Condenser Microphone - Things to Consider Before You Buy
Purchasing a condenser microphone is not easy these days, especially with the wealth of different choices that are available in the market. Moreover, if you are buying it for your home studio, the decision becomes all the more important as it will be your only go-to studio condenser. Therefore, it is imperative that you make the right choice which can fit all of your needs. In this article, we will consider some of the things which you must consider before purchasing your next condenser microphone.
Things to condenser (I mean… consider)
1. Pickup Pattern Variations
If you don't know, the pickup pattern is a sound field in which the mic will pick up sound. Pickup patterns can be important depending upon your intended use and the area wherein you want to record your voice-overs. The omnidirectional microphone will capture sound from both the front and back of the microphone. A cardioid microphone has a pickup pattern in the shape of the heart. Such a microphone can reject sound from the back. It only picks up sound directly in front of it.
2. Proximity Effect Sensitivity
Proximity effect sensitivity is a good choice for professional voice-overs artists. Moreover, if you tend to drift away from the mic while recording your podcast or singing a song, having proximity effect sensitivity is a good choice. They are designed to offer better results even when the source is 3 to 15 inches away. Regardless of your distance from the mic, there is no need to worry about a severe increase in bass response.
3. Power Supply
Several high-end microphones come with a power supply or require phantom power. It is one of the things which you need to consider before making your decision. Purchasing a microphone that requires a power supply can be tedious if you want to stay mobile. Therefore, make your choice accordingly.
4. Frequency Response Curve
The frequency response is the measurement of the magnitude in which the microphone responds to the provided frequency range. In simpler words, a certain miss will pick up a bit more lows or a bit more highs as compared to other microphones. Therefore, knowing how the mic responds to a particular frequency should influence your purchasing decision. Therefore, look for a frequency response that complements your needs to have a better result.
5. Price
Price is always a big consideration when making any type of purchase decision. Depending upon your budget, look for a suitable condenser microphone that can meet most of your requirements. Moreover, investing in a high-end expensive microphone does not mean that your voice-over recordings will be excellent. Ultimately, the quality of your voice will be reflected in your recordings.
Check out our blog post about the 5 Best Microphones for Recording Vocals to find which one is best for you. It includes prices and links to all the places that you can purchase these mics.
Final Thoughts
A condenser microphone is an excellent choice. However, there are a few things that should be considered before deciding which device should be an optimal fit for your requirements. Hopefully, now you would have learned a couple of more things that must be considered before making a purchase.
