| Re: Condenser & Dynamic Mics [message #71995 is a reply to message #71743] |
Wed, 04 April 2012 00:15   |
Thermionic
Messages: 208
Registered: May 2009
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CONDENSER MICS:
Small diaphragm condenser - Overhead cymbal mics/drum ambience, recording acoustic guitar as the mic used over the 12th fret in a two-mic pair.
Large diaphragm condenser - Recording of vocals, acoustic stringed instruments, horns, and as the ambience mic when recording a guitar amp.
DYNAMIC MICS:
Diaphragm-type - Live vocals, live and recorded drums, live micing of guitar amps, horns, and acoustic stringed instruments.
Ribbon-type: Pretty much studio-only; certain very high soprano vocals, and direct micing of guitar amps. Also works great for recording mandolin and acoustic guitar in conjunction with a cardioid pattern large diaphragm condenser, in a stereo micing setup called a "mid-side pair." That is, if the room acoustics are really top-notch.
The right tool for the particular job depends on what you're needing to achieve with what you're micing. Small diaphragm condensers are very sensitive, fast, and uncolored, hence they're extremely detailed and accurate. But, that also means they tend to sound harsh and spikey when recording very bright or brash sounds. OTOH, large diaphragm condensers are smoother and warmer sounding than small diaphragm condensers, but also less detailed and airy sounding.
The low sensitivity and high off-axis rejection of unwanted sound sources makes dynamic mics the undisputed kings of live sound duty. For the same reasons (plus others), they also rule for micing drums in the studio.
Ribbon mics are slow and colored sounding, and they don't reproduce the microdynamics and complex higher harmonics of many instruments nearly as well as condenser mics. However, they sound very warm and liquidy smooth, which greatly reduces the brittle, glassy "edginess" of harsh and/or bright instruments like the trumpet, soprano sax, violin, certain guitar/amplifier combinations, very high soprano register female vocals, etc.
Thermionic
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