Mics: Differences between them

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fin13

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Hi guys.

What are the common applications for the following microphones:


Dynamic: (I think this is used for live, right?)
Condenser: (I believe this is used for recording more professionally, like an album?)
Ribbon: (When would you use this?)


Thanks for your help guys, it's appreciated.

JennyFin13
 
fin13 said:
Hi guys.
What are the common applications for the following microphones:
Dynamic: (I think this is used for live, right?)
Condenser: (I believe this is used for recording more professionally, like an album?)
Ribbon: (When would you use this?)
Thanks for your help guys, it's appreciated.
JennyFin13
Click to expand...

All of the classifications of microphones can be used in the studio or live.
What it all boils down to is....what will be more flattering to the source that your trying to capturing.



:cool:
 
I think you're trying to be way too general.

The type of mic only refers to its method of operation, and this can only imply so much in terms of its characteristics. There is not one specific application of a dynamic mic, just as all dynamic mics do not share one universal set of characteristics. There are some properties of each type of mic that do lend themselves to different uses, i.e. dynamics are generally quite robust making them suitable for live work, but this doesn't mean that you won't find condensers on stage, and equally you'll find loads of dynamic mics in use in studios.

Quick microphone operation 101...

Dynamic mics = electromagnetic induction... diaphragm attached to coil of wire which passes through magnetic field of fixed magnet. Movement of diaphragm results in movement of coil through field, hence change in linked flux and so an emf is induced (Faraday's law).

Condenser mics = electrostatics... membrane and backplate act as two plates of a capacitor... the capacitance varies with distance between the two plates and the charge across them is kept constant, so the the voltage varies proportionally to the distance between the plates.

Ribbon mics = a variation of dynamic mics using a ribbon within a magnetic field.
 
Hey Fin13,

Your question is a very common one around here. You should take a look at the sticky threads here in the microphone section. There is a great wealth of information there. Here is a starter from Harvey Gerst: Link

A very short answer:
Dynamic: Yes, used live. Also used in studio for recording many different things like drums, amps, etc.

Condenser: Can be used for just about anything in the studio. There are "large" diaphragm condensers and "small" diaphragm condensors (LDC's and SDC's). Some of these accentuate high frequencies while others have flat frequency responses. They are not necessarily any more "professional" than other types of microphones.

Ribbon: You've seen these in old movies where bands play and have big cylindrical microphones in front of the singer. THey used to be standard radio mics. There are many different kinds and many prefer them for their "warm" sound. It all depends on the mic you have though. You can record vocals, horns, piano, etc.

Summary: All of these mics are used to make great albums. They each have pros and cons. To learn more look no further than the sticky threads in the microphone section or try a google search.

Good luck!

EDIT: Look at the FAQ Here: http://www.hr-faq.org/
 
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Wow. This is like a contest, to see who can pack mic 101 into the smallest package. I won't win. First, a ribbon mic is a form of dynamic mic that uses a thin, usually corrugated strip of metal instead of a diaphragm. Don't blow into them, and unless the manual says otherwise, don't give them phantom power. Don't store them horizontally for a long time, it can make the ribbon sag.

Dynamic mics: Come in a wide variety of designs and uses, both live and in the studio. Many are handheld. They are often the mics we use first, with a PA, or in karaoke, or a garage band. There are some really nice ones that were made for radio broadcast which have uses both live, and in the studio. Dynamics are usually chosen for close-mic'ing a loud source, which often means drums, vocalists, and amps. Condensers are used for all of those also, but are likely to be placed a little farther from the source. One of the best things about dynamics is that the best of them can be bought for less than the price of a car. This is not true, alas, for condensers.

Condenser mics are good at capturing detail, both good and bad. As such, they are often the mics of choice for recording acoustic stringed instruments, lighter percussion, and piano. They shine in a good room, where they reveal the room reflections, more like if you were in the room. Of course, this means that in a bad room, they may suck.

Dynamics and condensers are the yin and yang of microphones. It isn't that you use one for some things and one for others. It is that when you mic something up with a dynamic, and then with a condenser, you'll want to place them in different places, you'll hear 2 different things, both of them true, in their own way. For this reason, they are often used in combination, especially with with percussion and cabs. Each model has its own personality. There isn't a source that you can only mic up with a dynamic, or a condenser.-Richie
 
There's a sticky up top.

Form vs. function from a certain POV. Very generalized, and there's always exceptions.

Do you need something cheap that you in essence spit on 300 days a year and bang around a lot, throw away when it's broke and replace it with the same? Dynamic.

Do you need something to record crickets at 20 paces? Condensor.

Do you need something to preserve the character of a source that is otherwise hard to record well? Ribbon.
 
I wouldn't swear to it, but I think if you run the numbers, there are more condenser mics in live use in any given week than dynamics. Sure, pretty much every rock band uses dynamic mics because they're cheap, rugged, and are usually designed to resist feedback.

However, just about every installed house sound setup at every church in the world, every podium mic that costs over $200, etc. uses a condenser mic. Probably 2/3rds of the lapel mics that are used in TV studios are condenser mics, and the same goes for about 2/3rds of the wireless lapel mics. Likewise, pretty much every headset mic ever made is a condenser, including the ones that are used for the crappy drive-thru speaker system in every burger joint in the world. And so on.

:D

General rule:

Moving-coil dynamic mics: slower transient response. High frequencies are rolled off, and sharp transients are smeared. Commonly used for drums because they readily handle high SPLs and getting hit by sticks. They're less commonly used for other things in recording. They're commonly used for gigging for the same reason that they make good drum mics---you can use them as a hammer to fasten the stage back together....

Condenser mics: fast to extremely fast transient response, depending on diaphragm diameter. Usually flatter frequency response (but not always), usually not too rolled off up at the top. These are the most common mics for general-purpose recording. If you don't know what to use, throw a small-diaphragm condenser at it, then tailor the results with EQ. For vocals, most people favor a large diaphragm condenser (or a ribbon, depending on taste).

Ribbon mics: a special case of dynamic mics. These tend to have much better high frequency response and faster transient response than traditional moving-coil dynamic mics, but not as good/fast as condensers. These are almost never used in live use because they are much more easily damaged than either of the other two types. They are great for capturing bright sources because bright sources tend to sound unnaturally dull with MCDs and too harsh with condensers. For example, trumpet is quite frequently recorded with a ribbon mic.
 
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