J. Anthony AllenComposer, Producer, Music Educator, Entrepreneur

Free Ableton Live 12 Music Production Class! Delivered Daily.

Name: Free Ableton Live 12 Music Production Class! Delivered Daily.
Uploaded: 2024-06-13T22:47:13+00:00
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Channel: J. Anthony Allen
Description: In this segment of his daily Ableton Live music production class, J. Anthony Allen explains the two primary categories of microphones—condenser and…

13 Jun 2024 · 2 min

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2:20

In this segment of his daily Ableton Live music production class, J. Anthony Allen explains the two primary categories of microphones—condenser and dynamic—highlighting their technical differences, price points, and ideal recording applications. He showcases specific models such as the affordable Audio‑Technica AT2020 condenser, a small‑diaphragm condenser, and the Shure SM58 dynamic mic, noting that condensers are more sensitive and capture delicate, high‑frequency sounds (e.g., cello, opera vocals) but also pick up ambient noise like airport planes. Dynamic mics, being less sensitive, are better suited for loud sources such as rock vocals. Allen also provides a rough cost spectrum, from around $100 for entry‑level condensers up to $1,000 for high‑end units, helping viewers make informed budgeting decisions for various recording scenarios.

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But when it comes to a very delicate sound, you might want something that is a condenser microphone. This is an example of one. There are a million different kinds. This is one that I like because it's rather affordable. This is Audio Technica at2020. It sounds great. It's relatively cheap. These are like, I don't know, maybe a hundred bucks. But it is a condenser microphone. It's going to be more sensitive. It's going to pick up more things. I used to use this as my vocal microphone for recording these lessons, but I stopped because it's too sensitive. I live kind of near the airport, and you would be able to hear planes flying overhead all the time. Whereas this one is less sensitive to sounds around me, so it doesn't pick up as much around. But if I'm recording, like a cello or any stringed instrument, really, I'm going to use this kind of a microphone. This is another example of a condenser microphone. This is what we would call a small diaphragm condenser microphone, because it's the part that actually picks up the sound is small, small, and that's going to make it good at higher frequencies, more delicate sounds. This is actually a super expensive microphone. These are, I think, maybe $1,000 a piece or so. This is $100 a piece. And this one, I think these are like $150 a piece right now. Maybe $120 somewhere in that range. So dynamic and condenser microphones are the two main kinds of microphones. If I'm recording, like, acoustic guitar that doesn't plug in, I'm probably using this microphone, maybe two of these microphones. If I'm recording, like an opera singer, I'm probably using a condenser microphone. If I'm recording a rock singer, SM58 all the way.