How to select a microphone for your home recording studio?

Written by Administrator | 02 June 2012

As you know, if you are going to be recording vocals or live instruments in your studio then
you are going to need a mic to do that. There are two types of microphones that you will come across
when selecting a mic for both home studio and live,The condenser mic and the Dynamic mic.

Condenser mic

This is the most common microphone you'll probably find in most studio.
Condenser microphones have much greater frequency response and transient response which improves the ability
to reproduce the speed of an instrument or voice.
They are also more sensitive to loud sounds and have a loud output.
Condenser mics are usually more expensive than Dynamics.
Condensers mics require the use of power supply generally 48 volts (phantom power) supplied easily by most mixing
board
Only used in studios because of their sensitivity to loud sounds and they're quite fragile
than dynamic. You might find them on stage or live music venues for use as drum overheads or
for use in orchestral

There are two types of condenser mics.

Large diaphragm microphones (LDM)

It's a 1st choice for studio vocals and any other instruments, they are so sensitive that you
might need a pop filter if you using a condenser mic for vocals

Small diaphragm microphone (SDM)

Best choice where you want a solid wide frequency
Examples of Condenser microphones:

* AKG C414 – Excellent all round studio microphone.
* Neumann U87 – Excellent, but pricey all round studio microphone
* Rode NT2 – Great budget microphone.

Dynamic mic

compared to condenser mic, Dynamic mics are much more rugged, they resistant to a moisture and other
form of abuse.
they don't require power supply like condenser mic and they have limited frequency response
Examples of dynamic microphones:

* Sure SM57 – Good general purpose instrument mic.
* Sure SM58 – Great for live vocals.
* Sennheiser MD421 – Another good general purpose instrument mic.
* AKG D112 – Designed specifically for kick drums and bass frequencies.

Selecting between Dynamic and a condenser mic

Recording vocals

When recording vocals use a large diaphragm condenser mic if you have phantom power, otherwise
you might consider a large diaphragm dynamic mic like SMB7 or SM58

Recording acoustic guitar

Use small diaphragm condenser mic such as Oktava MC012 or Neumann KM184

Recording cello/upright bass

Use large diaphragm condenser mic.

Recording drums

You'll use a combination of dynamics and condenser mics.
You'll need dynamic mic on the drums themselves.
Shure 98 are great on toms
Shure SM57 along with PR20 sound great on snare
HeilPro 40 shure Beta 52 are great on kicks

For overhead mics and cymbals you'll want small diaphragm condenser mic because they give you
the best frequency and transient