Recording Microphones

Dynamic microphone

Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone

Shure SM58SE Dynamic Microphone

Dynamic Microphone Diagram

Rode NT1-A Condenser Microphone

Condenser Microphone Diagram

AEA R44CX Ribbon Microphone

Ribbon Microphone Diagram

Dynamic microphones are used for general use due to their versatility and simplicity, dynamic microphones are mainly used for recording instruments or vocals and also in live sound environments. Dynamic microphones work by moving a coil of wire past a magnet to create an electrical signal, the coil of wire is moved by the diaphragm as the incoming sound waves vibrate the diaphragm causing the wire coil to move past the magnet creating an electromagnetic current.

Condenser (capacitor) microphones

Condenser microphones are used for high quality vocal recording and overheads in a drum mic set-up and can pick up sounds in a room rather than from a specific source. Condenser microphones require power (phantom power) from a battery or external source. The resulting audio signal is stronger signal than that from a dynamic. Condensers also tend to be more sensitive and responsive than dynamics, making them well-suited to capturing subtle nuances in a sound. They are not ideal for high-volume work, as their sensitivity makes them prone to distort. A capacitor has two plates with a voltage between them. In the condenser mic, one of these plates is made of very light material and acts as the diaphragm. The diaphragm vibrates when struck by sound waves, changing the distance between the two plates and therefore changing the capacitance. Specifically, when the plates are closer together, capacitance increases and a charge current occurs. When the plates are further apart, capacitance decreases and a discharge current occurs.

Ribbon microphones

A ribbon microphone is a type of microphone that uses a nanofilm of electrically conductive ribbon placed between the poles of a magnet to produce a voltage by electromagnetic induction.