What is a condenser microphone?

Anyone trying so as to add a microphone to the steady has seemingly encountered the time period condenser microphone. Let’s try what a condenser mic is and which recording purposes they work finest for.

Editor’s be aware: that is the primary model of the article. Updates will comply with because the market adjustments.

Condenser microphones are recognized for capturing sound cleanly and clearly over a broad frequency spectrum. Given these enticing options, condenser mics go well with vocalists very properly. These versatile microphones are likely to have low self-noise however require phantom energy from a microphone preamplifier to work. Most audio interfaces have built-in preamps today, so it’s unlikely you’ll want an outboard one to energy your mic.

You should use a condenser microphone for nearly all recording purposes. For instance, I exploit two matched small-diaphragm condenser microphones as overhead microphones for drums. Whereas drums are loud, the quick transients and trebly sound of cymbal hits go well with the prolonged high-frequency response that many condenser mics supply.

On the flip facet, you may stick a condenser in entrance of an acoustic guitar to file all the small print, from the decide assault to the sounds of fingers sliding alongside the strings.

After all, if condenser microphones had been good for each activity, you wouldn’t want other forms of mic. When you contemplate the strengths of condenser microphones in a single context, you’ll understand these is perhaps weaknesses in several contexts. As an illustration, most condenser microphones, apart from lavalier-style microphones, don’t fare properly in reside performances whenever you usually attain for a dynamic mic as an alternative.

You wish to keep away from taking your studio condenser onstage. One of many causes the Shure SM58 (a dynamic microphone for $99 at Amazon) is so ubiquitous is because of its glorious off-axis noise rejection, requiring the sound supply to get fairly shut for good seize. Plus, it has low dealing with noise and a really sturdy design — traits not shared by most condenser mics.

Gray areas in selecting a mic

Choosing the proper mic for the job is a component science, but it surely’s additionally a creative choice. Total, you should use a condenser or a dynamic mic in loads of conditions. Use your judgment, and play to the strengths of the mics you personal.

When you’re a podcaster you possibly can seize a condenser mic, however if you happen to’re in a crowded or noisy area, you may nab a broadcast-style dynamic microphone like an Electro-Voice RE20 ($449 at Amazon) or Shure SM7db ($499 at Amazon). Whereas most singers like condenser mics within the studio, typically a kind of broadcast mics matches the singer’s voice higher. Use your ears to resolve.

Nearly all microphones make the most of a diaphragm, an especially skinny, conductive materials. Situated underneath the protecting grill of the mic, it’s accountable for responding to sound waves. On a condenser mic, the stress from sound waves bodily strikes the diaphragm, utilized in live performance with an electrically charged steel plate. Utilizing induction (also called electro-magnetism), the shifting diaphragm sends present to the charged steel plate.

From there, if it’s an electret condenser, an impedance converter circuit follows the charged steel plate. Basically, this creates an audio sign in your preamp. There are variations on this, however that’s the essential design.

What’s the distinction between an electret and a real condenser microphone?

Today, most condenser mics are electret condenser mics, also called fixed-bias mics. Trendy mics require phantom energy (customary 48v from the preamp) to cost the steel plate within the condenser mic adequately. Electret condensers work with balanced circuits through the XLR cable, with pins two and three every carrying each the audio sign and 48v DC relative to pin one, which is tied to floor.

A lot much less frequent are true condenser microphones, which require an extra system to bias the charged steel backplate externally. Neither is healthier or worse until you depend comfort; on this case, not needing a second exterior system is much less cumbersome than simply plugging in an XLR cable and utilizing phantom energy with an electret condenser.

Do condenser microphones have completely different polarity patterns?

You will discover just about each out there polarity sample in a condenser microphone. Your choices vary from the frequent cardioid (named for its vaguely heart-shaped sample) to figure-eight, omnidirectional, hyper-cardioid, and extra. Many condenser mics include a swap to decide on a sample — vastly extending the pliability of any mic. Some condenser microphones are modular, so you possibly can swap out the microphone capsule for an additional to get extra purposes out of a single mic.

When you’ve bought a complete acoustic band enjoying in a room and just one mic to file the group, seize an omnidirectional (or well-placed figure-eight) condenser mic. It’ll catch each instrument. It gained’t normally be good, but it surely’ll sound a lot better than making an attempt the identical factor with a cardioid like a Shure SM58.

Exceptions to the principles with condenser mics

So, whereas it’s typically true {that a} condenser mic is finest suited to a recording studio or managed area like a YouTuber’s room, there are purpose-built exceptions. Right here’s a fast rundown starting with shotgun microphones.

Shotgun microphones are specialised for movie and video.

Shotgun mics are so named as a result of they’re usually lengthy and ruggedly constructed. Typically, shotgun mics are mounted to a increase pole held by somebody standing out of body whereas filming to file speech. As a result of any dealing with tends to introduce undesirable noise, these normally incorporate shock mounts to offset that drawback. They have an inclination to have hypercardioid polar patterns. Nonetheless, more often than not, if you happen to’re filming outdoors of a closed set, you’ll use a Lavalier microphone or a handheld dynamic mic for a newscaster. In a pinch, you should use a shotgun for unorthodox purposes, however because of their dimensions, they don’t seem to be preferrred for podcasting, for instance.

Lavalier microphones have many makes use of.

A Lavalier mic is a tiny condenser microphone with a lapel clip. Normally, they’re wired to a transmitter pack that makes use of radio frequencies to transmit the captured audio to a different system to file. These are regularly present in settings like interviews, lectures, and typically on acoustic devices like violins. Additionally they have the benefit of a discreet dimension, which may really feel much less intimidating, significantly for “mic-shy” folks.

Discipline recorders regularly have built-in mics.

Discipline recorders, or the extra easy voice recorder, normally use condenser microphones. The ever-popular Zoom sequence of area recorders, such because the Zoom H5 ($249 at Amazon), contains two condenser mics pointed at 45-degree angles away from one another. The purpose is to file a large swath of sound sources, whether or not out in nature or an indoor interview.

This works nice in case your objective is to seize every part. In contrast to typical studio condenser mics, which aren’t precisely made for purposes outdoors handled rooms, those present in area recorders have been constructed robustly. This mitigates the consequences of unintended knocks and diffuses some dealing with noise.