The wild west of podcast microphones. Three main types explained.
Many podcasters new to the scene find themselves confused and at times way too focused on the practicalities around the recording process. While nothing will make or break your podcast as much as a good idea, host, and story, the obsession over podcasting gear is understandable. We’ll dig into the differences between the three main microphone types and calm the anxieties over what is what.
You’ve probably noticed — microphones come in all kinds of forms, types, sizes, and prices. But to be totally frank and break it down to the basics, there really are only three types of microphones: dynamic microphones, ribbon microphones, and condenser microphones. All of them have their pros and cons so be sure to follow this guide to buy the type that suits your podcast setup best.
Condenser microphones
Condenser microphones are known for their detailed and crisp quality. They differ from the others in that they’re the only type that requires power to work. This type of power is called phantom power and is sent from the recorder (e.g. Zoom hand-held recorder) or sound card via the microphone cable.
If you plan to record remotely with a hand-held recorder using batteries, think twice if your mind is set on a condenser microphone as it will eat up your battery life at a speed that’s not optimal for a long conversation or field reporting. However, if you’re building a more robust studio without any battery-powered equipment, this won’t be a problem as long as you make sure that your hand-held recorder or the sound card has phantom power. Important to note here: some condenser microphones can also be run on general-purpose batteries.
In comparison to dynamic and ribbon microphones, condenser microphones are the most sound-sensitive. This is both a plus and a minus. If you’re worried about your guests not feeling comfortable with being up close to the microphone during the whole recording process, then a setup with condenser microphones would be the right choice since their sensitive quality makes them reach out and grab more of the sound around. This same quality, though, makes them more prone to pick up reverberation from the room you’re recording in. What you need to do is to evaluate: if the most important thing is that every little detail of the recording gets picked up and you can live with the extra reverberation from your untreated room, then condenser microphones could be the perfect match. The best thing is, you can always upgrade your room treatment later.
Here’s a summary of condenser microphone benefits and disadvantages:
Dynamic microphones
There’s a common misconception to clear out — in the audio world, the word ‘dynamic’ refers to how detailed and rich a sound is. However, dynamic microphones are NOT the most dynamic of the three. Dynamic microphones are the ones you see artists use on stage. They’re made to last and their construction is rather simple, that’s why you often get more bang for the buck with a dynamic microphone. In comparison to the condenser microphones, dynamic ones don’t reach out and grab sounds as well. And it’s also not as “sensitive” and “crisp” sounding as a condenser. These are the main reasons why dynamic microphones have got some bad rep for sounding unprofessional although there are only some half-truths to it.
Put simply — a dynamic microphone asks more from your other gear in order to sound as intended. For example, if your recorder is on the cheaper side, the gain (volume) you will ramp up to make the microphone more sensitive, will drastically increase the amount of noise in your recording. However, if you invest in a proper recorder, this won’t be a problem, and the fact that a dynamic microphone doesn’t reach out and grab sounds as much as a condenser is mostly a plus in the podcasting world.
Since the terms ‘beginner podcaster’ and ‘massive budgets’ often don’t go together, we’ll stick with the idea that you’re recording in a DIY sound-proofed setup at home. And in this case, we nearly always recommend dynamic microphones. The fact that they are less sensitive also makes it easier to handle the sound in post-production. Another advantage is that dynamic microphones require no extra power to function as they’re working completely on passive components.
When it comes to price, it varies greatly. We always recommend avoiding the absolute cheapest but with dynamic microphones, it is possible to get far and sound well on a small budget. This is why — since dynamic microphones gained some bad reputation over the last decade — their price points stayed pretty much the same. Meanwhile, condenser microphones got cheaper to produce, and because of being considered more “professional” sounding, everybody seemed to forget about dynamic microphones.
When the price tag is sensitive, think in this way — a cheap-end condenser microphone with low-end components will perform worse than a dynamic microphone of the same price category.
Here’s a summary of dynamic microphone benefits and disadvantages:
Ribbon microphones
Ribbon microphones are similar to dynamic microphones in that they also don’t require any external power (are passive). However, ribbon microphones need even more amplification (added gain) than dynamic microphones. While condenser microphones are the ones that are the most sensitive in sound, ribbon microphones are the most sensitive when it comes to caring for them. They need to be stored in an upright position and are sensitive to dust and humidity. Ribbon mics are fairly big and need to be carried in special bags. You also need to forget about using these as hand-held. And to top it all up, ribbon mics can break almost instantly if you use phantom power on them. So, why should you even care about these microphones, you might ask?
Ribbon microphones are loved for their ultra-smooth lifelike sound. They fit most voices and they are less prone to common issues that cheaper condenser microphones often suffer from (harsh sounding). They can sound extremely true to the source and the nature of the construction makes them perfect for that thick radio voice.
So, if you’re the person who cares more about the ability to throw your gear in a bag and record wherever, don’t buy a ribbon microphone. If you’re a pedant by heart and in love with that BBC radio voice — ribbon microphones might be just the right choice for you.
Here’s a summary of ribbon microphone benefits and disadvantages:
*Additional comment about USB microphones
We won’t cover USB-microphones in this article but it’s good to know that all USB-microphones fall under the same three categories as listed in this article. What the word ‘USB’ in the product means, is only that there’s an internal audio interface in the microphone so that you can connect it straight to a computer without any other external gear.
Summary
Let’s say you have a sound-proofed room and guests who might lean back in their chairs from time to time. You don’t have the energy to remind them to lean forward and “eat” the microphone continuously. In addition, you’re in love with those mega crispy high frequencies. These are good signs that a condenser mic is the one for you.
Or what if you’re planning to be out and about, always having a couple of mics in the bag with you and ready to press record without worrying about the recorder battery dying any second. Flexibility is important to you, and your guests are comfortable with being close to the microphone, no matter if it’s hand-held. Then a dynamic microphone will serve you well.
If you’re very careful by nature and a good caretaker who’s in love with the buttery smooth sound of a BBC/NPR radio voice, a ribbon microphone might be worth considering.
Just be warned, a classic “BBC mic” is called ‘Coles 4038’ and costs 2200€/pair. So go easy, tiger, and start with a reliable mic that doesn’t break your podcasting budget in an hour.
Stop Making Sense productions is a podcast production duo from Sweden. We produce, make quality sound experiences, and work with storytelling. Read more about us on our website. Support us by clapping, leaving a comment, or subscribing to our publication. Groovy podcasting!
