Modern Recording Technique Study Guide

Chapter four of the Modern Recording Techniques textbook covers information about microphones, transducers that converts sounds waves into electric signals. Varying in design, use, performance and placement, mics are an essential piece to audio production. Though it is up to preference when choosing a microphone, this chapter highlights the importance of knowing how a microphone operates and what situations they are best suited for.

There are three types of microphones used in audio production– dynamic, ribbon, and condenser. The dynamic microphone features a thick Mylar diaphragm with a voice coil wrapped around it. These parts are enabled through electromagnetic induction. As the sound wave reaches the diaphragm, the pressure moves the voice

Inside the mic are two plates, one a movable diaphragm and the other a fixed back plate. The two plates are referred to as a capacitor or condenser, which is capable of holding an electrical charge. This mic also uses the electrostatic principle rather than electromagnetic induction. This principle is determined depending on the values in this formula: Q=CV. The Q represents the charge, C being the capacitance, and V is the voltage. Condenser mics are powered by a phantom power supply, which sends a voltage of +48 V through pins two and three of a balanced mic line to the capacitor and the preamp. It is essential that the mic line is balanced to prevent humming. Choosing a condenser mic is best in the studio, where it tightens a spectrum of sounds into one nice

Distant, close, accent, and ambient miking are the four distinct methods of microphone placement. Distant miking is desired when needed to pick up a large ensemble like a symphonic orchestra. The room’s acoustics can also be preserved with this technique. Close miking on the other hand, captures the sound without the acoustics of the room. The mic is placed anywhere from one inch to three feet away from the source, so very little of the sound escapes the reach of the mic. Accent miking can be used to capture an individual sound source among a large ensemble. The harmonica solos during live performances of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky” are captured through this technique. The last technique, ambient miking, takes the acoustics of the room into consideration as much or more so than the sound source. Jill Scott’s Live in DC features a song titled “The Way”, where the listener can hear the audience singing along and the applause once the song has ended. Those aspects were likely picked up through ambient miking. This technique is also great for performances in concert halls, such as a symphony orchestra at Carnegie