Why are condenser mics better than dynamic?

Finally, condenser microphones are also excellent for field recording. They are more sensitive than dynamic microphones and have a flatter response that is suited to capturing detailed audio.

thepodcasthost.com - Condenser Vs Dynamic | A Beginner's Guide to Microphones for Voice

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Condenser Vs Dynamic: At-a-glance

The terms “condenser” and “dynamic” refer to two different ways microphones are built, and function

Both types of microphone have their potential pros and cons

Dynamic mics are often more durable, and can handle high volumes without distortion Condenser mics are often capable of recording a more crisp and detailed sound

Most vocal USB mics are condensers

But the ultra-useful Samson Q2U is a dynamic mic

Searching for a new microphone can be a daunting task. The style and quality of microphones differs greatly, and the old standby that you get what you pay for isn’t necessarily true anymore.

With great quality microphones available across the price spectrum, cost is no longer a reliable characteristic in determining a microphone’s quality. So what qualities should podcasters and producers be looking for in a microphone?

What is the Transducer Type? Condenser vs Dynamic

Microphones are a form of transducer. That is to say that microphones convert energy from one form (acoustic or kinetic energy) to another (electrical energy). There are three transducer types commonly associated with microphones: condenser, dynamic, and ribbon transducers. However, for most vocal applications dynamic and condenser microphones are used. Ribbon microphones, while excellent in quality for sound reproduction, tend to be very expensive and extremely delicate.

Dynamic Mics: How They Work

Dynamic microphones operate by suspending a coil of wire connected to a diaphragm inside a magnetic field. When sound vibrates the diaphragm, the coil vibrates and produces an electrical signal.

Characteristics

durable

handle heat and humidity well

high volumes without distortion

rougher, but usable, audio signal

Applications

Dynamic microphones are good for general vocals that don’t necessarily need accurate and smooth reproduction, such as interviews, hosting, and live venues. Due to the rougher sound characteristics, dynamic microphones with a cardioid pattern (more on polar patterns in a bit) tend to eliminate more background noise, although they may lose some nuances in a performance. This makes them well-suited to podcast hosting, general voice recording, and recording voices outdoors for voiceover or interviews. They are also suitable for recording very loud items, such as drums, guns, and explosions.

Condenser Mics: How They Work

Condenser microphones operate by vibrating a conductive diaphragm against a charged backplate to convert acoustic energy to electrical energy.

Characteristics

smooth frequency response

clear, detailed sound with crisper highs

excellent low-frequency response

not suited to extremely hot or humid environments

Applications

Condenser microphones are good for most studio applications, including voice acting. They produce a clarity of voice while giving it both warmth and presence. Condenser microphones are the industry standard for voice actors. The Neumman U87 (pronounced NOY-man for you lubbers) is iconic and has defined the sound that the voiceover industry and producers look for. If you have around $4000 to spend on one microphone, I highly recommend it. For the rest of us, there are comparable mics that offer exceptional quality. We’ll talk through some affordable recommendations a bit further on. Finally, condenser microphones are also excellent for field recording. They are more sensitive than dynamic microphones and have a flatter response that is suited to capturing detailed audio. Related Article Best Budget Mic Options for Podcasting & Content Creation You don’t need to spend a fortune to sound good. There are a lot of good budget mic options on the market these days. Here are our favourites. Find out more »

Condenser Vs Dynamic: Which To Choose?

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If this is all a little overwhelming, don’t worry about it. You’ll find many podcasters out there who’ve been using the same mic for years and couldn’t even tell you if it was a condenser or a dynamic. Ultimately, you don’t need to know how your mic is built. You just need to judge it on how it sounds to you. As I’ve said, we’ll be pointing to some recommendations shortly. But this next section on polar patterns is worth a quick look. If you own a mic with multiple polar pattern settings, then choosing the right one for your situation can make a big difference in your audio quality.

Polar Patterns

Polar patterns illustrate how a microphone reacts to sounds coming from different directions. There are several polar pattern types, but our main focus for vocal microphones is on omni and cardioid polar patterns.

Omni

An omnidirectional microphone receives sound with equal sensitivity from all directions. This means that audio coming from the rear and to the sides of the microphone will be picked up with equal volume and clarity.

Characteristics

pick up of room reverberation

extended low-frequency response

lower cost

Applications

Omni microphones are good for recording situations where sound isolation is not needed or wanted. They are particularly useful for interviews and situations where more than one vocal needs to be recorded but sound isolation is not a factor.

Cardioid

Cardioid microphones are most sensitive at the front of the microphone, typically about 6dB less sensitive to the sides, and around 20dB less sensitive to the rear of the microphone.

Characteristics

less reverb pickup than omni

less room noise pickup than omni

minimises off-axis pickup

Applications

Cardioid microphones are ideal vocal microphones for one-voice-one-microphone applications. Voice actors and show hosts benefit from off-axis pickup reduction focusing the sound on what matters most: the speaker’s voice. The majority of studio-based professional audio requires unidirectional microphones (cardioid, hypercardioid, or supercardioid). Voice actors and podcast hosts (and vocalists!) are likely to find that microphones with a cardioid polar pattern will suit their needs best. Hypercardioid and supercardioid mics work well, too, depending on your voice and application. However, they tend to be more expensive and lack the warmth that a large-diaphragm cardioid delivers to more resonant male and female voices.

Here’s our full guide to microphone polar patterns.

What Is Frequency Response?

Frequency response refers to the range of frequencies your microphone can accurately reproduce at an equal level. Understanding frequency response is one of your best tools when researching audio gear. Simply put, frequency response show how a microphone affects the way your voice sounds. In general, when looking at a frequency response graph, you want the graph to be as flat at possible in the frequencies the microphone is being used to produce. In terms of voice, we are most concerned with the frequencies between 80Hz and 12kHz: the human vocal range. Some microphones will have slight peaks in the 5–12kHz range to improve presence, or some lift in the 500–800 Hz range to improve warmth. These characteristics can be desirable, depending on your production and scope. In order to reduce low-frequency rumble and high-frequency hiss, microphones that roll off below 80Hz (high pass) and above 12kHz (low pass) are best suited for voice. This is especially helpful in cutting down on noise from vehicles and HVAC systems. However, this can also be accomplished by using an EQ highpass and lowpass to filter out these frequencies. Related Article Audio Troubleshooter Guide: Stop! What’s That Sound? Too often, the words “fix it in post” are uttered for things best corrected early. By troubleshooting audio issues in the recording stage, you can save time and headache afterward… Find out more »

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Other Factors

Beyond the questions of condenser vs dynamic, polar pattern, and frequency response, here are some other factors to consider when researching and purchasing a microphone.

Impedance

Impedance is a measure of a microphone’s resistance. Higher resistance in a microphone introduces hum and reduces high frequencies, making the recording sound noisy, or thin. Low-impedance, or low-Z, microphones allow long mic cable runs without introducing noise or reducing frequencies.

Sound Pressure Levels (SPL)

Sound pressure levels indicate the maximum sound intensity a microphone can handle before distorting. In general, a spec of 120dB or greater is preferable. For podcasters miking loud instruments, such as brass or drums, microphones with a higher maximum SPL are best.

Equivalent Noise Level

Also known as self-noise, the equivalent noise level is the electrical noise or hiss a microphone produces. In general, a self-noise specification of 28dB and lower is acceptable for quality recording.

Signal to Noise Ratio (S/N)

This is the difference (in dB) between a microphone’s sensitivity and the equivalent noise level. 64dB and higher is good.

Do I Need to Know All This?

Let’s be honest, most people don’t get into podcasting because they want to become audio engineers. And whilst this is all useful knowledge to have, it’s understandable that you might find certain things a bit too technical, or even just a little boring. That’s totally fine!

With that in mind, we try to review as many different vocal mics as we can on the site. This hopefully means that we can give you the lowdown of each at-a-glance. We can run you through the key points. How does it sound? How does it look? How much does it cost?

That should be much easier than pouring over the intricacies of mic specs on Amazon. But, if that’s the sort of thing that does interest you, then be sure to bookmark this article. Editor’s Note: There’s no doubt that some people go right down the rabbithole with mics, and with good reason. Vocals are one thing, but imagine having to record instruments, too, or even a full drum kit! Rather than one mic, you then need a whole set, and to cover an enormous range of frequencies. To see what I mean, check out the photo of a 7-mic setup at the bottom of this drum mic kit article.

Condenser Vs Dynamic: Mic Recommendations

Here are some reviews and guides worth checking out if you’re in the market for a new microphone.

Great Condenser Mics

Great Dynamic Mics

Bonus Resource: Free Online Mic Test

Need More Help?

Whether it’s advice on equipment you need, or guidance on any other aspect of podcasting, you’ll find the help you need in Podcraft Academy. That’s where we run weekly live Q&A sessions and have courses on everything from planning and launching, to promotion and monetisation. It’d be great to work with you in there!

thepodcasthost.com - Condenser Vs Dynamic | A Beginner's Guide to Microphones for Voice

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