The 2 Types of Microphone for Voice-Overs
What are the two different types of studio microphones that narrators and voice-over actors should use?
Here are the two different kinds:
Condenser Mics
Dynamic Mics
Each one has its merits but I’m guessing you’re here because you would like to know about vocal mics. So we’ll go over those.
Using a microphone properly is half the battle. If you can do that, then you’re going to get a great sound in the end. Using them poorly will result in hours of editing for a result that can be sub-par.
That being said, we’re going to start with the most common microphone that voice-over actors should use. The condenser microphone
Condenser Microphones
Condenser microphones are the rich, pompous big brother to dynamic microphones.
A bit more complicated than their dynamic younger brother, which means they’re more fragile and expensive (meaning they have a high class taste, a full voice that will use the microphone for everything it’s worth). Nowadays, though they have gotten much, much cheaper than they were back in the day.
That said, these condenser microphones can produce a much clearer sound when compared to dynamics.
Just like you’d expect an older brother to be, they’re more balanced, accurate, and “sweeter” than their dynamic younger brother. They’re also much more sensitive, which makes them perfect for soft whispers and big bright announcements.
As a studio microphone, they’re a great choice.
These guys can’t be used for as many sound sources as its young dynamic brother but they do pride themselves on being able to make sounds even better than they were before.
Their top-end bump, gives extra “air” to what they capture, making them sound less muffled than a their dynamic brother.
Remember how they’re complicated? Well, their polar patterns come in different variations, making them more versatile for creative miking techniques. Many condenser mics have switches that change their patterns between.
Dynamic Microphone
Dynamic mics, such as the Shure SM57 or the Sennheiser MD 421-II, are the backbone mics to any studio.
Just as you’d image a younger brother getting roughed around, these mics are tough so to speak. Don’t worry about dropping them or accidently whacking it with a drumstick, they’ll still work. *NOTE: please don’t do any of those mentioned above, please love your mics and take care of them.
Basically, these mics can take any wear and tear of a home studio.
Dynamic microphones aren’t sensitive like their older brother, which makes them perfect for loud sources. This is why you often see them on snare drums and guitar amps.
Because they’re insensitive, they’re very versatile. Dynamic mics are used on all kinds of sounds in the studio.
And because they’re usually the cheapest of the mic types, they’re also easiest to stock up on.
Dynamic microphones have a unidirectional pattern (otherwise known as a cardioid pattern – because it looks like a heart). This means that the mic picks up sound in the direction it is being pointed, and cancels out any sound coming from behind it.
