K
Knopfler Fan
New member
Can someone please shed some light for this newbie on the differences (sound wise) between the 3 major types of mics-- dynamic, condenser, and tube.
Thanks,
KF
Thanks,
KF
H
Harvey Gerst
New member
Actually, tube mics are a subcategory of condenser mics.
Usually, the 3 categories of mics are: Dynamics, condensers, and ribbon mics (although ribbons are really a special subcategory of dynamics).
Dynamics use a diaphragm with a coil of wire attached and the coil is immersed in a magnetic field. When the diaphragm moves, the coil moves with it, and voltage is generated. In a ribbon mic, the coil and diaphragm is replaced by a simple piece of thin metal, suspended in a magnetic field.
A condenser mic is made up of a charged diaphragm and a back plate. When the diaphragm moves a voltage is produced. All condenser mics are VERY high impedance and that impedance needs to come down to a usable level, since high impedances don't travel very far very well. That's accomplished with either an internal FET (Field Effect Transistor), or a tube stage inside the mic.
Either way, you need power to operate the FET or the tube. Batteries work fine for FETs, but tube mics require an outboard power supply to supply the higher voltages needed to power a tube.
FET mics can be powered by 48 volt phantom power, or self contained batteries which can range from 1-1/2 volts to 70 volts, depending on the design requirements of the mic.
The sound of any particular mic depends on more factors (like polar pattern, diaphragm size, housing, etc.) than just whether it's a "dynamic, condenser, or tube mic".
There are very clean tube mics and there are tube mics that impart a lot of coloration to the sound (sometimes desirable, sometimes not). Same thing with condenser mics, ribbon mics, and dynamic mics.
Each mic type has its own strengths and weaknesses, but there's no way to make generalizations about the "sound" of each type of mic.
Trying to think that way will usually cause you more harm than good.
Usually, the 3 categories of mics are: Dynamics, condensers, and ribbon mics (although ribbons are really a special subcategory of dynamics).
Dynamics use a diaphragm with a coil of wire attached and the coil is immersed in a magnetic field. When the diaphragm moves, the coil moves with it, and voltage is generated. In a ribbon mic, the coil and diaphragm is replaced by a simple piece of thin metal, suspended in a magnetic field.
A condenser mic is made up of a charged diaphragm and a back plate. When the diaphragm moves a voltage is produced. All condenser mics are VERY high impedance and that impedance needs to come down to a usable level, since high impedances don't travel very far very well. That's accomplished with either an internal FET (Field Effect Transistor), or a tube stage inside the mic.
Either way, you need power to operate the FET or the tube. Batteries work fine for FETs, but tube mics require an outboard power supply to supply the higher voltages needed to power a tube.
FET mics can be powered by 48 volt phantom power, or self contained batteries which can range from 1-1/2 volts to 70 volts, depending on the design requirements of the mic.
The sound of any particular mic depends on more factors (like polar pattern, diaphragm size, housing, etc.) than just whether it's a "dynamic, condenser, or tube mic".
There are very clean tube mics and there are tube mics that impart a lot of coloration to the sound (sometimes desirable, sometimes not). Same thing with condenser mics, ribbon mics, and dynamic mics.
Each mic type has its own strengths and weaknesses, but there's no way to make generalizations about the "sound" of each type of mic.
Trying to think that way will usually cause you more harm than good.
Z
ZPphreak
New member
I hate to give you the same answer as in a VERY similar thread just a few topics down the page but you should REALLY do some searching. This topic is covered dozens of times throughout the threads on this board.
This is THE starting place. I'd almost call it a prerequisite. This thread will tell you everything you want and more about Microphones, their patterns, and their applications:
"Harvey's BIG mic thread"
...and this thread just popped up down the page:
"Please verify the B3 functions..."
-verdict: read the other posts. They help.
...and this one is one not much different than your thread:
"new to this, basic mic info"
seriously, to get what you want/need out of this site the search function is THE way to go.
Good Luck
-Brent
This is THE starting place. I'd almost call it a prerequisite. This thread will tell you everything you want and more about Microphones, their patterns, and their applications:
"Harvey's BIG mic thread"
...and this thread just popped up down the page:
"Please verify the B3 functions..."
-verdict: read the other posts. They help.
...and this one is one not much different than your thread:
"new to this, basic mic info"
seriously, to get what you want/need out of this site the search function is THE way to go.
Good Luck
-Brent
Light
New member
ZPphreak said:
Very True, but remember to count on a few hours to read your way through it all.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
E
esun127
New member
What I'm wondering is how you came across this bbs in the first place... I read through much of homerecording.com before stumbling upon the bbs. Dragon's site explains this topic rather thoroughly.