Sunday, December 20, 2020

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing Microphones for Your Recording Studio

The Blue Yeti Pro USB studio mic is a beautiful microphone with a retro look that produces professional level quality, and in a convenient package. It minimizes the need for a lot of gear, and can sit right on top of your desk to record vocals, speech, or instruments. Best for podcasters and if you just want to record some acoustic guitar or other instruments. A hi-end cardioid condenser microphone used by many of the industry’s top artists and musicians to record vocals and acoustic instruments. Even when you already have decent equipment upgrading to higher end equipment can still improve the quality significantly. Professional studios put a lot of money into microphones, mic preamps, interfaces, effects, etc. for that very reason.

what microphone should i buy for home recording

Many years ago, the USB condenser microphone was still in its infancy and not even a blip on the radar of the general music and recording industry. They were big and bulky, not very reliable and extremely expensive. The sound quality produced by these early microphones wasn't too great either and described as "muddy at best" by early users. Choosing the best studio microphone for home recording can be tricky business.

Audio-Technica AT2035

Both large and small diaphragm condenser mics require a power source. Because these mics require the use a power supply , these mics output higher gain which leads to quieter recordings, plus the ability to record soft sounds accurately and with little noise. Studio owners love them because they are quite inexpensive compared to other types of mics. The very popular Shure SM57 and SM58 mics are industry standards for instrumental and vocal uses, and both retail for about $99.00 each. Choosing the right microphone for a recording session relies on a solid knowledge of microphone types, characteristics, and features. This guide will walk you through all the basics you need to know to pick the right mic for the job, and also help you when you’re looking to buy mics for your studio.

As a ribbon microphone, you could technically use it on many recording sources, from vocals to drums. But sound engineers find that this microphone shines the best on brass instruments, as well as pairing with a dynamic microphone on a guitar cabinet with lots of drive. Much is made of the way a mic's diaphragm diameter affects its tonal attributes, but this is more subtle than you might expect. As a rule, large-diaphragm mics have a slightly fuller sound, but are less accurate when picking up off-axis sounds. For example, in omni mode, a large-diaphragm mic may suffer noticeable high-end loss when used 90 degrees off axis. A condenser microphone is more sensitive to sound and therefore typically better for picking up subtleties in studio settings.

Movo UM700 USB microphone sample:

A strong gust of wind can easily break the aluminum ribbon in the microphone. As mentioned, every microphone, whether cheap or expensive is made to convert sound waves into electric signals that a pre-amp is able to amplify and recorder to store. And as the audio signal is being passed through from the microphone to pre-amp and recorder, different sound characteristics are created.

You get a very balanced and wide frequency range with the Rode NT1-A. It’s also suitable for recording super deep voice overs and can sound seriously good if paired up with a nice fat sounding preamp. Lastly, this is one of the quietest microphone in terms of self-noise that I’ve used in the studio, making it very ideal for super clean commercial voice over projects. This company is a leading manufacturer of fine microphones for both studio and stage. This microphone consists of a large-diaphragm, resulting in one of the best high-quality mics for all professional and semi-professional applications. It features a transformerless circuit for achieving low-noise (as low as 7 dB-A) and the highest sound pressure level.

Large Diaphragm Condenser Mics under $500

+ Straightforward to use whether for home recording or in professional studios. Why We Liked It - The Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic Microphones is arguably one of the best vocal microphones on the market. The right room - Even at home, it's crucial to record vocals in the best space possible.

From the deep black color, to the metallic mesh, and hardcover carry case, this is a gorgeous piece of technology. You may also struggle to find a consistent “sweet spot” in terms of distance from the mic , and you’ll need to do a bit of calibration work to get it sounding right. Seriously, this mic is good enough to carry your vocals right to the top, and if you have the cash in future to get that extra 15% performance, then go for it. For all that, the MXL 770 is probably only running at 10-15% less than the top mics on our list, and at a fraction of the price. Surprisingly (to most users, at least!) the Blue Yeti captures sound with exceptional accuracy. Even though we knew it was good before testing, we were still surprised at the clarity and brightness of the audio.

Shure SM58-LC Vocal Microphone

The Yeti X comes attached to its desktop stand and it makes for an easy and attractive mic to have in your videos. You may want to invest in an external pop filter or windscreen though. This all-metal mic has four polar patterns, including cardioid, omnidirectional, bi-directional, and stereo, making it extremely versatile. The Blue Yeti X isn’t great for recording instruments just because it’s bulky and hard to position. This durable dynamic mic produces crystal clear sound no matter your use case, as you can choose from a plethora of frequency responses in the companion app. The Shure MV7 records in a cardioid polar pattern and houses an internal shock mount.

what microphone should i buy for home recording

These, factor, as well as its other essential qualities, is what allows this microphone to win a place on this list. Used for recording the insides of larger instruments, such as kick drums and pianos. One of the best sounding ribbon microphones out there, with a hypercardioid polar pattern. Used a lot on amps, brass, and strings, but gives a specially sheen to everything else.

I personally feel a condenser microphone would provide more experiment options and take you further. However, that opinion can be highly subjective, producer to producer. Dynamic mics are not as sensitive as condensers but is pretty useful in certain recording situations. If you want to have a sports announcer sound for a segment in your YouTube video, for example, this software will do that for you. Its sensitivity allows it to pick up the subtleties of the instrument.

If you’re into recording anything acoustic, getting this microphone, for the price, is a no brainer. It brings consistent satisfaction across many applications, making it one of the best studio microphones for all-round usage. A dynamic microphone designed specifically for recording kick drums or a bass amp.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Best Machine Design Books

Table Of Content Machine Elements in Mechanical Design by Robert L. Mott McGraw Hill eBook Connect (6 Months Access) Shipping Options Co...