Microphones

There are two basic choices here: dynamic or condenser.

1. Dynamic is your standard passive vocal or instrument mic - they are most useful for live performance, but can easily be used in recording. The industry standard in these has for a long time been the Shure SM58, but there are plenty of other brands equally as good (and often cheaper) such as Behringer and Sennheiser. This category does not include those mics you can buy with a built in lead for singing into karaoke machines! What we are talking about here in uni-directional dynamic mics, with a 3 pin XLR output.

These mics have a lower output, and for recording you need to close mic the voice or instrument to get the best out of them, The also have a limited capture across the aural spectrum - or, if you prefer, they only pick up a certain band of audible sound. They tend to have a 'mid' sound, and are good for a 'garage-rock' vocal, or recording electric guitar amps. Having said that, they can be perfectly good for some acoustic home recording, and I've heard plenty of fine sounds from them. A powered desk or pre-amp seems to get the best out of them.

2. Condenser mics are powered (usually from the mixing desk) and will have a much wider capture for acoustic sounds. This has two main benefits. Firstly, you get more sound in - and you don't have to shove the mic right up to the guitar/voice etc. So you get a more natural sound, and more opportunity to choose an appropriate sound without losing volume.

Most condensers tend to be of the 'side-address' style, so the actual mic is 'upright' - rather like an old broadcast microphone. The diaphragm is also much larger (hence more sound!). These are available quite cheaply nowadays - check out the MXL 990, Behringer B1, or the M-Audio Nova models.


For recording acoustic music, condenser mics are, in my opinion, a must in the longer term, though for some instruments a specifically dedicated dynamic instrument mic can be perfectly effective. The main thing here is to make the process as easy as possible where the actual equipment is concerned, since that makes the other elements of recording much more simple, and condenser mics do just that.