Recordings Blog

Dynamic Microphones

dynamic microphones are much more rugged. They're also especially resistant to moisture and other forms of abuse, which makes them the perfect choice onstage. Dynamic microphones like the Shure SM57 and Shure SM58 are legendary for not only their good sound quality, but the amount of abuse they can withstand, better for use with electric or percussion instruments, due to the fact that generally they're more robust.

Condenser Microphones  

Condenser microphones are the most common types of microphones you'll find in studios. They have a much greater frequency response and transient response - which is the ability to reproduce the "speed" of an instrument or voice. They also generally are much more sensitive to loud sounds, therefore being better with quieter or generally acoustic instruments. 

Cardioid

Polar Patterns

Cardioid- Cardioid microphone are most sensitive to sound at the front and least sensitive at the back. Their unidirectional pickup makes for affective isolation of unwanted ambiant sound and high resistance to omnidirectional alternatives. Cardioid microphones are essential when considering a mic for live performance.

Supercardioid-Supercardioid microphones offer a narrower pickup than cardioids and a greater rejection of ambient sound. However, they also pick up a small amount of sound from directly behind. For this reason, it is particularly important to place monitor speakers to the side facing the 'dead spots'. Supercardioid's are highly suited to very loud stage environments as they are very directional with high gain before feedback.

Omnidirectional- Omnidirectional microphones are equally sensitive to sound arriving from all angles. Therefore, the microphone does not need to be aimed in any particular direction. This can be particularly useful when using a lapel mic to capture a speakers voice, as the individual can move their head without affecting the sound.The disadvantage is that an omni mic cannot be aimed away from undesired sources, such as PA speakers, which may cause feedback.

Figure of Eight (bidirectional)- A microphone with a figure-of-eight polar pattern picks up the sound from in front of the microphone and from the rear but not the sides (90 degree angle).Microphones with a figure-of-eight polar pattern are typically ribbon or large diaphragm condenser microphones.

Glock task - 8th September

H2 Handy recorder - named MJM on Soundcloud link

• Microphone type:Dynamic
• Distance away from the glockenspiel 20cm
• Polar pattern- diverse rane of polar patterns
• In terms of recording we recorded a glockenspiel outside the school with a dynamic hand held recorder, therefore it was a bad one. There was terrible background noise, due to it being an open air recording, to prevent this we could find and use a pop shield in comparison to all other recording ( noted below) this is the worst recording.                                                                                                                        

Shure SM58

• Microphone type:Dynamic
• Distance away from the glockenspiel 20cm
• Polar pattern- cardioid
• In terms of recording we recorded a glockenspiel in the recording studio with a  dynamic microphone called a Shure SM58, therefore it had a better recording quality than the H2 Handy recorder due to the fact the studio has soundproofing therefore no background noise is in the recording.

AKG D112

• Microphone type:Dynamic
• Distance away from the glockenspiel 20cm
• Polar pattern- cardioid
• Recording the glockenspiel on the AKG D112 in the studio again came with very little issues similarly to the Shure SM58. also again we recorded in the studio again therefore we had sound proofing and little to none background noise.

AKG C1000S

• Microphone type:Condenser
• Distance away from the glockenspiel:20cm
• Polar pattern- cardioid
• Recording the glockenspiel on the AKG C1000S in the studio again came with very little issues similarly to the Shure SM58. also again we recorded in the studio again therefore we had sound proofing and little to none background noise.

Guitar-recording 22nd September

• Microphone type:Condenser
• Distance away from the guitar: 20cm
• Polar pattern- cardioid
• Both recorded with the AKGC1000s
• The one titled as "MJ Studio"  is recorded in the studio so we had sound proofing and little to none background noise. We had few issues when recording except from the software not setting up correctly. The quality of recording was good due to it being in a studio, with all the right equipment and correct microphone placement.
• The one titled as "Mixing Desk" was recorded openly in the Theatre using a mixing desk. There was some background noise due to there being no soundproofing equipment and because we had few issues when recording due to Jamie and I not being entirely sure on how to use the mixing desk.

Mixing desk task- 29th September

guitar recorded on mixing desk

• Microphone type:Condenser
• Distance away from the guitar: 20cm
• Polar pattern- cardioid
• Recorded with AKGC1000s 
• There was some background noise due to there being no soundproofing equipment in the small room that we recorded this in. The quality of playing by Dan was brilliant and we had barely any slip ups when recording.

Rather be Cover

• Microphone type:Condenser
• Distance away from the singer: 20cm
• Polar pattern- cardioid
• Recorded with AKGC1000s
• There was some background noise due to there being no soundproofing equipment in the small room that we recorded this in. The singing quality was good however the singer needs to control her breathing when singing to make the sound resonate and reach the full potential.