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Hunter Rick
Today we covered microphones, their various types and uses, and different models.
I was taught there are three main types with many sub-groups beneath them. They are Dynamic, Condenser, and Ribbon Microphones.
Dynamic Microphones often are the most durable. They also have the highest SPL (Sound Pressure Level) so they are good for live amplification as well heavy screaming, or yelling vocals. They require no phantom power as they are self-powered.
Condenser Microphones tend to be extremely quiet on their own and need some source of power to amplify them. People tend to use pre-amps and power sources that create very little white noise, and a balanced signal. This is to avoid adding even more noise onto the signal to moise ratio. These mics tend to be used for studio recordings where durability is not much of an issue.
Ribbon Microphones are the most sensitive type of mics that exist. Too much pressure, or simply storing them wrong can ruin the microphone. This is because it replicate sound waves into voltage through an extremely small wavering ribbon, rather than a moving coil like the other two. The older ribbon mics worked with tubes while the newer ones do not, and tend to be less sensitive. Applying phantom power to the older ones can completely ruin the mic, although its calimed it does not affect the newer ones. These mic's are loved for extremely warm and smooth tone that they'd give off, especially with vocals.
He also taught me the several different cardioid patterns that exist in mocrophones and their advantages and disadvantages.
There is cardioid's which tend to be uses for vocals often and instruments as they focus on just what's in front of them. Then there are hyper cardioids which have a narrower pick up in the back to help pick up reflections from the room. Finall within the cardioid family there is super cardioid's which focus on a narower space in front of them than a regular cardioid to avoid bleeding. These mics are good for situations when you are recording in a room with lots of noisey isntruments all at once.
There are also mic's that are known as omni-directional shapes, which pickup everything around them. They are great for picking up ambience of a room or sounds from a distance. Finally, there are figure 8 mics, which like then name pick up sound from two sides evenly, while avoiding phasing because one side is negative while the other is positive.
