Being a radio broadcaster takes smarts,
imagination, and a willingness to explore the right tools for the job.
To jump from that first idea to a full, professional internet radio
station, you must embody the sound of success. And that means looking
for microphones that won’t let you down.
Radio industry trends come and go, but
they all require great mic tech to be realized. It’s time we gave the
lowdown on how they function, what effects they provide, and the kinds
of programming they’re suited for. With a solid pick, your station will
be crisper and clearer than ever.
So, make yourself comfortable, and plug into Spacial’s radio microphone guide.
The starter question – condenser or dynamic?
If you’ve touched on this subject
before, it’s likely you’ve come across two terms: ‘condenser’ and
‘dynamic’. These are the two main mic categories, relating to the way
they’re designed, which changes the sounds you’ll produce at the mixing
desk.
First off, let’s look at condenser microphones,
the more popular variant for a closed recording space. Also known as
‘capacitor’ mics, they function via a conductive diaphragm – a
whisper-thin sheet of metal that’s moved away and towards a large plate
inside. Older versions may use foil for the membrane, but most are built
from mylar, a fusion of plastic and evaporated steel. Steadily, the
sheet changes distance with the metal plate, slowing or speeding up the
frequency of the sound waves passing between them.
The capacitor isn’t very large –
therefore, it’s able to pick up audio with greater finesse than its
dynamic cousin. Very few sound waves will escape it. Low and high
frequencies – the bass note from a guitar, say, or a sudden burst of
laughter – are rendered in more detail, so the aural texture of your
recordings are broader, making for a sharp listening experience. The
energy outputs are fairly low; you’ll need an external power source to
keep it running.
However, as a radio broadcaster, you may
be fond of live reporting, in situations that are thick with intrusive
background noise. Dynamic microphones
are a safer choice for vox pops, gig streaming, and outdoor interviews.
They’re constructed as a heavy coil that has another diaphragm
alongside it – this time, though, it vibrates, creating electrical
signals in a magnetic field.
You can think of it as a rough-and-ready
microphone that’ll cut out the hum of a crowd when you’re focusing on
one audio source. Because the components are bigger, it’s less sensitive
to sound waves… You’ll be able to record very loud noises with less
distortion than the condenser. Oh, and it’s a lot more resistant to wear
and tear, so you can use it for ad hoc street reporting.
