Mic Microphone
2009
Voice and Different Instruments. What Microphone?
Microphones convert analog sound waves into electrical energy. Although varying types of mics differ in the way to achieve this, they all utilize a diaphragm, a piece of material that vibrates when hit by sound waves. This vibration is converted into electricity where the electrical impulse is carried to a speaker that changes the energy back into acoustic energy, producing the audible completed sound.
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 are choosing to record instrumental or vocal music or a combination of both, they will choose what microphones should be used in recording the voice and different instruments.
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 one is best for a live performance and a capacitor mic, is the one of choice for a studio performance. Dynamic mics are fairly resilient and moisture resistant making them the perfect choice for the highly energetic and often out door live 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 relatively inexpensive and are a good basic choice for the home studio recorder who may not have a lot of money to spend as their career is being established. Capacitor microphones respond to very high frequency sound and require less amplification than a Dynamic microphone.
Capacitor microphones are ideal for vocal recording and acoustic guitar recording in a studio setting. Although they tend to be harder on the pocketbook, their value is in the fine quality of the results. 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 produced are often softer and warmer than the sound produced from a Capacitor microphone. The performer is free to express them self without restraint, unlike in a 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. Capacitor microphones are the first choice for the vocals and guitars, but Dynamic microphones are often used for recording drums, electric guitars and bass guitar. 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 may include using combinations in studios of both types of mics to record the best possible range of sounds.
Software is available that can modify the sounds produced by different microphones. Sound changing technology was initially invented for pitch correction in vocals, but it is now used to be increasingly being used to change the pitch in a recording to modify the pitch and sound quality to produce a desired 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.
About the Author
Bruce Hathaway is a renowned recordist, film composer and producer. Through his experience in the studio and on the stage, he has become an expert on
microphones
for recording, stage performance and Podcasting. Click on the link above where you’ll find useful information and great deals on microphones.
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