed horizontally or vertically.
A microphone that has a symmetrical polar pattern will pick up sound equally well from both sides. A microphone with an asymmetrical polar pattern will pick up sound differently depending on whether it is facing the sound source or the other way around.
Multi-Pattern Microphones
Multi-pattern microphones work in two ways. There is a preamp section, which is the input stage of the microphone. The output of the preamp can be amplified, and the output goes to the recording device. Multi parrern microphone offers you all types of patterns, you can navigate to any pattern you want, that means you can capture amazing audio in any situation.
On the other hand, there is an oscillator, which is responsible for the movement of the diaphragm in order to pick up sound waves. This allows it to pick up a wide range of frequencies.
Frequency Response
Frequency response (also called frequency response curve) is a technical parameter of a microphone, characterizing its sensitivity and ability to capture sounds in different frequency ranges.
In general, there are 3 main frequency response parameters:
High frequency: This range is below about 2KHz. It can be used to determine the sensitivity of the microphone. For example, you can measure the high frequency response at 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 3000Hz. You can find the highest frequencies it will capture on the product manual or on a professional microphone.
Mid-range: This range is between about 5KHz to 20KHz. It has the best sensitivity and dynamic range, and is often used for vocals. The best professional microphones have a good mid-range response.
Low frequency: This range is between about 2KHz to 5KHz. It’s sensitive to bass and low-frequency sounds. You can use the lowest frequencies you hear to get a sense of how sensitive the microphone is in this range. It can also be used to determine the maximum sound pressure that the microphone is capable of capturing.
Sensitivity and SPL-Handling
Sensitivity is the measurement of the ability of a microphone to capture low and high sounds, while SPL (sound pressure level) is a measure of how loud or quiet sounds are in the air.
This combination is critical for capturing the entire range of sounds. So, it is important to understand these two terms while making the choice.
What is Proximity Effect in Microphones?
The proximity effect is an effect of microphones that is common in all microphone types. When a microphone picks up sound, it tends to make the sound louder for nearby sources and quieter for distant ones. This effect is also called a “directional pattern.”
This effect can lead to unwanted sound when it’s not desired. For example, when you have a song playing at a party and you use a microphone that causes a loud boomy effect, the noise of the party becomes much louder than the song. It’s like the volume control in the song is off.
In simple words, if you wanna get proximity effect in your audio, get closer to the mic as much as you can. Doing this you can see how much proximity effect you’re microphone can produce. And how much you’re getting noise less and deep audio.
Conclusion | How to Choose the Best Dynamic Microphone
Now all the information we’ve shared with you, should be considered before you buy a dynamic microphone. You should see where you’re gonna use your microphone. Next up you should consider, what you wanna achieve which type of audio you wanna produce. And finally it depends on your budget.
There are tons of dynamic microphones available on every budget. Hope this guide was helpful to you picking up a dynamic microphone. If you’v any question, you can leave it in thee comments section. You can also check out in-depth microphones reviews and buying guides on Microphonesgeek.