The main purpose of a studio microphone, like any other, is to convert an audio signal into an electrical one. It is imperative that he does this with maximum precision. When processing sound, a qualified operator will be able to remove the imperfections in the sound of a voice or instrument and emphasize the advantages. But he will not be able to do anything with an inaccurate signal, therefore, when choosing, you need to pay attention to this indicator.
Instructions
Step 1
Determine what exactly you are going to write. Studio microphones can be vocal and instrumental, with different requirements. Each of them must correspond to the desired frequency range. With instrumental microphones, the situation is somewhat simpler - usually the documentation indicates which instrument it is intended for. Therefore, first of all, look at your passport. This can be done either in the store or on the manufacturer's website. The second is preferable, because even in reputable specialized stores with a large assortment, it is not always possible to find something that suits you personally. Select a microphone via the Internet by parameters and see where you can buy it.
Step 2
Pay attention to bandwidth and linearity. The first parameter must be indicated in the passport. With regard to linearity, the recoil should be the same throughout the entire reproducible frequency band, without sharp spikes and dips. Usually linearity is presented in the passport in the form of a graph. The maximum linear section should match the voice frequencies for a voice microphone or the frequency band of the instrument being recorded. In this case, overtones must also be taken into account, so the bandwidth should be somewhat wider. Ribbon microphones have the highest linearity. But they are quite fragile and also sensitive to shock. In studio conditions, this does not matter much, however, this circumstance must be taken into account. The disadvantage of electret and condenser studio microphones is that they require an additional power supply. They also introduce some noise.
Step 3
Consider the thermal noise factor. Their level is indicated in the documentation in decibels. The less noise the microphone introduces, the better. There should be no resonance points in the frequency band in which the microphone will be used. This should also be indicated on the passport. The presence of out-of-band resonance points is allowed, which will later be cut by the equalizer. They may not be in the recording strip at all.
Step 4
For a studio microphone, the directional pattern, resistance to wind and other weather conditions are practically irrelevant. Sensitivity does not matter much, since microphone amplifiers are used. Therefore, very often in studio recording, preference is given to condenser and ribbon microphones.
Step 5
Only buy studio microphones from reputable manufacturers. They can be quite expensive, but only in this case you can be sure that the microphone meets the specifications specified in the documentation. In this case, counterfeit is almost a sentence.
