There are a huge variety of microphones available for the home studio owner. They fit all budgets, offer many unique sounds, and work for different applications. It’s easy to get confused and overwhelmed looking for the right mics for your studio. This article offers a few tips to get you started.

First of all, this article is aimed at beginners. If you are already racking up a nice microphone collection, you will probably already know much of this information. If you are planning your first mic purchases, read on.

Your budget is extremely important. Avoid spending more than you have and getting yourself in debt. Start with simple, inexpensive microphones and learn some good mic’ing techniques. Later on you can upgrade. Decide how much you have to spend, and stick to your budget.

For the first couple mics, you need to serve a variety of purposes. You will likely need to mic vocals, guitars, bass, drums, and acoustic instruments. One surefire way to cover all these areas is to start off with a Shure SM57. This mic is incredibly versatile. It can handle lots of applications and will last a lifetime. Plus it’s under a hundred bucks.

But if you want to diversify just a bit, I would recommend getting a large diaphragm condenser and a dynamic microphone. The condenser is great for vocals, acoustic stuff, drum overheads, etc. You just want to avoid placing it directly in front of a loud sound source. That’s what the dynamic mic is for. Your dynamic mic can handle high SPLs, so you can place it directly in front of a cranked guitar amp. With these two microphones, you’re off to a great start already.

When it comes time to expand your mic locker, consider adding another large diaphragm condenser. Having a pair of condenser allows you to mic drum overheads in stereo. That will greatly improve the stereo image of your recordings. You can also add additional dynamic mics. With more of these mics, you can mic more drums or guitars at once. Later, when you have a little extra cash in your budget, consider investing in a good quality kick drum mic. This mic will make your drums sound ten times better, and it’s great for recording bass guitars too.

Remember that buying mics is fun. You get different sounds from every mic you try. Eventually you will have a big collection of unique mics to use in your studio.

A very cost effective and basic microphone is the dynamic microphone. The dynamic microphone works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. This means when sound pressure hits the microphone the diaphragm moves a sound coil up and down. Since the sound coil is situated between a magnet that movement causes the electrical signal. Dynamic microphones do not require phantom power when used with a mixer or preamp.

Another type of microphone is the ribbon microphone. The ribbon microphone works on the same concept as a dynamic microphone. the main differences are that ribbon mics have a very fragile design and can be expensive due to there “better” sound. The ribbon mic does require phantom power because it has a very thin diaphragm that requires power to boost the recording signal to a more optimal level for  your recording equipment.

The most popular and common microphone used in recording is the condenser microphone. The condenser mic works on the concept of electrostatic induction. In a condenser mic there are two plates, one that is fixed and does not move and one that is charged with phantom power. When an audio signal is picked up the charged plate moves closer to the fixed plate creating an electrical signal. Condenser mics have a warm tube sound and in my opinion even harmonic distortion.

Every microphone has in its specifications a frequency response. Frequency response is a measure of a mics characteristics. Frequency response is represented by a graph showing how a microphone responds to certain frequencies at a certain db (volume). Frequency response is different for every microphone because every microphone has a different tonal quality. Knowing how to understand frequency response gives you the ability to do accurate experiments with microphones and instruments.

Once you know the different types and designs of mics and understand frequency response you are going to be in more control of your recordings. Remember that there is no rule book when it comes to microphone selection and recording so always be willing to experiment.

This is a quick primer to help you decide which microphone to use for your specific recording application. Remember that dynamic microphones are more rugged, require no external power, and serve well for recording very loud sound sources. Condenser microphones are more fragile, very sensitive, and require either a battery or a “phantom” power source. Also, note carefully the pickup and response patterns of the microphones you are considering.

As your listening and recording skills develop, you will want to investigate the specific sound characteristics of a variety of microphones. To begin, I suggest you obtain one good quality large-diaphragm condenser microphone, then add specific microphones for different purposes. To help you get started, here is a basic guide to a selection of quality recording microphones available at an affordable price.

Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphones. These are very versatile mics designed for crisp, accurate (flat) response, ideal for: recording or live performance, close miking of instruments, announcer’s mic for broadcasting/dubbing, home recording and project studios, vocalist recording, and as a spot mic for wind instruments, strings, percussion, and guitar amps.

• Studio Projects C1
• AKG Perception 220
• AudioTechnica AT 2035
• AKG Perception 120
• AudioTechnica AT2020

Condenser Microphones. Note the specific characteristics of each.

• Shure SM87. For vocals or instruments, live or recording, with warm natural presence rise across frequency range.
• Shure Beta 58A. Tailored for vocals, live performance or recording, with warm mid-range presence and bass rolloff similar to SM58.
• Samson CL2 – Pencil Condenser Mics. The CL2 is ideal for recording or miking orchestral instruments, acoustic guitar, piano, overhead miking of drums and cymbals and of course, vocals.
• Blue Snowball. Recommended for podcasting or recording vocals or instruments direct to computer via USB (usually limits you to one mic). Switchable for cardioid or omnidirectional pickup.
• AudioTechnica MB-4K Cardioid Condenser Microphone. Extended response studio quality vocal and instrument microphone.

Condenser Mic Kits for Drums

• Shure PG56 – compact drum microphones for close miking of snare/toms.
• Shure PG52 – high-performance kick drum microphone tuned to capture low-end punch.
• Shure PG81 – sensitive, flat response mic ideal for overhead and cymbal miking.

Dynamic Microphones

• Shure SM58. For live performance or recording. Frequency response tailored for vocals, with brightened midrange and bass rolloff.
• Shure SM57. All around Dynamic mic for drums, vocals, and especially instruments.
• AudioTechnica ATM-410. Dynamic microphone tailored for smooth, natural vocal reproduction.

Keeping these categories and features in mind should provide the framework you need to negotiate the maze of available microphones as you develop your skills in home music recording.

Happy Recording!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3127463

The component of the basic USB recording mic includes the microphone itself and is connected to a wire with a Universal Serial Bus type plug that can be connected to a USB port. These gadgets can be used for different purposes such as recording music, communicating with other people with the use of your computer, recording podcasts, gaming and a lot more. The quality of the microphone will also decide the quality of the recorded music or podcasts

Different models of USB recoding mic are equipped with their own unique features. There are some that make use of noise canceling technology that can filter out useless background noise. Others on the other hand involve features such as longer cord, pivots for adjusting the position, mounting devices and weighted base for added stability. A muting switch can be found in some, where you can turn the device on and off for added control.

If you desire to get the best quality out of a USB recoding microphone, it is important that you utilize the gadget correctly. See the specifications of the manufacturer and read the manual that comes along with it. Remember to put the microphone away from the speaker to avoid superfluous feedback. Typically, the microphone is not placed too close from the source of sound unless, it is a part of a headset. If you are planning to buy a USB mic, you can browse for reviews on the Internet. You can look at their product reviews and then decide which will be best for you.

So, let’s see what are the alternatives around $100: CAD GXL2200, Audio Technica AT2020, MXL 990, Samson C01.

Let me tell you, Samson is a great for recording vocals, acoustic instruments and for use as overhead drum mics. But the best home recording studio microphone from the list is Audio Technica AT2020. This mic has the best ratio for price/performance. Considered by many the ideal microphone for project/home-studio setup, AT2020 capture crystal clear vocals. This microphone requires 48V DC phantom power from a preamp or an audio interface (I recommend NI Audio Kontrol 1). If you already own a soundcard, you should buy a preamp. ART Tube is pretty cheap and clean. AT2020 works great when recording acoustic guitars, but remember to buy a mic stand and a filter with it.