Unit 9 Key Properties Definition & Instrument Use Advantages Disadvantages Condenser Microphone The condenser microphone is also called a capacitor microphone because it uses a capacitor. The microphone requires power from a battery or external source. very sensitive, preferred for vocal recordings. very sensitive – could pick up background noise. Dynamic Microphone The dynamic microphone uses a wire coil and magnet to create the audio signal. Doesn't need a battery or power supply and they are durable as well as fairly inexpensive. need to use a mic preamp. Polar Patterns / Directional response in Microphones Polar patterns / Directional response in Microphones are how well the microphone picks up sound from different directions and there are different types that pick up sound around a certain area. Unidirectional Picks up sound predominantly from one direction. Bidirectional Picks up sound from two opposite directions good for duets. Omnidirectional is a more general and unfocused type of polar pattern which mean that you will need to know what type will be better for a.

Key Properties Definition & Instrument Use Advantages Disadvantages Microphones with Phantom Power phantom power can just be labelled as ‘phantom’, and occasionally ‘+48v’. It is a direct current of 48 volts supplied through a microphone cable. it powers the mic with the same lead that is used to record so there is less wires needed. Microphones that operate on voltages from 9 – 48 volts. These mic’s don’t get benefit with higher phantom voltages. Proximity effect of Microphones Proximity effect is a change in the frequency response of a mic having a directional pickup pattern. proximity effect can result in a boost of up to 6 dB adds a sense of depth to the voice increases the bass or low frequency's. unidirectional do not exhibit proximity effects. Frequency response of microphones is the amount of gain that a microphone produces in response to all the various frequencies. there is more than one type of frequency response there's tailored which allows you to enhance a sound source and there's flat which is better where the sound source has to be replayed without changing. because of proximity effect, if a sound source is more than a few inches from the capsule it can have less bass.

1.2 Sound source How will a Microphone make life harder for the performer / Audience Frequency (Low / High frequencies or a mixture) Input signal (will the volume remain the same?) Actor having a microphone in your hand as an actor limits you to one hand. a mid ranged to high are good frequency's. The input signal won’t stay the same because the actor might be shouting or whispering at different points. Group of singers All have to surround the microphone.A mid ranged frequency's is good.There could be a section of high pitched signers and a section of low pitched singers Amplifier (Gtr / Keys) can be too loud for the people up front or to quiet for the people in the middle. any frequency is good depending on what the music is. You can expect some dynamic changes depending on if everyone is singing at the same time. Kick Drum could be awkward to set up or could get background noise. for a kick drum a high mid range frequency is good. you can expect some loud and soft dynamics from different styles of playing as well as if there are any effects used Snare drum could use the wrong mic for the place microphone. like the kick drum a high mid range frequency is good. Some dynamics like drum rolls will be consistently loud.

Sound source The best Mic Why this mic?What other Mics did you consider and why did you not use them Solo singer Shure SM58 microphone it is a good mic for vocals because it is unidirectional, has a pop filter and is £87.00 Shure SM7B Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone it doesn’t have a pop filter and is £ Group of singers Se Electronics se x1 Vocal Pack Microphone It’s a condenser so in a large group it is a good mic but costs £ it is also good for instrumentals and has a pop filter. Qtx CCM1 Studio Condenser Microphone although it is cheaper it isn't good instrumentals and doesn’t have a pop filter Amplifier (Gtr / Keys) Shure SM57, Sennheiser MD421 It has a frequency response which suits the range of a guitar amp & because of it’s shape you can get it close to the speaker. Shure SM58, they are similar but the shape of the grill on the SM58 means you cant get as close to the speaker for the full bass Kick Drum AKG D112, Audix D6The mic is designed to pick up low frequencies & handle loud sound sources. A condenser mic would pick up the low frequencies but might not be able to handle the inside of the drum very well. Snare drum Shure SM57 If you pick a model with a small size like the SM57 you can get it close to the drum. A small diaphragm condenser would be more sensitive to bleed from other sources.

1.4 guitar amp The way that we set up the guitar amp is that we plugged the amp into the wall and put the mic off the centre of the amp to pick up the most sound. Xlr lead Audio interface Mic stand guitar amp Dynamic mic

1.4 vocals for the vocals we adjusted the mic so that it was the right height for sonny and place the mic at the top with the stand and the pop shield in between sonny and the mic. Condenser mic Xlr lead Mic stand Pop shield

1.4 drums For the snare drum we set up a condenser mic and a dynamic mic to better pick up the different sounds at the top and bottom of the drum. Dynamic mic Xlr lead Xlr leads Condenser mic Audio interface