If you ask a child (or in fact, anyone) to draw a microphone, it'll most likely look like a little ball on the end of a stick. In technical terms: this is a dynamic vocal microphone. These microphones are excellent at countering squealing feedback, have a built-in pop-filter to limit loud plosives, and have a solid construction making them perfect for throwing around on stage - but that's not to say that dynamic mics don't pop up in recording studios as well.
Dynamic Microphones for Vocals & Speech
The biggest difference between a dynamic instrument microphone and a dynamic vocal microphone is that the vocal microphone has a built-in pop-filter. This is a foam-rubber cap that protects the microphone pickup from high air pressure like breath and wind, which is why most vocal microphones have a ball-shaped grille which houses the pop-filter. The internal pickup of a handheld vocal microphone (so a microphone you can hold in your hand) is often suspended so that it floats inside the housing, preventing it from picking up 'handling noise' - the noise caused when you actually touch the microphone. The best vocal microphones also remove any danger of feedback.
Picking Out Your First Professional Microphone
If you're looking for your first microphone, a dynamic vocal microphone is an excellent choice. They're usually a bit cheaper than most condenser microphones and they're really easy to use. Unlike condenser microphones, vocal microphones don't need to be fed phantom power to work, so you can just plug your microphone into almost any microphone input and away you go. On our site, you'll also find an array of microphone stands and microphone cables so you can really complete your new microphone setup.
The Best Vocal Recording or Performing Microphone
Unfortunately, there's no ultimate vocal microphone. The best microphone will depend on the kind of voice you have and your singing style. So a soft and delicate, maybe breathy voice will need a microphone with a really wide frequency range, especially in the higher frequencies - so a condenser microphone. For a more aggressive singing voice, the more woolly character of a dynamic microphone would be a better fit since it balances the sound. So dynamic vocal microphones are perfect for genres like rock, rap, and metal. The most-used dynamic microphone are made by brands like Sennheiser and Shure, but these days there are plenty of other microphones out there, all of which offer their own advantages.
USB Microphones
To connect a normal microphone up to a computer, you'll need to use an audio interface fitted with an XLR microphone input. Alternatively, you could just get a USB microphone, which can be either a condenser or dynamic microphone. Dynamic USB microphones are ideal for anything from podcasting to vlogging and from gaming to online meetings.
Frequency Asked Questions About Dynamic Microphones
What's a dynamic microphone?
A dynamic microphone works a bit like the dynamo on your bike, where a magnet wound with copper wire is suspended inside the housing and responds to air pressure shifts. Dynamic microphones are less sensitive than condenser microphones, making them perfect for noisier environments like a stages, or for amplifying loud instruments.
Can you record with a dynamic microphone?
Absolutely! Dynamic microphones make outstanding studio microphones. They're often used for 'close-miking', where the microphone is placed really close to a loud instrument like the drums or a guitar amplifier. Dynamic microphones are also great for recording vocals if you want a less polished sound.
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