• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Musicaroo

Learn to Make Music Like a Pro

  • Home
  • Singing
    • Learn To Sing Better
      • Best Online Singing Lessons
      • 30 Day Singer Review
      • Christina Aguilera Masterclass Review
      • Roger Love Singing Academy Review
      • Singorama Review
      • The Vocalist Studio Review
    • Microphone Buying Guides
      • Best Mic For Live Vocals
      • Best Mic For Recording Vocals
      • Best Mic For Rap
      • Best USB Mic For Vocals
      • Blue Yeti Vs AT2020
      • AKG C414 XLII Review
      • Audio-Technica AT2035 Review
      • Neumann TLM 103 Review
      • Rode NT1-A Review
      • Sennheiser e945 Review
      • Shure SM7B Review
    • Best In-Ear Monitors For Singers
    • Preamp Buying Guides
      • Best Mic Preamp For Vocals
      • Avalon VT-737SP Review
      • Behringer XENYX 1202FX Review
      • DBX 286S Review
      • Focusrite Scarlett OctoPre Review
      • Grace Design m101 Review
      • Pre-73 Jr Review
      • TubeOpto 8 Review
      • Warm Audio TB12 Review
  • Guitar
    • Buying guides
      • Best Baritone Guitars
      • Best Metal Guitars
      • Best Electric Guitar Amp
    • Guitar Reviews
      • ESP LTD Eclipse EC-256 Review
      • Les Paul Studio LT Review
      • Ibanez Gio GRX70 Review
      • Ibanez Prestige RG5120M Review
      • Sterling MAJ100 Review
      • Synyster Gates Custom-S Review
    • Guitar Amp Reviews
      • Bugera Infinium V5 Review
      • EVH 5150 III EL34 Review
      • Fender Mustang LT-25 Review
      • Fender Super Champ X2 Review
      • Line 6 Spider V 20 Review
      • Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 Review
      • Yamaha THR10II Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • Violin
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Electric Violin
      • Best Violins For Beginners
    • Reviews
      • Bunnel Clearance Violin Review
      • Bunnel EDGE Review
      • Bunnel NEXT Review
      • Bunnel Pupil Violin Review
      • Cecilio CEVN-2 Review
      • Cecilio CVN-300 Review
      • Cremona SV500 Review
      • D Z Strad Model 101 Review
      • Mendini MV500 Review
      • NS Design WAV5 Review
      • Ricard Bunnel G2 Review
      • Yamaha SV-200 Review
      • Yamaha YEV-105 Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • Trumpet
    • Buying Guides
      • Best Trumpets
      • Best Pocket Trumpet
    • Reviews
      • Allora MXPT 5801 Review
      • Bach TR300H2 Review
      • Carol Brass CPT-3000 Review
      • Eastar ETR-380 Review
      • Jean Paul TR-430 Review
      • Jupiter JTR710 Review
      • Mendini By Cecilio Review
      • Mendini MPTL Review
      • Sky Band Bb Review
      • Yamaha YTR-2330 Review
    • Tips and Advice
  • DJing
    • How To Become A DJ
    • Equipment For Beginners
    • Learn To DJ
    • Set Up DJ Website
    • Get First DJ Gig
    • Grow DJ Career
  • Fun
    • 27 Great, Forgotten 90s Songs
    • Best Karaoke Songs (Easy To Sing And Sound Like A Star)
    • Gift Guides
    • Songs For Productivity
    • Songs To Sing To Your Girlfriend
    • Top 100 Music Blogs
You are here: Home / Singing / What Is A Condenser Microphone?

What Is A Condenser Microphone?

September 10, 2017 By Camila Leave a Comment

Condenser microphone definitionIf you need a microphone, you will have to decide between a condenser mic and a dynamic mic.

So which one is better?

The answer is: neither.

Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, making each better suited for specific applications.

We will give a definition of a condenser microphone and examine how one works and what makes it different from a dynamic mic. More importantly, we will look at the situations for which a condenser mic is preferable.

If you want to skip the reading, the main point is this: condenser mics are generally preferred for recording at home or in the studio (see our reviews of the best here), while dynamic mics are preferred for live performances (reviews here).

Table of Contents

  • 1 What Is A Condenser Microphone?
  • 2 Difference Between Condenser And Dynamic Microphone
    • 2.1 Advantages of Condenser Mics
      • 2.1.1 Better Sound Quality
      • 2.1.2 Less Gain Required From The Preamplifier
      • 2.1.3 More Detail
      • 2.1.4 More Defined High-End
    • 2.2 Disadvantages of Condenser Mics
      • 2.2.1 Higher Cost
      • 2.2.2 External Power Required
      • 2.2.3 More Likely To Pick Up Unwanted Environmental Sounds
      • 2.2.4 Less Robust
  • 3 Uses Of Condenser Microphones

 

What Is A Condenser Microphone?

A condenser mic has a thin membrane, generally referred to as a diaphragm, affixed close to a solid metal plate. The diaphragm is electrically conductive, usually made from gold-sputtered mylar or a thin metal foil (generally found in older models).

When sound enters the mic, the sound waves move the diaphragm back and forth, changing the distance between it and the solid metal plate. Together, they function like a capacitor (in fact, condenser mics are referred to as capacitor microphones in some parts of the world).

The capacitance changes as the two metals come closer, i.e. it changes with the rhythm of the sound waves. In this way, the sound is converted into an electrical signal.

The capacitor is quite small and the signal very weak, since it produces almost no current. An impedance converter makes the signal more stable by adding signal current. In order to power this, external power is needed. This is supplied by P48 phantom power, which is usually supplied by a preamp.

 

Difference Between Condenser And Dynamic Microphone

The main differences between dynamic and condenser mics are cost and sound quality. High quality condenser mics give you much better sound quality, but they also cost much more. They are more sensitive and less noisy. They also require external power.

 

Advantages of Condenser Mics

Most of the following advantages only apply to high quality mics, not the sub $100 versions that have flooded the market from China.

Better Sound Quality

The diaphragm in a condenser mic weighs much less than the coil in a dynamic mic, which means it can follow the sound waves much more easily and accurately.

This gives it a wider frequency response and a better transient response (i.e. bursts of energy like the ‘pick’ of an acoustic guitar). It also gives it a much higher sensitivity (i.e. output) and mans that it produces less noise.

Less Gain Required From The Preamplifier

Condenser microphones require a voltage to charge the metal plate which generates the electric current when moved by sound waves.

As a result, they have a higher output than dynamic mics and don’t need as much additional gain from the preamp to bring their signal up to line level (the same level as other audio signals—read about the function of a preamp here).

In fact, some dynamic mics need so much gain that many cheaper preamps can’t handle them. This is never a problem with condenser mics.

More Detail

Because of the extremely thin and light diaphragm, condenser mics can capture much more detail in the sound than dynamic mics. They are much better at capturing the subtle nuances in a singer’s voice.

More Defined High-End

Dynamic microphones are terrible with high frequencies. Their frequency response starts to roll off around 12-15 kHz, making it difficult, if not impossible, to get a breathy vocal sound. If you want a vocal track with a lot of ‘air’ you need a condenser mic.

 

Disadvantages of Condenser Mics

There are four main disadvantages in comparison to dynamic mics.

Higher Cost

High quality condenser mics cost much more than dynamic mics. You can find cheap ones that cost less than $100, but they will not sound good, basically negating any advantage of getting one in the first place.

External Power Required

Condenser mics need an external power supply to run, while dynamic mics do not. This power comes in the form of P48 Phantom Power and is generally supplied by a preamplifier or an audio interface. You could also use a separate phantom power supply.

More Likely To Pick Up Unwanted Environmental Sounds

Due to their higher sensitivity (one of their advantages), condenser mics pick up much more ambient noise. This is why they are generally preferred in the studio, where ambient noise and interference can be controlled or eliminated, while dynamic mics are preferred for live performances.

Less Robust

Dynamic mics are virtually indestructible, which is another reason they are generally preferred for live performances. Condenser mics have more moving and more sensitive parts and thus can’t withstand the extreme levels of punishment a dynamic mic can handle. For more info on the differences between the mics, head here.

 

Uses Of Condenser Microphones

In general, condenser microphones are used for studio recording, while dynamic mics are preferred for live performances. Here are a few common situations and a suggestion for which type of mic would be best.

Recording Vocals At Home Or In The Studio

Get a large-diaphragm condenser mic.

Recording Acoustic Guitar

Get a small-diaphragm condenser mic.

Recording Cello Or Bass

Get a large-diaphragm condenser mic.

Recording Drums

Get a combination of the two, with condenser mics being best for toms and dynamic mics for everything else.

Live Performance

Get a dynamic mic.

Concert Taping

Get a small-diaphragm condenser mic.

 

Here is a good video on the differences between the two types of mics.

Like this? Please share...

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

You Might Also Like

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Posts

Gretsch G2220 Electromatic Junior Jet Bass Review

Ibanez GSRM20 Review (Great Budget Short-Scale Bass)

Squier Bronco Bass Review (Great For Beginners)

Best Bass Guitar For The Money

Best Bass Guitar For The Money (8 Electric Basses That Outperform Their Price)

Jackson JS32 Dinky Review (Surprising Features On A Budget Guitar)

Footer

Important Links

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclosure

Search

Disclosure

Some recommended products may use affiliate links. musicaroo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

*Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates

Copyright © 2021 · Musicaroo · All rights reserved.