For most of us, the microphones built into smartphones, laptops or a gaming headset are more than enough for what we need. However, there are many people who want to improve the quality of their recordings – especially youtubers and streamers – and are looking for better quality equipment, so they invest in professional microphones. In this regard, is a condenser microphone better , or will a dynamic one work better? In this article we are going to get you out of doubt.
Whether it’s for Instagram videos or live streams via Twitch, many people start out with a built-in mic and find that the quality is simply not enough for what they’re looking for, so they decide to invest in a larger dedicated mic. quality. Obviously there are all kinds of microphones, and although condenser microphones are the best known, are they also the most suitable? Let’s see it.
How does a condenser microphone work?
Condenser microphones are named for the technology inside them: a condenser provides the primary sound-picking mechanism just below the outer grill of the microphone, storing an electrical charge that is measured in capacitance.
The condenser is made up of two plates; a fixed back plate and a thinner, more flexible faceplate. When sound waves enter the microphone, they cause the faceplate to vibrate, varying the distance between plates and changing the capacitance. This process converts the sound waves into electrical signals that can then be transported to the preamplifier, mixer, or PC. To register these changes in capacitance, there must be charge on the capacitor and therefore require electrical power.
For this reason, condenser mics require what is called phantom power, a constant + 48V input that is provided by either the mixer or the preamp, although some models include a small battery for this. This is the bad part of these types of devices, since they make them much more expensive and fragile.
These types of microphones are ideal for recording voice as the movement of the flexible faceplate is captured very precisely, then representing the voice accurately, and this is the reason why its use is the most widespread. In addition, they are suitable for recording at high frequencies, and since the components they use are small, we can see them in many different formats, from studio microphones to pocket microphones.
How dynamic microphones work
Dynamic microphones, sometimes called moving coil mics, use electromagnetic induction to record sound. Inside the microphone is a diaphragm with an induction coil, made up of two insulating wires wrapped around an iron core. The coil is placed within the magnetic field of a magnet, and when sound waves enter the microphone, they cause the diaphragm to vibrate.
As a consequence of this vibration, the coil moves within the magnetic field creating a variable current, and as a result the components transform the sound waves into electrical energy that must be, by force, internally amplified and then sent to the preamplifier, mixing console or PC.
The two main advantages of this type of microphones are that they are very cheap and you can find very high-end models at ridiculous prices, and that they are comparatively much more resistant and durable compared to condenser microphones, in addition to not requiring current external power to operate.
This type of microphone is ideal for recording sounds and instruments at high volume, such as drums, guitars or basses, since its low sensitivity makes them an excellent option for very noisy environments. However, they have quite a bit of trouble capturing the higher frequencies, and only the highest-end – and expensive – models are capable of doing it in a dignified way.
Condenser or dynamic, which microphone is best for you?
Considering the characteristics of both types, it does not mean that one is better than the other, but that each of them has its pros and cons. Of course, the best result for recording your voice on the PC for live broadcasting will be a condenser microphone, but they have the disadvantage of being much more expensive, less durable and require additional current.
On the other hand, dynamic microphones will give you better results if, for example, you are a musician and want to record yourself playing an instrument, or if you intend to use it to record a live performance, in a stadium or in noisy environments.