- Podcast: Dynamic microphone with cardioid polar pattern
- Music Recording: Condenser microphone with cardioid or hypercardioid
- Live Sound: Dynamic microphone with supercardioid or omnidirectional
- Video Production: Lavalier (lapel) microphone
2. Type of Microphone
- Dynamic: Durable, low self-noise, not sensitive to high SPLs
- Condenser: More detailed sound, require external power (phantom power)
- Ribbon: Warm, smooth sound, delicate, best for studio use
3. Polar Pattern
- Cardioid: Most common, picks up sound from the front, rejects from the back
- Omnidirectional: Picks up sound from all directions, best for capturing the ambience
- Bidirectional (Figure-8): Picks up sound from the front and back, rejects from the sides
4. Frequency Response
- Depends on the intended use, but generally look for a microphone with a wide frequency response
5. Sensitivity
- Measures the microphone's output level for a given sound pressure level
- Higher sensitivity microphones are more susceptible to background noise
6. Maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL)
- Measures how loud a microphone can handle before it distorts
- For loud applications (like live music), choose a microphone with a high SPL
7. Other Features
- Headphone Output: Some microphones have built-in headphone outputs for monitoring
- Low-Cut Filter: Reduces low-frequency noise
- Pad: Reduces the microphone's sensitivity
8. Test and Compare
- Listen to different microphones in the same environment to compare sound quality