The Importance of Using a Specific Microphone for Your Voice Overs and Audiobooks
Microphones are an essential part of any studio for recording voice overs, podcasts, and audiobooks. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes–from the simple to the highly sophisticated–but what should you look for when buying one? You want one that will capture your sound as accurately as possible without adding any distortion or unwanted noise. But how do you know which is best?
Here are seven features to pay attention to, both before and after purchase
1) Type – There are two main types of microphones: dynamic (the type used by professionals on stage) or condenser (which has a more sensitive pickup). The type you choose depends largely on what you plan on using it for. For example, if you’re recording loud drums or loud vocals, a dynamic microphone is your best bet. A condenser mic is most recommended for studio voice recordings due to its high sensitivity and ability to capture higher frequencies and finer details in sound.
2) Polar Pattern – This refers to the directionality of the microphone’s polar response pattern (cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, or figure-8). The cardioid pattern is the most common and represents just one half of a sphere. Its pick up is only in front of its diaphragm (where the sound enters), which allows you to record sounds within a specific field while excluding ambient noise from other directions.
3) Frequency Response – This refers to the overall sound of a microphone, particularly how it handles bass, mid-range and treble frequencies. However, different microphones will respond differently to these frequencies so you should do your research before committing to one
4) Noise Rejection – A high degree of noise rejection is vital for recording in less than ideal situations, such as when there is a lot of background noise. Some mics do this better than others and some require the use of a power supply (phantom power) to reduce internal electrical interference–so ask yourself what you want to be able to achieve before buying
5) Size – Microphones come in different sizes with large condenser mics (over 1 ft) being the most popular for home recording. They’re simple to use, produce high-quality sound and are easy to position. The disadvantage is that they may pick up sounds from the room around them too, so if you need to record in a noisy environment or with lots of sound reflection, it’s probably best to look at smaller microphones. On the other hand, small-sized mics (under 1 ft) are ideal for recording on the go, but they lack quality and may pick up unwanted sounds.
6) Connectivity – Most condenser mics these days are USB enabled making them easy to connect to your computer or Mac. Some come with an XL R cable (the type of cable used for pro sound equipment like PA systems), which you’ll need to buy separately if this is the case.
7) Studio or Home Recording – Make sure you’re buying the right mic for how and where you plan on recording your voice overs. For home projects, something with USB connectivity will probably be fine–but for studio recording, a USB mic wouldn’t be the best choice.
Microphones are essential to record a voice-over in a studio environment. There are different types of microphones and certain features you should look out for. To pick the right microphone, you need to know exactly what conditions your recordings will be made in and how much noise is in the background.
If you’re looking for a microphone that will provide accurate sound and do well in different environments, then look no further than the condenser mic. It does best with higher frequencies and finer details so it’s perfect if you need to capture your voice overs or audiobooks accurately without any distortion or unwanted noise. Ask yourself questions like what you want to be easily able to achieve, before committing to one.
Earpieceonline provide radio earpieces for lots of different markets, but we spend a long time testing different microphones because we care about the quality of the audio output of our users.