Microphone Basics - Revision history

Zornesn at 17:07, 28 December 2021

2021-12-28T17:07:54Z

Zornesn at 18:41, 29 October 2021

2021-10-29T18:41:40Z

Zornesn at 18:38, 29 October 2021

2021-10-29T18:38:47Z

Zornesn at 19:57, 21 January 2021

2021-01-21T19:57:57Z

Krusea: /* Dynamic and Condenser */

2013-10-02T17:58:48Z

‎Dynamic and Condenser

Kisaar24: /* Pickup Patterns */

2013-07-22T18:55:11Z

‎Pickup Patterns

Kisaar24 at 18:53, 22 July 2013

2013-07-22T18:53:54Z

Kisaar24: /* DYNAMIC AND CONDENSER */

2013-07-22T18:50:39Z

‎DYNAMIC AND CONDENSER

Galloa: /* LEVELS CHART Chart */

2013-03-28T17:50:04Z

‎LEVELS CHART Chart

Galloa: /* Misc Microphones */

2013-03-28T17:49:45Z

‎Misc Microphones

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 ===Media Loan's General Access Microphones===
 We have a catalog of [[Microphones in General Access]] with information about each mics polar pattern, transducer type, uses and other useful information.
-[[category:Media Loan Topics]]
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← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 29 October 2021
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 ===Dynamic and Condenser===
-A microphone is a transducer that converts acoustical energy to electrical energy.  There are two types of microphones at Media Loan: dynamic and condenser.  Dynamic mics are very rugged and can handle high sound pressure levels. They are slower to respond to transients.  Condenser mics are more sensitive and can pick up faster transients. They also require power. All of the condensers available in General Access can be powered by a battery. Some of the condensers can be powered from phantom power. Phantom power is a power source that is supplied through the mic cable from a mixer. Media Loan has mixers available for checkout that can supply phantom power.  The Marantz, Zoom and Olympus LS-100 recorders are also capable of supplying phantom power.
+A microphone is a transducer that converts acoustical energy to electrical energy.  There are two types of microphones at Media Loan: dynamic and condenser.  Dynamic mics are very rugged and can handle high sound pressure levels. They are slower to respond to transients.  Condenser mics are more sensitive and can pick up faster transients. They also require power. All of the condensers available in General Access can be powered by a battery. Some of the condensers can be powered from phantom power. Phantom power is a power source that is supplied through the mic cable from a mixer. Media Loan has mixers available for checkout that can supply phantom power.  Zoom H4n and Olympus LS-100 field recorders are also capable of supplying phantom power.
 ===Pickup Patterns===
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 Some of the microphones have hgh pass filters. A filter removes specific frequencies from the audio signal.  A high pass filter removes the low frequencies and is also called a bass roll off or low cut filter.  A low pass filter removes the higher frequencies and is also called a high cut.  Normally, you should wait until the recording process is complete to perform drastic equalization, but sometimes during recording the low frequenies will be unwanted noise like wind or the microphone shaking.  When this is the case, it can improve the recording to cut out the lower frequecies.  The Sennheiser 421 has a 5 position bass roll off switch.  The EV RE-15 and RE-16 have a two position switch.  Media Loan also has several XLR barrels that operate as high or low pass filters between the microphone and the recorder.
 ===Media Loan's General Access Microphones===
-====Handheld Mics====
+We have a catalog of [[Microphones in General Access]] with information about each mics polar pattern, transducer type, uses and other useful information.
-* '''EV635 A:''' Dynamic, omni.  A basic mic. No proximity effect. XLR connector.
+[[category:Media Loan Topics]]
-* '''EV RE-15:''' Dynamic, cardioid.  Good basic mic for voice with bright sound.  No proximity effect when the razorback (slots down the sides of the mic) is uncovered.  XLR connector.
+__NOEDITSECTION__
-* '''EV RE-16:''' Dynamic, super cardioid.  Has a bright sound.  Appropriate for recording vocals.  Bass roll off switch on body of mic.  Razorback to negate proximity effect. XLR connector.
-* '''EV RE-18:''' Dynamic, super cardioid.  No proximity effect when the razorback is uncovered. XLR connector.
-* '''Sennheiser 421:''' Dynamic, cardioid.  Bass Roll off rotary collar on the barrel by the XLR jack.  M = Musical instruments (no roll off), S = Speech (maximum bass roll off).  This is an ideal mic for most purposes, including musical instruments, singing and narration.  XLR connector.
-* '''Shure SM57:''' Dynamic, cardioid.  A versatile basic mic.  Often used to record snare drums and guitars.  XLR connector.
-* '''Shure SM58:''' Dynamic, cardioid.  Extremely dependable mic.  Same as the SM57, but includes a built-in wind screen and pop filter.  Common mic for live vocals.  XLR connector.
-* '''Sennheiser MD46:''' Dynamic, cardioid.  Designed to pick up very little wind or handling noise.  Long handle and built in pop filter.  Ideal for interviews in the field.  XLR connector.
-====Shotgun Mics====
-* '''Sennhesier Combo:''' Condenser multi-capsule.  This mic comes with three interchangeable capsules; shotgun, cardioid and omni.  All have very long pickup range and are very sensitive. XLR connector.
-* '''Audio Technica ATR55:''' Condenser, cardioid / supercardioid.  Mic is built for use with video cameras.  Can be switched between pickup patterns to allow for versatility of pickup range.  Mono mini connector.
-* '''Audio Technica AT835B:''' Condenser, hyper-cardioid.  Shotgun mic with switchable bass roll off.  Good for recording distant subjects without interference from sides or back.  XLR connector.
-* '''Sennheiser MKE300:''' Condenser, hyper-cardioid.  Designed to be mounted on the hot-shoe of a camcorder and Canon Rebel T2i.  Good for shooting video.  Mono mini connector.
-==== Lavalier Mics ====
-* '''Sony ECM 50:''' Condenser, omni.  This is a lavalier mic, usually used to clip to people’s shirts for video, can also be used with musical instruments.  XLR connector.
-* '''Sony ECM 719:''' Condenser, stereo.  Stereo lavalier mic with 2 pickup patterns.  In music mode, stereo has more seperation, in voice mode, stereo is more directional.  Stereo mini connector.
-* '''Radio Shack: Condenser''', omni. Extremely simple lavalier mic.  Mono mini connector.
-* '''Audio Technica AT831b:''' Condenser, cardioid.  Features bass roll off.  XLR connector.
-* '''Audio Technica ATR35s:''' Condenser, omni-directional.   Mono mini connector.
-==== Misc Microphones ====
-* '''Soundgrabber:''' This is a PZM mic. It’s a condenser that requires a battery. This is a flat mic that is designed to lie on a table or be taped to a wall. It is good for ambient recordings. Media Loan has 2 models. One has a mono mini connector and the other has a mono 1/4“ connector. Make sure that you have the right connector or an adaptor.
-* '''Sony ECM-MS907/ECMMS957:''' These are stereo mic with adjustable width of the stereo image. They have a cardioid pickup and a bi-directional pickup. Both pickups are combined for the stereo pattern. They are powered by a AA battery.  Good for stereo recording with  SD palmcorders, Canon Vixia, digital voice recorders,  Stereo mini jack input.
-* '''Audio Technica AT825:''' This is a stereo condenser mic. It has 2 cardioid capsules in an X-Y configuration.  It has a bass roll-of and is powered by an AA battery. It comes with XLR or stereo-mini output cables.
-* '''Parabolic Dish Microphone:''' Ideal for long-range recording.  Capable of magnifying signals up to 75 times that of a normal omni-directional microphone.  XLR Cable.
- [[category:Media Loan Topics]]

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 * '''Audio Technica AT825:''' This is a stereo condenser mic. It has 2 cardioid capsules in an X-Y configuration.  It has a bass roll-of and is powered by an AA battery. It comes with XLR or stereo-mini output cables.
 * '''Parabolic Dish Microphone:''' Ideal for long-range recording.  Capable of magnifying signals up to 75 times that of a normal omni-directional microphone.  XLR Cable.
-  [[category:Media Loan]]
+  [[category:Media Loan Topics]]

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 ===Dynamic and Condenser===
-A microphone is a transducer that converts acoustical energy to electrical energy.  There are two types of microphones at Media Loan: dynamic and condenser.  Dynamic mics are very rugged and can handle high sound pressure levels. They are slower to respond to transients.  Condenser mics are more sensitive and can pick up faster transients. They also require power. All of the condensers available in General Access can be powered by a battery. Some of the condensers can be powered from phantom power. Phantom power is a power source that is supplied through the mic cable from a mixer. Media Loan has Mackie and Behringer mixers available for checkout that can supply phantom power.  The Marantz and Zoom recorders are also capable of supplying phantom power.
+A microphone is a transducer that converts acoustical energy to electrical energy.  There are two types of microphones at Media Loan: dynamic and condenser.  Dynamic mics are very rugged and can handle high sound pressure levels. They are slower to respond to transients.  Condenser mics are more sensitive and can pick up faster transients. They also require power. All of the condensers available in General Access can be powered by a battery. Some of the condensers can be powered from phantom power. Phantom power is a power source that is supplied through the mic cable from a mixer. Media Loan has mixers available for checkout that can supply phantom power.  The Marantz, Zoom and Olympus LS-100 recorders are also capable of supplying phantom power.
 ===Pickup Patterns===

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 ===Pickup Patterns===
 All microphones respond to sound differently based on direction. This is called the microphone’s pickup or polar pattern. The shape of the pattern tells you how sensitive the mic is to sound approaching from one direction. There are 3 basic patterns:
-* OMNI-DIRECTIONAL, BI-DIRECTIONAL and UNI-DIRECTIONAL.  The uni-directional category is broken down into cardioid, supercardioid, and hyper-cardioid. An OMNI-DIRECTIONAL mic picks up sound from all directions.
+* '''OMNI-DIRECTIONAL, BI-DIRECTIONAL and UNI-DIRECTIONAL''' The uni-directional category is broken down into cardioid, supercardioid, and hyper-cardioid. An '''OMNI-DIRECTIONAL''' mic picks up sound from all directions.
-* A BI-DIRECTIONAL mic picks up sound from either side of the mic. There are no BI-DIRECTIONAL mics in Media Loan’s General Access equipment but some stereo mics make use of a BI-DIRECTIONAL element.
+* A '''BI-DIRECTIONAL''' mic picks up sound from either side of the mic. There are no '''BI-DIRECTIONAL''' mics in Media Loan’s General Access equipment but some stereo mics make use of a '''BI-DIRECTIONAL''' element.
-* CARDIOID mics pick up sound in a heart shaped pattern in front of the mic. This allows you to focus on one sound while excluding other sounds. Also all directional mics are omni directional with low frequencies. This means that a cardioid mic may pick up low frequencies outside of it’s pick up pattern.
+* '''CARDIOID''' mics pick up sound in a heart shaped pattern in front of the mic. This allows you to focus on one sound while excluding other sounds. Also all directional mics are omni directional with low frequencies. This means that a cardioid mic may pick up low frequencies outside of it’s pick up pattern.
-* SUPER-CARDIOID mics have a narrower pattern in the front but they also have a small lobe in the back of the pattern.
+* '''SUPER-CARDIOID''' mics have a narrower pattern in the front but they also have a small lobe in the back of the pattern.
-* HYPERCARDIOD, or shotgun mics have a very narrow pattern in the front. They have a rear lobe like the supercardioid but they also have lobes on the side of the mic. They are used to focus in a specific direction. You need to pay attention to the side lobes. If you are standing next to a noisy camera with a shotgun mic the side lobes might pick up the camera along with the intended sounds.
+* '''HYPERCARDIOD''', or shotgun mics have a very narrow pattern in the front. They have a rear lobe like the supercardioid but they also have lobes on the side of the mic. They are used to focus in a specific direction. You need to pay attention to the side lobes. If you are standing next to a noisy camera with a shotgun mic the side lobes might pick up the camera along with the intended sounds.
 <gallery>
 File:Micbasics-omni.png|OMNI
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 File:Micbasics-hypercardioid.png|HYPERCARDIOID
 </gallery>
 ===Proximity Effect===
 When most uni-directional microphones are placed close to a sound source the bass frequencies increase in level.  This is called the proximity effect. Sometimes this is desired. People may speak into a mic that is close up to get a deeper sound out of their voice. Sometimes you may not want this sound. If you are recording some one who moves back and forth from the mic too much the bass sound of their voice may not be even. Some cardioid microphones are designed to eliminate the proximity effect. The EV RE-15, RE-16 and RE-18 are designed this way. They have a row of slots down the side of the mic. If they are covered up there will be the proximity effect. So be careful how you hold the mic.

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 ==== Misc Microphones ====
-Soundgrabber: This is a PZM mic. It’s a condenser that requires a battery. This is a flat mic that is designed to lie on a table or be taped to a wall. It is good for ambient recordings.
+* '''Soundgrabber:''' This is a PZM mic. It’s a condenser that requires a battery. This is a flat mic that is designed to lie on a table or be taped to a wall. It is good for ambient recordings. Media Loan has 2 models. One has a mono mini connector and the other has a mono 1/4“ connector. Make sure that you have the right connector or an adaptor.
-Soundgrabber cont’d: Media Loan has 2 models. One has a mono mini connector and the other has a mono 1/4“ connector. Make sure that you have the right connector or an adaptor.
+* '''Sony ECM-MS907/ECMMS957:''' These are stereo mic with adjustable width of the stereo image. They have a cardioid pickup and a bi-directional pickup. Both pickups are combined for the stereo pattern. They are powered by a AA battery.  Good for stereo recording with  SD palmcorders, Canon Vixia, digital voice recorders,  Stereo mini jack input.
-Sony ECM-MS907/ECMMS957: These are stereo mic with adjustable width of the stereo image. They have a cardioid pickup and a bi-directional pickup. Both pickups are combined for the stereo pattern. They are powered by a AA battery.  Good for stereo recording with  SD palmcorders, Canon Vixia, digital voice recorders,  Stereo mini jack input.
+* '''Audio Technica AT825:''' This is a stereo condenser mic. It has 2 cardioid capsules in an X-Y configuration.  It has a bass roll-of and is powered by an AA battery. It comes with XLR or stereo-mini output cables.
-Audio Technica AT825: This is a stereo condenser mic. It has 2 cardioid capsules in an X-Y configuration.  It has a bass roll-of and is powered by an AA battery. It comes with XLR or stereo-mini output cables.
+* '''Parabolic Dish Microphone:''' Ideal for long-range recording.  Capable of magnifying signals up to 75 times that of a normal omni-directional microphone.  XLR Cable.
 Parabolic Dish Microphone: Ideal for long-range recording.  Capable of magnifying signals up to 75 times that of a normal omni-directional microphone.  XLR Cable.
 === LEVELS CHART Chart ===
   [[category:Media Loan]]