Microphones

There are lots of companies that have made microphones and depending on what you are doing and trying to achieve they all have different options for you to use. 

Condenser Microphones

There are lots of reasons why lots of people decided to use this type of microphone to another. Condenser microphones can be seen a lot when you go into a recording studio and recording vocals or other instruments. Condenser microphones are sensitive so they pick up loud noises and sounds very easily, each model no matter the price are all very high quality and can pick up a range of noises.  Condenser microphones have a large frequency range, this means that they can pick up frequency levels from bass to tenor. However, in order for the condenser mic to record what you need it to the mic needs to have phantom power. This is 48 volts of electricity which allows the microphone the power to pick up the recording and then send it to your recording software. 

Typical manufacturers of condenser microphones are: 

• Rode
• Neumann
• Audio-Technica 

Dynamic Microphones

You find that artists and other performers don't use condenser microphones when they are performing live on stage, because of how fragile and sensitive they are the loudness of the instruments and the atmosphere can break the condenser mics, this is why another type of microphone is used, that is called a Dynamic Microphone. Dynamic mics are not as good as condenser microphones, they don't have a better frequency range and they aren't of a condenser quality. These things however are good for when performers are doing a show live. Dynamic microphones are pretty robust and aren't as sensitive as the condenser is meaning that louder instruments are able to be recorded and also heard at a good quality. 

Industry standard brands include: 

• Shure SM57 
• Shure SM58

Headphones 

When artists and other performers are recording in a studio it is important to be able to have good headphones. This is not only to be able to hear themselves but to also be sure that the sound or music that is coming to them the microphone is not able to hear /pick up and record. This is typically known as leaking out, therefore the most popular make of headphones that professionals will use are closed cup headphones. 

Industry standard headphones are: 

• Beyer Dynamic DT100