Mic & recording basics

Key answers from:

What is the difference between small and large diaphragm microphones?

Kurt / As the name suggests, the diaphragm, the part of the microphone that picks up sound or pressure differences in the air, is smaller in diameter. This actually brings some technical advantages: the smaller diaphragm is light and therefore responds more accurately and quickly. The small design also means that the directional characteristic remains more stable at higher frequencies. However, this technical advantage can also be an aesthetic disadvantage. Many users like the fact that the high frequencies of large-diaphragm microphones are weakened by the spatial component of the recording, or that they are somewhat rounder and smoother.

Why does a microphone need phantom power?

Kurt / Condenser microphones need the so-called capsule bias voltage. For this it needs the 48V phantom power. In contrast to the dynamic microphone, where the electrical voltage is generated virtually by the movement of the diaphragm and thus a magnet in a coil, in the condenser microphone it is already applied to the capsule and is varied by the changing distance of the diaphragm to the counter-electrode. Since the moving masses are much smaller, the condenser microphone is usually much more sensitive and accurate in imaging the sound.

Which microphone would you recommend to beginners for recordings in the home and project studio and how can the best results be achieved with it?

Kurt / I would recommend the Austrian Audio OC16 to beginners for recording in home and project studios. This is exactly what it was designed for. The OC16 has the same industrial ceramic capsule (CKR6) as our top range microphones. It provides a transparent and natural sound without influencing the signal too much. Due to its cardioid polar pattern, the OC16 has a proximity effect. This means that there is a bass boost the closer you get to the sound source. I advise everyone to experiment with the distance from the microphone to the sound source to get the most out of the proximity effect or to find the best balance between direct sound and room sound.