Condenser Vs. Dynamic Mic

Thanks to the development of microphone technology, clear recording of sound is possible today, which lets us treasure the work of ethereal voices and musicians forever. Though sound and music are ephemeral in nature, thanks to electronics technology, we have found a way of storing it forever in the form of digital data. A microphone is the primary transducer that converts sound into electrical signals for storage and retransmission. Of the many types of microphones, two of the most commonly used ones are condenser and dynamic microphones.

Condenser Microphone Vs. Dynamic Microphone Comparison

Be it an onstage performance or a studio recording, you need good quality microphones to be able to capture the sound as clearly as possible, with least noise and disturbance. The quality of sound recorded varies according to the kind of microphone used. Therefore it's essential that you know what is the underlying technology that makes sound recording possible in mics and what types of mics are suitable for your application.

Let us differentiate the condenser and dynamic mic according to the internal mechanism, which makes recording possible in them. Then we will go on to compare the cost and usage differences between the two microphone types.

Basic Differences in Technology

So what is a condenser microphone? Condenser is a synonym for 'capacitor' and condenser mics have a capacitor fitted in, which makes sound recording possible. When sound is received by such a microphone, it makes a small diaphragm vibrate, which is actually one of the two plates of a capacitor. A constant coulomb charge is maintained on the two capacitor plates, using an external power source.

As the vibrations cause the diaphragm to oscillate, the distance between the capacitor plates varies, resulting in a change of capacitance, which in turn results into varying of voltage. This varying voltage is converted into a signal that gets recorded to store the sound or retransmit it to a loudspeaker.

Inside a dynamic mic, you will find a larger diaphragm again, which is attached to a metal coil embedded inside a magnet. As the diaphragm vibrates, the coil moves and a current is generated in it by the principle of magnetic induction. This electrical signal, is proportional to the vibration amplitude and frequency, which is then used to store and reproduce soon.

Difference in Power Requirements
One point of difference between condenser and dynamic microphones is the power requirement. Condenser mics require to be supplied with external power, but dynamic mics don't need them. These mics are known to be more sensitive to sound, but their small diaphragms make them delicate instruments. Though low in sensitivity, dynamic mics are much more rugged compared to their condenser based counterparts.

Sound Sensitivity, Usage & Cost Differences
The usage of condenser mics is predominant where high mic sensitivity is essential. This includes studio recording and voice recording in particular. However, when it comes to recording high decibel levels and especially on stage concerts, dynamic mics are a better choice. Cost wise, dynamic mics are the cheaper of the two and also the most commonly used.

As mentioned before, it is clear that if you are looking for a mic for stage performance, dynamic mic is the right choice, but if you are looking for a studio recording mic, condenser mic is what you need.