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Types of Mics

This document summarizes different types of microphones: Cardioid microphones capture sound from the front and block sound from other directions, making them good for live performances. Super/hypercardioid microphones have an even more directional pickup pattern. Omnidirectional microphones capture sound from all directions, good for natural sound but prone to feedback. Figure-8 microphones pick up sound from the front and back. Shotgun microphones have a tight directional pattern for film/theater use. Switchable/multi-pattern microphones can change patterns. Small diaphragm microphones are compact while large diaphragms capture more detail. Dynamic microphones are reliable at high volumes while condensers

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154 views14 pages

Types of Mics

This document summarizes different types of microphones: Cardioid microphones capture sound from the front and block sound from other directions, making them good for live performances. Super/hypercardioid microphones have an even more directional pickup pattern. Omnidirectional microphones capture sound from all directions, good for natural sound but prone to feedback. Figure-8 microphones pick up sound from the front and back. Shotgun microphones have a tight directional pattern for film/theater use. Switchable/multi-pattern microphones can change patterns. Small diaphragm microphones are compact while large diaphragms capture more detail. Dynamic microphones are reliable at high volumes while condensers

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Types of microphones

Rachael McClelland
Cardioid Mic

• The cardioid microphone captures everything in front of it and blocks


out everything else.
• This means that the direction in which you focus the mic has a big
impact so you need to direct it in the direction of the sound you want
to capture
• Common uses: capturing the sound of loud instruments e.g. guitars or
drum kits.
• It is ideal for live performances or other situations where noise
reduction is needed.
Super/Hyper Cardioid Mic

• These two microphones have the same front directionally, they pick
up the same noise at the front however at the back they have a
narrower area of sensitivity. This means they have a higher resistance
and feedback.
• Due to their enhanced ability to reject noises they are usually used for
loud sound sources.
• Due to the back rejection being a bit compromised you will have to
position unwanted sounds like stage monitors on the dead sides.
Omnidirectional Mic

• These types of microphones from all angles.


• Due to their non-directional design and zero rejection the
microphones capture nuances better resulting in a more natural
sound.
• As long as the noise level is low, you can record multiple instruments
live.
• They lack background noise rejection and are prone to monitor
feedback, this makes them unsuitable for loud and noisy venues.
Figure-8 Mic

• The figure-8 microphone captures sound from the front and back
while rejecting the two sides of the mic.
• The front and back sensitivity means that it is ideal for stereo
recording or capturing two or more instruments.
• The figure-8 mic is commonly used on ribbon mics and on some large
diaphragm condenser microphones.
Shotgun Mic

• The shotgun mic feature a tube like design that make their polar
pattern more directional than hyper cardioids.
• It eliminates sound from the sides via phase cancellation.
• The design results in a tighter polar pattern up front with longer
pickup range.
• These types of microphones are usually used for film and theatre,
they also make for good overhead mics for capturing things such as
singing groups, drum cymbals etc.
Switchable/Multi-pattern Mic
• These microphones are able to change between different polar
patterns which makes for versatile placement.
• Many of USB condenser microphones have this feature.
• These microphones have many more positioning possibilities and
more usage.
Small Diaphragm

• Microphones with small diaphragms are commonly pencil mics and


have thin cylindrical shapes.
• Their compact design makes them lighter and easier to position.
• These mics are designed to be stiffer and to handle higher sound
pressure levels and have a wider dynamic range.
• Limitations of this mic include internal noise and low sensitivity.
• Uses: you can record acoustic guitars, hi-hats, cymbals and other
instruments.
Medium Diaphragm

• These are sometimes called hybrids because they combine the


characteristics of both large and small diaphragms.
• They have a slightly warmer and fuller sound similar to the large
diaphragms but have the high frequency contents that the small
diaphragms could.
• These microphones that are gaining reputation in live and recording
situations.
Large Diaphragm

• The bigger the the diaphragm, the more it can sense air vibrations,
the more vibrations are captured the more of the sonic details are
faithfully reproduced.
• Large diaphragms move easily to allow them to detect even faint
differences in sound pressure levels which result in more transparent
and natural sound.
• These are typically used in recording studios and are now the most
common configuration used on modern USB mics.
Dynamic
• Dynamic microphones are reliable.
• These mics reliably capture sound and can do so even high sound
pressure levels.
• You can use them for capturing loud sound sources such as bass,
guitar amplifiers and drum kits without worrying about unwanted
distortion or damage.
• They also work well in quieter settings.
Condenser
• These mics have a thin conductive diaphragm that sits close to a
metal backplate.
• This configuration works like a capacitor wherein sound pressure
vibrates the diaphragm which in turn changes the capacitance to
produce the audio signal.
• Sound quality is improved.
• These mics are ideal for precision recording in the studio.
• You will need a mixer or direct box with phantom power.
• High sound pressure levels aren’t good for this mic.
Ribbon
• These mics aren’t as popular as they were.
• The light metal ribbon used in these mics allows it to pickup the
velocity of the air and not just air displacement. This allows for
improved sensitive to higher frequencies, capturing higher notes
without the harshness while retaining a warm vintage voicing.
• Production ribbon mics are sturdier and more reliable than their old
counterparts, making them viable for live multi-instrument recording
on venues where noise level is manageable.
• https://www.gearank.com/articles/types-of-mics

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