RECORDING /

MICROPHONE BASICS
RECORDING SIGNAL FLOW
Sound (SPL)

Microphone
converts to voltage

(electrical signal)

Preamplifier

scales up the small

voltage changes in the
microphone

ADC
sampling to convert to
digital
SIGNAL TO NOISE
What is signal? What is noise?

Signal = desirable sound we’re recording

Noise = undesirable sounds (background noise, hiss, hum, etc.)

There is ALWAYS noise present in our recording and listening systems! We live
in a physical world and things are never perfectly still or accurate.

Every component of a signal chain (microphone, amplifier, speaker, etc.) has

some noise present.

We want as high of signal-to-noise ratio as possible when recording.

 Dynamic Range = span between highest and lowest amplitude (including noise)

Noise floor = amount of noise present with no signal

Signal-to-noise ratio =
The amount by which the maximum amplitude of the signal exceeds that of the noise.
 GOOD RATIO
We want as high of signal-to-noise ratio as possible
when recording.

Make sure the sound we’re recording is at a good level.

We can apply gain to the preamplifier: boost or

attenuate the signal before it gets recorded

Be careful. This also raises the noise floor!

And, clipping can happen on input if there’s too much

gain! And then the sound is unusable.

In general, allow ~6 dB of headroom when recording a

sound (sounds peak at around -6 dB but allow
temporary peaks above)
 This sound was recorded with
TOO MUCH GAIN! There’s no way
to fix it if it was recorded with
clipping – clipping occurred in
the Analog-to-Digital conversion.

Turning down the gain on our

preamplifier, and now there’s
plenty of headroom, but the
sound is much too quiet. It peaks
at around -22 dB.

We could add 19 dB of gain (or

normalize) the recorded file so
that it peaks at a healthy -3 dB.
However, that also adds 19 dB to
the noise floor!!
GAIN STAGING

Every step of the recording ⟶ editing ⟶ playback process adds noise.

(microphone, preamplifier, amplifier/speaker). This noise increases when we add
gain.

We can add gain to the microphone signal before the preamplifier or at the
amplifier (turn up the volume on our speakers).

Extra gain should be added as late in the signal chain as possible: at output (the
volume knob that controls signal flow from the amplifier to your speakers)!
Otherwise you are boosting the noise of every other stage at output!

If the sound you’re recording is too quiet, it’s better to move closer to the source
than to turn up the gain on your recorder’s preamplifier (not to mention you will
minimize unwanted sounds in the room)
Circuit: need two wires (+/-)
 unbalanced: instrument cable balanced: stereo
mono signal or mono balanced

XLR connector - balanced

another channel added for microphone!

MICROPHONES

A microphone is a speaker in reverse!

Both are transducers: components that convert energy from one medium to

another

Speaker: Voltage -> SPL as magnet+coil pushes cone in and out from equilibrium

Microphone: SPL -> Voltage as vibration pushes diaphragm back and forth from
equilibrium
CHARACTERISTICS OF MICROPHONES

Frequency Response – the range of frequencies it captures

Transient Response – the speed at which the diaphragm can move (respond to
peaks in incoming audio)

Polar pattern – area picked up around it

Sensitivity – what’s the quietest sound it can pick up?

Self-noise – how much noise does the microphone itself generate?

Manufacturers generally list these characteristics on their microphones (based

on lab testing)
Audio-Technica AT4049b
DYNAMIC MICROPHONES

Electromagnetic induction:
conductive metal moves within a
magnetic field, generating current

Mylar diaphragm is attached to a

wrapped core of wire (voice coil)

SPL displaces voice coil, creating

electrical signal
Shure SM-58
Shure SM-57
CONDENSER MICROPHONES
Electrostatic principle: uses a
capacitor (or condenser, a
component that can store an
electrical charge)

Capsule contains two thin plates:

one fixed, one moveable
(diaphragm)

SPL moves the diaphragm and

changes amount of capacitance

Plates are charged by DC power

supply (+48 V, phantom power).
LARGE V. SMALL DIAPHRAGM

Applies to condenser mics

AKG C214
Large diaphragm (≥ 1 inch diameter): large diaphragm
less self-noise. Good for voice in a
controlled, quiet environment
(“warmer”)

Small diaphragm (≤ 1 inch): better

transient response, better high
frequency response

Audio-Technica AT8035
small diaphragm
DYNAMIC VS. CONDENSER

Dynamic: loud sounds, rugged situations with a lot of background noise (on
stage, simple amplification)

Ex: miking a guitar amp cabinet, a live band singer or speaker

Condenser: quieter, more detailed sounds, studio/high fidelity situations.

Better transient response and dynamic range. Need phantom power.

Large diaphragm: warmer, fuller sound

Small diaphragm: more dynamic detail, even frequency response

CONTACT MICROPHONE

Picks up vibrations through

contact with objects

Resistant to sound from air

Piezoelectric ceramic disc

generates current when pressure
changes
POLAR PATTERNS
Refer to the directionality of a microphone – how it picks up signal around it
Supercardioid
narrower pickup pattern (very directional),
also pick up some sound behind
Cardioid
“unidirectional” - isolate unwanted sound

Omnidirectional
pickup equally from all directions

Figure-8
pick up in front of and behind microphone,
but not the sides
MULTIPLE PICKUP PATTERNS

Some mics have multiple pickup

patterns that can be switched

The side with the logo is the front of

the microphone!
OTHER MIC OPTIONS: SWITCHES ON THE BODY

Pad – automatically reduces sensitivity for

recording loud sounds. Commonly –10 or
–20 dB

Low cut – attenuate frequencies < 80 Hz

 MICS OF DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES!
Example
Shape Type Polar Pattern Application
available in VAPC

Dynamic or Cardioid or Live speaking,

Handheld/general Shure SM-58
condenser omnidirectional field interviewing

Recording
Shotgun or dialogue on film Audio-Technica
Shotgun Condenser
cardioid set, field AT8035
recording

Recording stereo
Audio-Technica
Stereo Cardioid Condenser 2x cardioid with a matched
AT8022
pair in one unit

Recording a
Omnidirectional person speaking –
Lavalier Condenser Sony ECM-66B
or cardioid attach it to their
clothing