You want studio-quality recording; but where to start?
In many cases, condenser microphones are the best option for recording vocals for audiobook narration, podcasts, and studio-quality YouTube videos. This article will focus on this type of mic.
Condenser microphones are typically more expensive than mics designed for webinars, Skype, and FaceTime; but if you’re recording audiobooks or podcasts, they are certainly worth the investment.
It’s helpful to have a basic understanding of how they work, so you can more easily decide on which type to buy, especially if you plan to use it for more than one purpose; if you’re on a tight budget you don’t want to waste your money buying the wrong kind of mic, only to have to buy another one later to meet a different purpose.
Choosing a Microphone for Vocals – The Basics…
Condenser microphones have a thin conductive diaphragm close to a metal plate called a backplate. This creates a capacitor, which must be provided a small electrical charge from either phantom power or a battery. Phantom power is an electrical charge that is supplied by a preamp. Pressure from sound waves causes the diaphragm to vibrate, which causes the distance to change between the diaphragm and the backplate. This causes fluctuations in the output voltage, which creates the microphone’s output signal. This signal is what gets recorded as your audio file.
Again, condenser microphones require an external power source like internal batteries or phantom power, which usually comes from a preamp. It will not generate sound without an external power source, so part of the initial investment in a condenser mic will also include a preamp.
Here are the main types of condenser microphones:
Large-Diaphragm Condenser
These are generally seen as an “all purpose” microphone in studio recording. As indicated by the name these are large microphones, which makes them not the best option for recording drums (although drums will sound decent with a condenser mic). While they are good enough to record drums and other acoustic instruments, they are best at recording vocals.
Side-Address Condenser
This is a good single-purpose, one-performer, vocals-only microphone; but most will also perform okay with some acoustic instruments.
Side-address condenser microphones have a screen on one side that blocks most noise from all directions but one. This is the side into which you should speak or sing while performing or recording.
I recommend the Rode NT1-A if you’re going to be recording audiobooks, podcasts, or YouTube videos. Like most side-address mics, this one has an indicator on the side that should face you while performing. Remember, you’ll also need a good preamp to make it functional.
Dual-Diaphragm Condenser
Dual-diaphragm condenser microphones are like side-address condenser mics, but they have two diaphragms that face in opposite directions. They are more suited for recording groups or duets. In a pinch, they can be used as a single-mic solution to record videos or podcasts with more than one person or sound source.
Valve Microphone
Valve microphones, also called tube condenser microphones produce what many consider an “old-timey” sound. They are used with tube amplifiers. For the sake of merely “getting started” with vocal recording, it’s not necessary to buy a valve microphone.
Small-Diaphragm Condenser
These are commonly used to record cymbals. With smaller diaphragms, these microphones do an excellent job at capturing the abrupt, high-frequency sounds. If you’re recording vocals for an audiobook, podcast, or YouTube, this certainly isn’t the best type of microphone to get started.
I hope this has been helpful in your search for your first vocals microphone.
Dann Elsie
Dann Elsie 