subject: Studio And Stage. Which Microphone? [print this page] Mics are instruments designed to transform energy from electrical impulses to analog sound. Although various types of mics are different in the way they do this, they all use a diaphragm, a very thin piece of metal that vibrates when activated by sound energy. The sound energy is then changed into electricity whereupon the impulse is transmitted to a loud speaker that converts the electrical energy back into acoustical energy.
The difference between good music and great music is in the production process. To produce a sound recording that is distinctive, appealing and attracts interest, attention must be given to the way it is recorded. The decision in choosing a particular microphone, that will produce the most detailed sound recording, is a critical element in the reproduction of a performance. Musicians and music producers pay special attention to specific mics to produce the desired sound quality. Whether they're making the choice to record instruments and vocals or a combination of both, they"ll pick the microphone(s) that are best for those applications.
Music recorded in front of an audience is called live music and music recorded in a studio for the purposes of creating a music tape or CD is called Studio music. The choice of mic is primarily dependent on the performance and where it will take place.
There are two main types of mics used in the music industry. One is a dynamic; the other is a capacitor mic. A dynamic mic is the preferred one for a live performance. The capacitor mic, is usually the choice for a studio recording. Dynamic microphones are quite rugged and water resistant, making them the right choice for the energetic and often out-of-door performance. They are able to handle the louder sounds of certain music instruments and amplifiers. This makes them perfect for outside performance of both instruments and vocals. They are easily recognizable by their mesh head and tend to be the most commonly seen type of microphone. They are pretty inexpensive and are a fine basic choice for the home engineer who may not have much money in the budget as their career is being established. Condenser mics are sensitive to ultra- high frequency sound-waves and require less power than dynamic microphones.
Condenser (or capacitor) mics are great for recording voice or acoustic guitar in a studio setting. Although they tend to be more expensive, their value is in the quality of the sound they produce. Their design makes them able to reproduce a more consistent quality and combined with the use of a pop screen in front of the microphone prevents a lot of the harsh voiced sounds that may otherwise occur. The fragile nature of the condenser microphone, however, makes them not such a good option for outside and live venues. Live performers often like to interact with their fans and hand held dynamic mics provide a good enough sound-quality for live performance. Vocals performed are most times smoother and warmer than the sound from a Condenser mic. Artists have the freedom to express themselves without having to worry about physical limitations, unlike in a recording studio where a Capacitor Mic is mounted on a stand to provide consistency of sound pick up.
When music is recorded in a studio there is often a combination of microphones used to produce the best sound quality. Condenser mics are definitely the first choice for voice and guitar, but dynamic microphones are often used for recording much louder instruments such as an electrical guitar with a Marshall amp. The Producer will take his or her time to make sure the correct balance of sound is rendered by the careful choice of mics to produce the the desired results. This might be accommodated by using combinations in studios of both types of mics to get the median range of sounds.
Computer programs are available that can eq the sounds produced by different mics. Sound altering technological advancements, initially invented for pitch correction in vocals, is now used increasingly to modify the pitch and sound quality to produce the "Cher" effect. Other software available can enable the preferred mic for vocals or certain instruments to be replicated by the software to produce the same sound quality that owning the actual microphone would produce. This technology has the augmenting ability to produce studio-quality recordings in live settings, making the choice of microphone for instruments and vocals in those differing settings somewhat easier.
