Difference between a Condenser, Dynamic and Ribbon mic!

[timmyk]

What are the differences between these 3 types of mics and where do I use them?

 

Thanks!

[fader8]

timmy,

You've asked a question that couldn't possibly be answered in a forum. It usually takes 4-5 chapters to scratch the surface of that question. You might try doing some reading on your own first, then come back if you need help understanding something. Bobby Owsinski's "Recording Engineer's Handbook" is a good start, or if you can find an old copy of John Woram's "Sound Recording Handbook", or there may be others now. Or find a local workshop held by a local recording studio, or take a class at a local college.

 

Microphone technique is an enormous subject.

[timmyk]

Thanks!

[curtisnel]

Hi,

 

go to wikipedia - search for each type of mic. There's a good summary,

 

Good Luck,

 

Ray

[Matt Mayfield]

What are the differences between these 3 types of mics and where do I use them?

 

Thanks!

 

Dynamic mics are for recording music with dynamics - that is, both soft and loud sounds.

 

Condenser mics are used when the only meal you have at the studio is Campbell's Condensed Soup.

 

Ribbon mics actually started out as "Best In Show" awards - you would get the Blue Ribbon mic, say, for first prize at the science fair recording contest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

(this has been a joke)

[bjs]

What are the differences between these 3 types of mics and where do I use them?

 

Thanks!

 

Dynamic mics are for recording music with dynamics - that is, both soft and loud sounds.

 

Condenser mics are used when the only meal you have at the studio is Campbell's Condensed Soup.

 

Ribbon mics actually started out as "Best In Show" awards - you would get the Blue Ribbon mic, say, for first prize at the science fair recording contest.

 

 

 

(this has been a joke)

 

 

timmyk, Matt's messin witchu as they say.

 

A few years ago I found a LLLLOOOOOOOOOONGGGGGG thread on this subject let by the revered Harvey Gerst, on homerecording.com. Like an ongoing online tutorial by an engineer who knows microphones from the molecules up.

Check it out. It is such a huge subject & he endeavors to make it understandable.

[Matt Mayfield]

OK, here's a serious reply, since I teach classes in this anyway.

 

Generally speaking, here are the main factors that are different between the types of mics:

 

1. Physical durability (and somewhat related, the ability to withstand loud sounds)

2. Requiring Phantom Power or other power source

3. Transient response (and somewhat related, frequency response)

 

1 and 2 are self-explanatory. 3 (transient response) means how accurately the mic responds to quick transients - i.e. the instant a string is plucked, the tiny lip-smacking sounds a vocalist unintentionally makes, the exact pattern of clinks (in super-slow-motion) between the metal parts of a tambourine.

 

Dynamics - 1. very high; 2. not required; 3. slowest, "glosses over" quick transients

Condensers - 1. somewhat fragile; 2. required; 3. quick, usually very accurate

Ribbons - 1. extremely fragile; 2. not required - older ones sometimes destroyed by phantom power(!); 3. quick, but has coloration (usually desirable esp. for vocals)

 

This is a separate subject than polar patterns (pickup patterns), of course. A dynamic mic might be omnidirectional, or cardioid, or hypercardioid, etc. A condenser mic might be omnidirectional, or cardioid, or hypercardioid, etc.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Edit: and the times you would usually use them... Here are some sweeping generalizations that are not always true. You really would want to get to know all the mics you use and pick according to the individual mic, rather than worry about following these ideas blindly.

 

Condensers: general purpose for a nice clear sound. You can split them into large-diaphragm and small-diaphragm conceptually, with Large-Diaphragm Condensers (LDCs) capturing "larger than life" sounds (often vocals and bass instruments) and SDCs providing less processed, clean sounds.

 

Dynamics: anything that is very loud (often used for drums, electric guitar amps), and also anything you want to give a kind of rough, less distinct quality to (sometimes rock vocals). These are almost always used live, for just about everything on stage, because of their durability.

 

Ribbon: Most often vocals, but sometimes things like electric guitar amps (careful - too loud a sound and you might damage an older ribbon mic) and other instruments.