Question: What do I need to know about microphones? Answer: To the casual observer, it might seem like there’s little to consider when selecting and using a microphone. After all, mic operation is pretty straightforward, isn’t it? You talk or sing or play an instrument into the mic, the mic picks up the sound and transfers it to a speaker or recording device. What’s there to think about? Well, plenty, as anyone familiar with microphones can tell you. But you needn’t feel overwhelmed. Since starting this blog, we’ve answered a number of microphone-related questions for this very reason: to give you the information you need to confidently select the best microphone for your application and to get the most out of any microphone you may already have. Below is a list of many of the microphone questions we’ve addressed in the past. Whether you’re seeing these for the first time or going back for a review, we hope you find the posts helpful. As always, if you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Audio Solutions Department for assistance.

Microphone Questions

What are the differences between the microphones that Audio-Technica offers?

• Part 1 – Dynamic Mics
• Part 2 – Ribbon Mics
• Part 3 – Condenser Mics

What is microphone polar pattern?

• Part 1 – Omnidirectional
• Part 2 – Directional

What do the symbols mean on my Audio-Technica Microphone?

• Part 1 – Low Cut & Pad
• Part 2 – Pickup Pattern
• Part 3 – Stereo Configurations

What is proximity effect? What do microphone specifications mean? What is a microphone’s frequency response and why is it important to know? What is a microphone’s sensitivity and why is it important to know? What is a microphone’s maximum input sound level, self-noise, signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range, and why are these measurements important? What is phantom power and why do I need it? What is bias voltage and when is it needed? What is computer bus power, plug-in power, and PoE?