By Full Compass LiveOur top picks for podcasting, praise sound, presentations and more.
If the voice is an instrument, then the mic is its pickup—and you choose a mic based on what you want to pick up. Lectern at a house of worship? Rock screamer on stage? Conference call in the main office? On-the-sceneDefinition:
1. A subdivision of an event that may have preset settings for sound and lighting equipment. 2. A pre-programmed setting for lights, sound or mechanical device that can be recalled individually or in sequence. podcasting? Presidential press conference? Guitar ampDefinition:
Abbreviation for either Ampere or Amplifier. stacks and drums? Symphony orchestras? Theater productions? You need the right tool for the right job...and fortunately, that right tool may cost a lot less than you think. So grab an XLR cable, turn up your mic preamp, and let’s ask the age-old question: “Is this thing on?”
Talk About a Midnight Special...
Calling all podcasters! Can’t afford an RE20? The MXL BCD-1 Midnight limited edition dynamic mic comes really close at a fraction of the cost, and the half-retro, half-futuristic look is fantastic for on-camera interviews. But the BCD-1-Midnight isn’t just a pretty face. It has the brightDefinition:
In audio, a sound quality that emphasizes high frequencies. Also called "crisp," "clear," or "sparkly.", articulated sound you need for broadcasting and podcasting, as well as excellent side rejection to save your audio in noisy environments. Besides...with that kind of unique look and distinctive performance, you know you want it.
Some Mics Have No Boundaries...But Fortunately, Some Do
Boundary mics are the go-to choice for podiums, houses of worship, theater productions, courtrooms, conference calls, and sometimes even for studio recording—try putting one on the inside of a grand piano cover when it’s open, or against a wall to record room sound. Audio-Technica’s PRO44 low-profile design makes it unobtrusive in public-facing applications, and the half-cardioidDefinition:
A microphone's heart-shaped directional pickup pattern. polar patternDefinition:
A graphic representation illustrating in positional degrees the sensitivity or radiation of a microphone, speaker, or antenna. (a hemisphere pattern above the mounting surface) picks up the sound you want, and rejects the rest. It runs off phantom powerDefinition:
A source of power for a microphone (usually condenser) that travels to the microphone over the microphone's cable. There are different voltage standards and requirements for different microphones, but the most common standard is 48 Volts. It derives its name because there is no visible power cable. from 9 to 52 Volts, and is a sweet combination of sensitivityDefinition:
In transducers and amplifiers, the how much input energy is needed to produce the desired output., fidelity, and affordability.
Buy Your Own Backup Singers
Since we’re on the subject of vocals, how would you like to have backup singers doing harmonies for you? The TC Helicon VoiceTone H1 has two backup singers who live in a little box—even better, they have no ego, and always show up on time. But maybe the best feature is that you can grab a split from a rhythm guitar, and the H1 senses the guitar chords to make sure the voices generate musically correct harmonies. (If there’s no guitar player, a selector switch can dial in different harmony options.) What’s more, the H1 has a metal case, and handles pro-level XLR dynamic mics. Why sing solo when you can have backup?
Two Patterns for the Price of One
It never hurts to have a condenserDefinition:
An archaic term for Capacitor. pencil mic sitting around, especially when miking drums and other instruments. But the Behringer B-5 goes one better with two interchangeable capsules, for cardioid and omniDefinition:
(jargon) Short for Omnidirectional. See: Omnidirectional. patterns. When you want to zero in on, for example, the hi-hat or snare, use the cardioid. But if you want to set up overheads, switch to omni. The B-5 has other attributes too, like a low-noise, transformerlessDefinition:
An electronic circuit that can simulate the balancing and noise rejection of a magnetic transformer with lower cost and less noise, but with less isolation. FETDefinition:
FET (Field-Effect Transistor): A semiconductor device with a very high input impedance, and distortion characteristics similar to a vacuum tube (it tends to accentuate even rather than odd harmonics). FETs are used in condenser microphones and other applications. Unlike standard transistors, which pass signals depending on the current applied to a control terminal (the transistor's base), an FET passes signals depending on a voltage applied to its control terminal (called the gate). amp, a -10 dBDefinition:
1. A deciBel is a logarithmic ratio between two quantities, and is a nonlinear measurement that mimics human perception. 2. A unit expressing sound levels relative to a nominal level just audible by the average human ear, and equal to 1/10th of a Bel. 3. (slang) Database. padDefinition:
1. (Passive Attenuation Device) A device that reduces (attenuates) the output of one device so it does not overload the next device in line. Typically either built-in to a condenser microphone after the capsule, a preamp, a mixer channel, or as a stand-alone, in-line accessory. 2. In music, a sustained, usually lush chord that provides a background sound to lead and harmony parts. for high-volume signal sources, and a low-cut filterDefinition:
1. (audio) A circuit that reduces certain frequencies, e.g., a low-pass or high-pass filter for audio. See also: Equalizer. 2. (optics) reduces certain color wavelengths or polarizations. to reduce room rumbleDefinition:
A noise caused by mechanical vibrations being transferred to a audio transducer, such as a turntable motor.. And at this price, you can afford two for stereo—which is ideal for overhead miking.
The Living Legend of Microphones
Some microphones have endured because of their price, some because of their performance, and some because of both. Shure’s SM57 is one of the best-selling dynamicsDefinition:
In a musical performance, changes in overall volume levels, often accompanied by timbral changes. Example: Classical symphonic music has a wide dynamic range, while dance mixes have a much narrower dynamic range. mics of all time because it’s rugged for the stage, versatile for the studio, is close to indestructible, handles anything from orchestral instruments to guitar amps, laughs at high sound pressure levels, and won’t quit under pressure. Not only that, but as the chosen lectern microphone of the White House Communications Agency, this is the most non-partisan microphone you’ll ever find—every president since Lyndon Johnson has talked through an SM57. If you don’t have an SM57 in your mic collection, now’s the time to discover why this living legend has been the go-to instrument (and vocal) mic for over half a century.
