Buying Microphone

Best Recommend Microphones, Under $100

Ordered from expensive to cheaper:

• Audio Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone, XLR Buy at amazon
• MXL 990 Condenser Microphone with Shockmount. XLR Buy at amazon
• Samson Technologies Q2U USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone amazon
• Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser amazon

Fifine Metal Condenser USB Microphone

This is what i bought. A cheap one. Good enough for my YouTube.

What is the Different Between a Headset with Decidated Mic?

Dedicated mic is a magnitude higher quality. And dedicated mic usually have knobs to let you control gain. And dedicated mic can be used for singing. You can actually hear the “space of the room”. Headset is exclusively for just for speech communication only. With headset, your natural voice is not transmitted fully.

USB vs XLR Microphones

XLR connectors is a standard connector for professional audio industry.

USB microphones are basically entry level. Good USB mics are good enough today.

For professional audio work, you want mic with XLR connector.

XLR Mic Need Preamp

Microphones usually need to be connected to a preamplifier before the signal can be recorded or reproduced. In USB microphones, the preamplifier is builtin.

Recommended preamp:

• PreSonus audiobox USB 96 Buy at amazon
• ART USB Dual Pre Buy at amazon

Types of Microphones

Dynamic or Condenser microphone

This is the general purpose mic for human voice. Often seen used by singers or radio hosts. Need mouth close to mic. The term “Dynamic microphone” and “Condenser microphone” refers to the tech used in picking up sound. Dynamic microphones

Lapel/clip-on microphone

(aka lavalier mic) clip on to shirt. lapel mic

Shotgun microphone

Aim at a sound source in a straight line, ignore sound from other direction. The mic can be placed 1 meter away from mouth. Shotgun mic

Noise reduction

Usually used in headset. Ambient noise or any sound in room are cut off, usually signal processing circuitry. This type is usually just for functionality talking, such as in gaming or phone. Does not capture the full context of human voice.

Microphone Technologies

The tech of mic is very diverse. There are many different tech to pick up sound and transmit it into electronic signal.

Dynamic Microphone

Use a coil of wire suspended in a magnetic field. Similar to speakers but in reverse.

Condenser Microphone

Use the vibrating diaphragm as a capacitor plate. Capacitor was known as condenser.

Contact Microphone

Use a crystal of piezoelectric material. This type is used to capture sound transmitted from solid objects, such as table, window, wall. Not from air.

Fiber optic Microphone

Use fiber optic tech by measuring light variation reflected from a vibrating mirror. This type has no electronic inteference.

Laser Microphone

Shoot laser from far away onto a window, and capture the reflected light, measure intensity variation or movement pattern, decipher it. Used for spying etc.

Sensitivity Direction Pattern

Microphone is more sensitive to certain direction of sound, due to how it is build. Here's the terms and what they mean.

Here's common patterns:

Omnidirectional

Sensitive in any direction.

Cardioid

Most common. Most sensitive in tip of mic (called end fire or end address) or front side of mic (called side fire).

Supercardioid

Like cardioid, but a bit extended in opposite side.

Hypercardioid

Like cardioid, but a much extended in opposite side.

Mic Shock Mount and Pop Filter

Shock Mount is elastic bands holding the mic, preventing noice generated from shock or vibration from the mic holder.

Pop filter is used to remove noise of wind such as blowing into mic. pop filter