How important is a Microphone?

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ziplock43

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Does the quality of a microphone affect volume? I'm just thinking, when I used to record into my web-cam, everything was soft. I'm using a couple 20 dollar dynamic mics right now, and it's louder. If I got a couple SM57s would it be louder still?
 
The 2 aren't related.

Condensor microphones are more sensitive than dynamics and require less gain.

Chances are, you will need to use a lot more gain to get a decent signal from an SM57 than you would from most condenser microphones because the SM57 is a dynamic. Ribbon mics usually require even more gain.
 
So does a more expensive microphone only produce better quality sound? I figured that since it could handle more dB, it could produce more.
 
....you'd need some kind of mic preamp to amplify the signal coming from your mic (especially a dynamic mic) to bring it up to a recordable level....some mixers and computer interfaces have builtin preamps, or you can use a seperate mic preamp. Do a quick search on "budget preamp" on the board, and you should get some useful information to help you out.
 
ziplock43 said:
So does a more expensive microphone only produce better quality sound? I figured that since it could handle more dB, it could produce more.
Click to expand...

With your web cam mic you probably didn't have access to the whole signal chain to change anything but with a mic you use for recording you would normally be able to vary the gain of the mic pre-amp or even insert an extra pre-amp if necessary so the final recorded level is a product of the sensitivity of the mic (more sensitive = higher output for the same sound level) and the gain applied in the pre-amp.

So, even with an insensitive mic you should be able to get loud recordings but you'd have to add lots of gain and, with a cheap pre-amp, that probably equates to lots of hiss too which is why, all other things being equal, higher sensitivity is good.

Sensitivity is mainly determined by the type of technology used for the microphone. Generally ribbons are the least sensitive, then dynamics and eletrets in the middle, and true condensers the most sensitive.

Beyond the kind of technology used, with extra money you may get better build quality, a nicer sound, better off-axis response etc.
 
The mic affects the frequency response and sound. The preamp determines the volume. Since you can only go so loud and most preamps will get you there the mic doesn't really have anything to do with volume when all is said and done.

There are exceptions to the above but what you really need is a decent preamp. Better mics wouldn't hurt either.
 
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