They are often used to “close” mic instruments, and don’t pick up much of the room sound. Understanding this difference is important, because most studios are equipped with both types of microphones.Ī simple way of explaining the difference is that dynamic mics are designed to only capture the sound of the voice or instrument in front of it, and block out extraneous noise. What Is The Difference Between A Dynamic & Condenser Microphone? Of course, a mic like the Shure SM57 is something you never outgrow, because virtually every studio has one. You’ll outgrow your gear at some point, and then you will need to get new gear.
Try things out with different mics, and see how far you get. So, don’t get discouraged if you aren’t happy with your early choices. But that’s when I discovered my favorite setup – when I stopped looking for it! I mostly gave up on that path, because after a certain point, I didn’t think the “perfect tone” existed. Strange thought, I know, but it’s true.Īs a guitarist, I endlessly obsessed about my guitar tone. You may not be able to achieve what others were able to do using the exact same gear. There are so many variables when it comes to recording – your room, your gear, the musician playing the part, the instrument they’re using, the engineer or producer, mixing and mastering procedures, and so on. You may buy a mic on a recommendation, and that’s totally fine, but for whatever reason, you may not end up liking it as much as the person who recommended it to you. Ultimately, only you can decide whether you like the sound of a specific microphone. Budget is always an important consideration, but I would suggest waiting to get what you want as opposed to making do with a cheaper alternative. If you can’t afford $99, you may want to take some time to save up. If you’re looking to go any cheaper than $99, yes, there are some products out there, but I wouldn’t recommend them. In this guide, you’ve learned about several mics that offer a great tone for a reasonable price. Although you could buy an all-purpose mic – such as the sE Electronics X1 – and make do with it, if possible, I would recommend starting with both a dynamic and condenser mic, so you can get used to the properties of each. I’ll talk more about these two types of mics in a moment. When you’re ready to upgrade, you’ll need to be a lot more careful – especially with something as sensitive as a ribbon mic. Rarely as important as sound and tonal qualities, durability can still be a major consideration if you’re new to mics and you’re mostly recording from home, where mics might get bumped, dropped, or clipped. But here are some further insights into important criteria as you go through the selection process. Different mics serve different purposes, and it’s best not to view any one of them as being all-in-one solutions. If you’ve been following along so far, you’re probably starting to get a good sense of what microphone(s) to buy. If you find the Blue Yeti compelling, but you’re looking for something with a little more “oomph”, you’ll want to check out the Rode. If you’re a podcaster or a vocalist, you might give this one a try. This mic probably isn’t suitable for anything except voice. It has a stereo headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring, built-in master gain knobs, and comes with a tripod stand, pop shield, and ring mount. Even though it’s a condenser, it’s built not to pick up a lot of background noise. The NT-USB is a compelling option, so far as USB condenser mics are concerned. I’ve been a long-time user of Rode microphones, which I think are among the best midrange studio mics available. sE Electronics X1 Large Diaphragm Condenser Mic It’s unlikely you’ll be using the Shure for everything, but it can’t hurt to keep one around. That’s where a dynamic mic comes in – it tends to cut down on a lot of extraneous noise. But sometimes you don’t want to pick up all the fine details of a sound. Condensers are great for a lot of things, such as vocals, acoustic guitars, and drums. Plus, every studio should have a dynamic mic. Sometimes, a crystal-clear condenser isn’t what you’re looking for.
But for some applications, it’s just perfect. This mic is also often used for snare drums, and sometimes for vocals as well.ĭoes the SM57 have a colored tone? You better believe it. There are plenty of guitarists that prefer the sound of the SM57 on their guitar amps. This might have something to do with its durability, or the fact that it can be used in so many ways. But it’s unlikely you’ll find a single studio that doesn’t own at least one.
It’s not that the SM57 is an incredible microphone.