Choosing a microphone

Condenser or Dynamic. What is the diﬀerence between them?

Condenser microphones are used to capture the most sensitive sounds in a studio or at home when recording a podcast or performing a live stream. Condenser microphones are fragile and sensitive, they use components and materials designed to pickup higher frequencies.

AUDIQ Condenser Microphones

Dynamic microphones are better than a condenser for capturing loud sounds such as loud vocals or drums, particularly in a live environment. Dynamic microphones are also more durable as they utilise less delicate components. This makes dynamic microphones more suitable for live events or when you need a microphone to endure life on the road.

AUDIQ Dynamic Microphones

These characteristics make both condenser and dynamic microphones great for diﬀerent reasons.

XLR or USB Condenser microphones. Which one should I choose?

USB microphones are great as you can plug them straight into a computer and use them without any other equipment. Real plug & play. However you rely on the microphone converting your sound to digital, which gives you less control on your sound.

AUDIQ USB Microphones

With an XLR microphone, you must use an audio interface or mixing console to connect the microphone to your recording set-up. The beneﬁts of this are you will have improved digital conversion and a greater ability to adjust your gain levels to suit your voice and recording preference.

What is the diﬀerence between small and large diaphragms?

The diaphragm is the part of the microphone that vibrates when sound waves hit it, these vibrations are then converted into electronic signals which then pass all the way through to your recording software.

Condenser microphones have a choice between small diaphragm or a large diaphragm. The diﬀerence between them is straightforward. Both will work well across all audio frequencies, however small diaphragms have a greater sensitivity to higher frequencies and large diaphragms are better at picking up low bass frequencies. Both types work well for vocals, a small diaphragm may work better for high pitch instruments such as violins or ﬂutes, a large diaphragm may give improved recording results for bass instruments, such as bass guitar or bass drum.

Cardioid and Omnidirectional, do I need a microphone that does both?

Cardioid captures the sound directly in front of it, for example when you only want the sound of your voice or instrument (such as a drum where you only want to record the sound of one pad, and not the other pads and cymbals surrounding it).

Omnidirectional captures the sound of your voice or instrument, but also the sounds all around you. An example where this is useful is if you are recording in a Place of Worship and you want to record the ambience and reverberated sounds you hear from this kind of venue.