Common Microphone Terms to Learn

When recording audio, there's no single component as important as the microphone you use.

Your microphone is your "ear" in the studio, and it's important to know as much about it as you can in order to ensure high quality recordings. Here's a list of microphone terms that every home recording enthusiast should know.

Dynamic - Dynamic microphones require no external power source and most typically exhibit a cardioid polar pattern (more on this later). They're usually more rugged than condenser microphones and can be idea for miking louder sounds.

Condenser - A condenser microphone requires external power, usually 48 volts (known as phantom power). These microphones are usually more sensitive than dynamic microphones and are typically more expensive.

Large Diaphragm - A condenser microphone with a diaphragm larger than 1 inch. These are ideal microphones for vocals and other applications that require lower sensitivity.

Polar Pattern - The polar pattern of a microphone indicates how well it receives sound coming at it from different angles. Several types of polar patterns are described in this list.

Cardioid - This is a type of polar pattern exhibited by many dynamic and condenser microphones; cardioid microphones here in front of them, with less emphasis to the sides and rear. The name comes from a geometric term which roughly describes the shape of the pattern--"cardioid," or "heart-like" (picture the classic symbol for a heart, with the point rounded and the other side representing the rear of the microphone).

Omnidirectional - Omnidirectional microphones are equally sensitive to sounds coming from any direction. They're usually condenser microphones.

Bidirectional - Bidirectional microphones are sensitive to sounds coming from two directions, usually directly in front of them and directly behind them.

Unidirectional - You might have guessed this one. A unidirectional microphone is only sensitive to sound from one direction.