Microphone Techniques: Essentials

Learn essential microphone techniques. Explore the most common mic types, applications, and patterns—so that you can make the right choice for your specific recording situation.

Introduction

• About this course
• About the example files

1. Microphone Fundamentals

• Mic storage
• Commercial studio acoustics
• Acoustic control
• The importance of monitors
• Live sound mic considerations
• Presentation and wireless mic considerations
• Frequency ranges and transients
• Assess mics for tone and transients
• Frequency response and handling noise
• Recording practices, stands, and bags

2. Operating Principles

• Intro to operating principles
• Transducers
• Sound waves
• Sympathetic vibration
• Dynamic moving-coil capsule
• Physically shaping the pickup pattern
• Condenser operating principle
• Electret condenser
• Pattern selectors
• Pads and attenuators
• High-pass filters
• Ribbon operating principle

3. Understanding Mic Specs

• Reading the frequency response chart
• The proximity effect
• Evaluating the Neumann KM 84 and KM 184
• Evaluating the Shure SM58
• Evaluating the Royer R-122 MKII
• Evaluating the Audix D6
• Evaluating the Shure Beta 87
• Blind evaluations of three mics
• Polar graphs and sensitivity
• Polar pattern shapes
• Demonstration of polar patterns
• Frequency variations
• Sensitivity
• Impedance
• Equivalent noise
• Maximum sound pressure level (SPL)