SUMMARY
This is a Podcast I made testing my voice on various microphones both dynamic and condenser. Mr. Scott Le Duc was my sound engineer as well as the script writer of this podcast. After recording everything including an intro and conclusion on my phone, I later produced and edited the recordings of myself as well as creating an intro song or the podcast to spice things up a bit.
MY FAVORITE MICROPHONE SPECS
My favorite microphone was the RE-20. I like how there is minimal background hiss on it and how it brings out the low end and mid-frequencies. From what I what I have learned as well as with my little experience with the microphone, it seems to be a pretty versatile microphone which is nice.
TERMS AND CONCEPTS
Dynamic Mic. – In a dynamic microphone a thin diaphragm is connected to a coil of wire called a voice coil which is precisely suspended over a powerful magnet.
Condenser Mic. -Instead of using a coil, ribbon microphones use a small strand of very thin 2 microns thick aluminum ribbon.
Omni pattern – Responsive in all directions, sometimes picking up unwanted sound.
Cardioid pattern – Condensers use two charged plates, one fixed and one which can move acting like a diaphragm.
Bi-directional pattern – Most sensitive to sounds coming front the front and the rear. Less sensitive to sounds at the sides.
Transduction – Converting sound energy into an electrical signal or an electrical signal into sound energy.
Voltage – The sensitivity.
Phantom Power – +48v of energy sent down the microphone cable to a condenser microphone from the audio recording or mixing board.
Sensitivity – Output level. Voltage of output signal when exposed to a certain sound level. Can be expressed as decibels below one volt. Most microphone signals are less than one volt so a negative number is used (-50dBV). Higher number means microphone is more sensitive (-30dBV) and a lower number means a less sensitive microphone (-70dBV). This number is meaningless unless you know what sound pressure level (SPL) it was tested with. Most are tested at 94dB/1 Pa.
Frequency Response – The range of sound a microphone can reproduce and how sensitive the mic is at certain distance. Flat response, equally sensitive to all frequencies. Shaped response, more sensitive to some frequency ranges, adds clarity to vocals. When made less sensitive to low frequencies, picks up less background noise. Some microphones let you adjust frequency response.
Transient – An abrupt change in level. Like a cymbal’s crash or a singer’s T’s or CH’s.
Placement – If the sound source (mainly vocals) is farther away (3-4 ft), the voice is still clear but you get more room noise, which may be good if you want reverberation. Move the sound source even further to get more reverberation. About half a foot away from the mic, is the normal place for a vocalist. You get less room noise and the voice sounds even clearer. Picks up subtle changes in the voice. Moving the sound source to right in front of the microphone will increase the bass (proximity effect), as well as giving the voice a more intimate feel. A pop filter will be needed to prevent some words from “popping”. Like the singer’s P’s.
Proximity Effect – The increase in bass when a sound source is moved closer to the microphone.
Output – More sensitive mics have higher voltage than less sensitive mics.
Characteristics – Sensitivity, Frequency Response, Output, Maximum sound pressure level.
Noise Rating – The signal (sound source) to noise ratio measured in decibels (dB). Noise is any sound in the background you don’t want. Electricity vibrates at 60dB so you want the ratio of the signal and noise to be higher than that. Preferably 90dB or higher.
Mic. Clip – Holds the microphone to the stand
Mic. Stand – Holds up the microphone so the speaker doesn’t have to hold it. Height can be adjusted.
Windscreen/Pop Filter – Reduces breathing and wind noises
Direct Box – Connected to the mixer. Balances various outputs an inputs from the microphone and the mixer.
WHAT I LEARNED
Before doing this project I thought most microphones sounded the same, and that the only difference they had in sound was whether they were good, okay, or bad quality. However, using all these high quality microphones taught me that this is not at all the case. Although the quality does change the sound very much, high quality microphones can sound very different depending on what frequencies they boost among other things. I also learned a bit about what frequencies I like to boost in my vocals and what kinds of microphones complement my voice the best. This project was really fun to make and I am glad I got the opportunity to use all these fancy microphones and work with them.