What type of microphone do I need?

When picking out a microphone, the first thing to decide is what type of microphone you need. If you’re a vocalist who records in studios, a condenser mic is a smart choice. However, for anyone who performs live, a dynamic mic should be your go-to microphone. Time to break down the various microphone types and when to use them.

Editor’s note: this article was updated on August 17, 2022, to update formatting, include a section about USB microphones, and address FAQs.

Live musicians should get a dynamic microphone

If you walk into a music store and ask about different microphone types, the clerk will likely present you with a dynamic microphone. This variety of microphone lends itself nicely to vocals, drums, and general instrumentation. Live performers prefer dynamic mics for a few reasons: they’re durable, affordable, and can withstand plenty of loud noise before signal distortion sets in. Many have a built-in high-pass filter to attenuate sub-bass frequencies. The veritable Shure SM58 is a dynamic XLR microphone and a great option for performers due to its high-value, low-cost nature. Though holding a mic in your hands rather than placing it in a mic stand might reduce audio quality due to handling noise, if you’re one to bounce around on stage while singing, a mic with the Shure SM58 shape is perfect for handheld use. If you want a more stylish option tuned for vocal pickup, the Shure 55 SH Series II may be more up your alley.

Shure SM58 microphone demo:

This type of microphone is simply built, just like dynamic drivers in headphones. A coil, surrounded by a magnet, is attached to the back of a diaphragm. As soundwaves from your voice hit the diaphragm membrane, it moves, pushing the coil back and forth. This dynamic movement interacts with the stationary space between the coil and magnet to create a minute voltage signal, thus converting soundwaves into an electrical signal to then be projected through your amplifier.

Condenser microphones are great for studios

Another breed of microphone is the condenser mic. These are excellent for recording nuanced sounds like string and wind instruments and are preferred for studio recordings. They require external power, be it phantom power or a preamp. They’re more delicate than your average dynamic microphone. Therefore, they require a tame, controlled setting. Due to their high sensitivity, your recordings will benefit from a shock mount and pop filter. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule: shotgun condenser microphones are used on TV and movie sets, so as to pick up all dialogue. The Rode NT1-A, for example, is a great condenser mic for recording vocals and acoustic instruments alike. A mic like this has a very neutral-leaning frequency response, leaving you more room to make adjustments when mixing your recordings.

Shotgun microphone demo:

Now that we know what environments condenser mics shine in, let’s quickly break down how they work. Rather than using moving a magnet and moving coils, these use capacitor plates which are constantly charged from an external power source (phantom power). The front plate is made from a malleable material and is comparable to a diaphragm used in dynamic microphones. Sound waves hit the front plate which then vibrates. This slight movement changes the capacitance between the front and rear plates and converts it into an electrical signal.

USB microphones are the easiest to use

Those working from a home studio or office and don’t want to fuss with an audio interface should consider USB mics—perfect if you’re stuck at home using video chat apps for meetings. Most USB microphones are condenser microphones, work almost the same way as the condenser mics we previously discussed. The main difference between them is that USB mics have a USB connection rather than an XLR connection. XLR connections have a balanced signal whereas USB connections don’t, but this usually doesn’t turn out to be a huge problem when it comes to sound quality. USB mics are only meant for recording or live streaming—you can’t use them in live performance.

Movo UM700 USB microphone sample:

A huge perk of a USB condenser mic is that you don’t need any extra equipment to use it—no phantom power is required. You can simply plug it into your computer and start recording, and many USB microphones come with desktop stands too. A lot of USB mics even come with extra features, such as onboard gain and volume adjustment, and multiple recording patterns.

Ribbon mics make voice recordings shine

Now that we’ve covered the most popular types of microphones—dynamic, condenser, and USB—we can get into some of the more niche types. When I think of a Transatlantic accent, I picture a man in a suit with large lapels, tightly combed hair, standing behind a rectangular ribbon microphone. The ribbon mic was invented way back in the early ‘20s and is less prevalent today.

This type of microphone is great for recording voices and had a higher resonant frequency than microphone diaphragms back in the 1920s. Upon inception, they were remarkably fragile but have since become more rugged. They usually have a bidirectional polar pattern, meaning they equally register sounds from the front and rear.

As the name suggests a ribbon microphone uses, well, a ribbon. It’s suspended between a magnet’s oppositely charged poles. As it vibrates between said poles, a voltage is created. Fun fact, the velocity of the ribbon’s movement is directly proportional to the induced voltage. This signal is then converted and transmitted for output. If you need a microphone to accurately produce high-frequency sounds, this is a great option so long as you have a phantom power supply.

Tube microphones have a passionate following

These condenser microphone use a vacuum tube to amplify the signal from the recording capsule. They require more than 48V phantom power, but it’s rare to find a tube microphone that doesn’t include an external power supply. Tube microphones are great for voices, too, as they tend to emphasize bass frequencies, making vocal fundamental frequencies more perceptible. There’s an ardent fanbase surrounding tube microphones, but realistically, a general condenser mic will serve just as well for most instance, and is more accessible.

What you should know about microphones

Polar patterns determine what sounds are recorded and rejected

Now that you have an idea of the microphone types, let’s go over polar patterns. These determine from which direction, or directions, a microphone registers sound. Here’s the skinny: cardioid mics have a heart-shaped pickup pattern, which picks up the most sound from the direct front of the mic, but is generally forgiving with regards to where the microphone is placed. This pattern has some off-axis rejection but will still capture room ambiance. It’s one of the most popular patterns for consumer microphones. If you want to learn more, Chris has an in-depth breakdown of various recording patterns.

Frequency response and sensitivity affect sound quality

Headphones, microphones, and speakers all have a specific frequency response. This denotes how well something can reproduce an audio signal across a specific frequency range. A commonly used frequency range is 20Hz-20kHz; these are the lowest and highest frequencies the human ear can register.

A perfect frequency response looks completely flat on a chart, but you won’t actually come across this in the real world. Not all vibrations are transmitted as electromagnetic signals, no matter what type of microphone you’re using. This means some frequencies may be less or more audible, depending on the microphone. When visualized like in the chart above, a louder frequency range appears as a bump, while a quieter one dips.

Sensitivity is a little different. It just refers to how easily the mic picks up sounds. A more sensitive microphone is able to register quieter sounds than a less sensitive one. This is why condenser mics often need some kind of suspension mechanism: they’re more prone to registering micro-movements that send tiny vibrations through the housing and are then recorded by the diaphragm.

Treat the room with acoustic foam panels

There are common recording problems that newbies and professionals all run into. If you happen to be recording inside, be it in a full-fledged studio or your DIY blanket fort, there are easy ways to mitigate in-room echoes. Now, recording outside—that’s a completely different beast.

If your space has a lot of reflective surfaces (hardwood), you’ll need to go to great lengths to reduce echoes. Acoustic foam panels are an effective way to do this and don’t require much effort to install. For those with tight budgets, look into bass traps for the corners. As you may expect, corners amplify echoes. Those working from home should record from the innermost room. This will be an effortless way to mitigate street noise.

Relatedly, you can easily get rid of plosives and fricatives with a pop filter. These are the unwanted pops and hisses that creep into recordings. A pop filter shields the mic capsule from the expulsion of air that leaves the mouth with words like “papaya.”

Demo of plosives:

Demo of fricatives:

Prevent the proximity effect

We most often experience the proximity effect when we take phone calls, but it can impact all microphone types. As you speak closer to a microphone, especially a cheap one, low-frequency sounds are amplified. While this isn’t the end of the world for phone calls, it can really ruin a recording and force you to spend more time editing than you initially intended. Speaking six inches from the microphone helps to reduce this effect. Additionally, try your best to remain still while recording. Swaying too far forward or away exacerbates its presence.

While we’ve just brushed the surface of how each microphone works, you should leave here with a better understanding of microphone types and when to use what. Whether you’re looking to record a podcast, videos for your YouTube channel, or people in various environments, we have you covered.

Frequently asked questions about microphone types