Mics are a crucial part of our lives, from the podcast you subscribe to on Podbay to the music you listen to on Spotify by your favorite musician. Audio can make or break a narrative endeavor. You might be able to endure a video with poor video quality and decent audio.Also, even the best video would be unwatchable if the audio was cutting, muddled, or just out of sync. Even while the quality of the built-in microphone has improved recently, it still can’t compete with a dedicated solution.
The Rode VideoMic Pro on Crutchfield is the best microphone that many people would recommend when it comes to DSLR/mirrorless video because it’s an excellent all-purpose shotgun mic that will perform well in a variety of settings. However, every recording environment may call for a different kind of microphone, and unless you are a true audiophile, you might not be aware of which is appropriate for your circumstance. Before buying a microphone, it would be wise to familiarise yourself with the words listed below.
Types of Microphone
Sound waves have energy, which microphones can catch and transform into electrical energy in a variety of ways. Using a condenser or a dynamic microphone is one of the two main approaches.
Condenser
Two capacitors are used in a condenser microphone to transform sound waves into an electronic signal. The front capacitor vibrates as a sound wave enters the microphone, causing it to move toward or away from the back capacitor. The capacitance of the mic itself changes as a result of this vibration.
Condenser microphones, which are mostly electric, need phantom power, or external power, to record sound. Condenser microphones cost more and have lower durability than dynamic microphones because of their comparatively advanced technology. Nevertheless, you can find a huge variety of condenser microphones on Crutchfield.
Dynamic Mics
A wire coil and a magnet are both located inside every dynamic microphone. The coil vibrates in response to sound waves, generating an electrical current. Unlike condenser mics, dynamic microphones do not require phantom power.
Dynamic microphones are the recording equipment of choice for musicians seeking longevity and durability because of their straightforward design, which allows them to withstand far more abuse than other types of microphones. There are several excellent solutions available on Crutchfield if you move around a lot.
Polar Pattern or directionality
The directionality of a microphone explains how it extracts sound from its surroundings. Some microphones can concurrently pick up sound from all directions while the majority of other microphones can only pick up sound from one direction, which can be advantageous depending on the circumstance.
Cardioid
To capture speech or singing, a “heart-shaped” or cardioid pattern is frequently utilized. The front, where the microphone is pointed, and a little amount of the sides are the only places that microphones with this directionality may “hear” sounds. The most popular microphones used when recording music are cardioid ones.
Supercardioid
Supercardioid microphones include the aforementioned Rode VideoMic Pro. Supercardioid microphones have a narrower pickup than their cardioid counterparts, enabling a higher level of ambient sound suppression. Supercardioid microphones, unlike cardioid microphones, also have some pickup immediately at the rear, as depicted in the above diagram. Supercardioid microphones are resistant to feedback and are best for picking up a single sound source in noisy settings.
Bi-directional
A figure-eight polar pattern is used by bidirectional microphones to collect sound from the front and back of objects. These microphones, which cost $500 or more, are well-liked by podcasters.
Omnidirectional
An omnidirectional microphone is especially helpful for recording groups or crowds because it can pick up sounds evenly from all angles around it. They are frequently used for live studio performances to simulate the sound of the space, however, they are not suitable for usage live due to their high susceptibility to feedback.
Frequency Response
The frequency response is essentially the 20 Hz to 20 kHz range of frequencies that a microphone is capable of picking up. However, simply knowing the range won’t be very helpful; you also need to understand how sensitive the mic is to certain frequencies.
Before choosing a microphone, consider the material you will be recording. For instance, a microphone that performs well at lower frequencies, such as a dynamic mic, may be well suited for capturing bass or drums, among other things.
Impedance
This describes the receptiveness of a microphone to AC or audio signal and is expressed in ohms (symbol: ). When using cables longer than around 16 feet, low impedance microphones perform better at maintaining audio quality. An impedance that is too high frequently indicates that the microphone’s other parts are of inferior quality.
Sound Pressure Level
The maximum loudness that a microphone can tolerate without distorting is often given in decibels (DBS).
Diminishment Switch
Ever wonder what Rode Videomic’s switches on the rear do? Attenuation switches are the name for these switches on the back. A microphone’s output level is decreased by a specific amount when the attenuation switch is activated, often -10dB or -20dB. The result is a microphone that is four to sixteen times quieter than usual.
Response to Microphone Frequency
The frequency response of a microphone is yet another essential feature. A microphone’s frequency response describes its frequency-specific output sensitivity. In other words, it represents a comparison of the microphone’s sensitivity to various frequencies.
The range of frequencies that a microphone will reliably take up is shown by its frequency response range. These ranges are often set at a certain decibel level (about 3 dB). These ranges can, however, be inflated to give the impression that the microphone is more powerful than it is. The frequency response range also does not indicate how the microphone will respond to frequencies that fall within it.
Summary
The type of microphone is very dependent on the situation and style you want to create. Ask yourself, are you looking for a video podcast solution, live show, or narrative? Choose the equipment on Crutchfield that gives you the best chance of producing your desired sound.
Picking a microphone from Crutchtfeild will don’t cost you much. And a good microphone also excels at recording in a variety of circumstances, like the Rode, which can help you record complete sets with a single mic and is still far superior to built-in mics, even though it is not advised for the highest quality or most professional environments. Keep in mind that if you treat your audio professionally, your viewers will treat your video sincerely as well.
