Mic me up – working with microphones

Photo credit: Chris Engelsma, CC BY-SA 3.0

What’s the right microphone to use?

It would be fair to say in our work across Africa, DW Akademie trainers see just about every type of microphone ever manufactured in use.

Whether it’s in a studio, plugged into a digital recorder or a video camera, we’ve seen and heard everything. From the most expensive specialist mics, to budget mics to microphones that are working antiques, lovingly maintained and still producing quality sound.

Technician at SLBC in Kono repairing a studio mic

Good quality audio is crucial for any broadcasting work but not all microphones are the same.

DW Akademie trainers Karl Lippe, Uwe Ross and Sven Wagner have produced the tables below to explain the difference between microphones and what type of microphone to use in various recording situations.

Microphones are distinguished by how they convert sound into electric signals – the transducer principle.

And using the transducer principle, microphones can be made with different directional characteristics. Have a look at the stem or handle of a microphone – quite often you’ll see its directional characteristic painted or etched on the side. For example:

But for journalists, the microphone types below are the most relevant for day to day recording for news and current affairs work.

Of course a question we’re often asked as trainers, especially in radio workshops: What mic should I buy?

For all purpose radio work Karl Lippe recommends an omnidirectional dynamic reporter’s microphone. Here’s Karl’s tip:

A dynamic microphone is robust, cheap, and doesn’t require an external power supply. With the omnidirectional characteristic, which captures sound from every direction, you will have a mic that works in most interview situations. The mic isn’t sensitive to improper orientation, which can easily happen in an interview. In loud settings, the mic must be held close to the interview partner to get good sound.

Good quality omnidirectional dynamic reporter’s microphones are available from around €100.