What's a dynamic vocal mic for?

[DoverOs]

I'm wondering, what a dynamic vocal mic is for. I have a condenser that is clear sounding with low noise. The other mic I have is dynamic, so it gets louder proportionally to my sound waves. I'm confused as to how it would be used for vocals, because it has less volume at more quiet levels and considerably more noise than my condenser. I know it's used for instruments, but what's the point with a voice?

 

[Steenamaroo]

Dynamics get a lot of use in VO applications.
There are practical reasons I suppose. They generally less sensitive to moisture, plosives, handling noise, impact damage, etc.

You can generally get much closer to them than you can with condensers, and therefore you can exploit the proximity effect.
It can also mean that background noises are less of an issue.

Sometimes dynamics are used to compliment a voice or style of speech/singing.
They handle very high spls.
Maybe someone with a shrill voice would be better suited to a dynamic, or someone with a lisp. (Anthony Keidis?)

I probably wouldn't use a dynamic on whisper vocals, but for any reasonable level of vocal, it comes down to preference.
Both are equally usable.

The other mic I have is dynamic, so it gets louder proportionally to my sound waves.

I'm not sure what this means.

 

[Tomm Williams]

Dynamics are also extremely useful for live sound. Many times stage volume can get to the point where a condenser really isn't the best choice. Generally (there are exceptions) dynamics are much more durable for live sound. Concert settings frequently see dropped mics and bigger sound providers see hundreds of shows a year. Durable mics are a must. Even though many folks don't really care for them, this is where the SM58 became a legend. There are also exceptional sounding dynamics. SM7, PR40 RE20, M88, Telefunken M80/81, Heil PR35.

 

[dgatwood]

I'm wondering, what a dynamic vocal mic is for. I have a condenser that is clear sounding with low noise. The other mic I have is dynamic, so it gets louder proportionally to my sound waves.

Umm... all microphones get louder as the sound in front of them gets louder....

I'm confused as to how it would be used for vocals, because it has less volume at more quiet levels and considerably more noise than my condenser.

To be pedantic, your dynamic mic does not produce more noise than your condenser. Dynamic mics produce no self noise (thermal noise notwithstanding). Your condenser does. Therefore, your condenser is almost by definition noisier than your dynamic mic. The reasons the dynamic mic sounds noisier are twofold:

1. The condenser mic has a fairly low-noise amplifier inside that is bringing its output level up to a higher level than the output of the dynamic mic.
2. Your preamp is noisier than the amplifier in that condenser mic, so when it has to do more work (with the dynamic mic), it adds more noise (relatively speaking).

When working with noisy preamps, yes, you'll get a lot less noise with even relatively noisy condenser mics. When working with good preamps, that difference should mostly disappear, and you might even find the condenser mic to be noisier, depending on a lot of factors.

I know it's used for instruments, but what's the point with a voice?

Live sound, field recording (ENG, for example), hammering nails....

 

[Adam Tocholke]

Unless you have a really good vocal pre-amp and a sweet dynamic mic for vocals like a D5 or SM58, you are probably better of with the condenser for vocals (most likely yours is a large diaphragm).

some perks to dynamics would be less harsh, less de-essing needed, and less of the room noise captured (generally speaking). Personally I always use a large-d condenser on vocals when isolation isn't an issue.

hope that helps!

 

[Blue Jinn]

I'm wondering, what a dynamic vocal mic is for. {SNIP} what's the point with a voice?

If it's all you got, and the singer is only used to live settings. and because those big Elvis mics just look cool