MicrophonesSound-a-licious-ness.

Every Tool Has It’s Place

Types

Microphones come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they all have a specific use. Make

sure you have the right tool for the job.

Sound Recording

Films and Television programs often record sound on a device independent of the camera.

They use a slate to sync sound, and then match up sound in post.

High End devices uses crystals.

Microphone Types

There are three basic types

Dynamic

Condenser

Electret Condenser

Dynamic

Have a moving coil surrounded by a magnet that picks up wavelengths of sound and causes the coil to vibrate.

Used a lot by musicians, and recording artists

Very rugged and resistant to hand noise

Do not require a power source

Condenser MicUsed extensively for motion picture sound recording.

Tend to be more sensitive, fragile and expensive.

Use a capacitor circuit to generate electricity from sound. The sound moves a plate, and the changes in the plates movement reproduce the sound.

Electret Microphone

Most common mic in the world

Used for everyday appliances and gadgets (like cellphones, or laptops, headsets)

Very cheap to manufacture

“Function over form”

Pick Up Patterns

Each microphone has specific type of pick-up pattern, which is a configuration of

directions in space in which it is sensitive to sound.

Omni Directional

Pick up sounds in every direction

Great general all around mics

Not spectacular in any one area

Will pick up the person behind the mic or camera

Cardioid

Have a heart-shaped pick-up pattern

Tend to be very front heavy, with secondary sounds on the side

Least sensitive to space behind the mic

Hyper Cardioid

Sometimes referred to as a Shotgun Mic

Strong focus on a narrow space in front

Good for picking up sound at a distance

Very little focus on the sides (no spread)

Can be sensitive behind the mic

Cables

Most audio uses XLR Cables (balanced)

Takes the two signal wires and wraps them in a third wire

Protects it from interference

Can use several hundred feet at once

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How to Wrap