The microphone is a very useful sound and music equipment that helps to amplify, enhance or increase the sound of your music or vocal/voice. 

It is mainly used by singers, musicians and public speakers.

So many do not know how to use this piece of sound equipment properly. 

Sometimes, it can become a burden for some people to use it, while for others it's a pleasure to use. Some would rather do without it while speaking, singing or dancing because of the inconveniences of holding it in the hand to use it; especially the wired or cord microphone. While it's a great pleasure for some.

Briefly, I'm going to be taking us through and teaching us how to best use the microphone for a great result while performing, dancing, singing or speaking.

You don't have to be an expert to know how to make use of the microphone very well. 

Just relax and learn from here.

First of all, let's consider the different types of microphones we have and the ones that ones that are suitable for you.


1. WIRED OR CORD MICROPHONES: 

These are microphones with wire or cord, that are attached to them, which are used to connect  them to speakers.


2. WIRELESS OR CORDLESS MICROPHONES: 

These are microphones without cords, cables or wires.


3. BUTTON MICROPHONES: 

These are small microphones that are as the size of buttons, with pin and hook, that can be used to attach them unto the shirt or dress or collar of the user and put close to the mouth.


4. TABLE MICROPHONES: 

These are microphones that are attached to a wooden base and placed on a table for use.


5. HEAD SET MICROPHONES: 

These are microphones that can be attached to the head and put close to the mouth. These kinds of mics are very useful especially for people who want freedom of movement while they talk, sing or dance.

I guess it makes it a lot easier to select the one that is suitable for you to use, without any inconveniences. 


But that's not all. 

There are certain ways to use the microphone to give you the maximum result you want. 

Follow me closely, as I expatiate on them. 

To use a microphoneobserve the following simple rules:


1. Let the microphone be 2-3cm away from your mouth when singing or talking into it.

Not too close and not too far .

2. When you try to make a loud noise or shouting, or singing loudly, move the microphone away from your mouthas much as possible.

3. When sound checking a microphone for sound, i.e checking to see if the microphone is working or producing sound, do not hit or beat it with your palm.  Rather talk or sing into it or better still scratch it's surface with your finger.

4. When talking or singing into the microphone be audible and loud enough, but do not shout. The microphone is meant to enhance your voice and make it heard.

5. Put the microphone directly in front of you, close to your mouth and not to your side or to the corner of your mouth, or to your nose. Except you are using a multi-directinal microphone, which can pick your voice from any direction you put it around your mouth. 


KINDS OF MICROPHONES

There are mainly two kinds of microphones. The are:

1. THE UNI-DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES:
 
These kinds of microphones are designed to pick up sound from a particular direction (one direction).


2. THE OMNIDIRECTIONAL  OR MULTI-DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES:

These kinds of microphones are designed to pick up sound from any direction around it. So, anywhere you tend to place it around your mouth, it picks the sound. 

Furthermore, there are various microphone types available in the market. Some of them are:

In this article, I’ll go through the 4 most common and useful microphone types and what they do best.



DYNAMIC MICROPHONES:

Dynamic Microphones are the most powerful amongst the 4 microphone types.

They are cheap and affordable, durable and they have fantastic sound on some of the most common sources in recording.

A dynamic Microphone works like a speaker in reverse.

Dynamic mics are responsive to transients and handle high SPL very well. This makes them a natural choice for loud sources like drum kit close mics and guitar and bass cabs.


There is a range of great dynamic designs that work for different types of studio situations including:

1. Electrovoice E20

2. Sennheiser MD421

3. Shure SM7B

While all of these microphones are great, none of them have the grand slam price-to-performance ratio of the SM57.

The SM57 is a go-to choice of many engineers for guitar cabs and snare drums—no studio should be without one!


OTHER TYPES OF MICROPHONES ARE:

(a) The Large Diaphram Condensor Microphones.

Large diaphragm condenser microphones are excellent for studio recording.

They are the large, stylish and serious looking microphones that you see in most professional recording studios.

Condenser microphones work by using a capacitor (or condenser) to convert acoustic vibrations into an electrical current. That means they need a power source like 48V phantom power to operate.

It also means that they are much more sensitive than dynamic microphones or ribbon microphones and gives a louder output and signal.

They are very sensitive thereby making them ideal for quiet or extremely dynamic for vocaling. 

Large diaphragm condensers exhibit a number of sonically pleasing qualities for voices. They help create that “larger than life” sound that we associate with pro studio vocals.


(b) Small Diaphram Condensor Microphones.

Small Diaphragm Condensers (sometimes  are called the pencil condensers). They are smaller and less flashy than the LDC.

Even though they are small in size, they are very useful too. Small diaphragm condensers have great transient response, extended top end, and consistent pickup patterns, which makes them great for realistic stereo techniques as well as acoustic instruments. 

They often come in pairs for stereo recording, so they are particularly effective for creating accurate stereo images.


(c) Ribbon Microphones.

Ribbon technology dates back to the earliest days of microphones. Photos from the golden age of broadcasting are filled with presenters speaking into classic ribbon mics.

Ribbon microphones use an ultra-thin (wait for it) ribbon of electro-conductive material suspended between the poles of a magnet to generate their signal.

Early ribbon designs were incredibly fragile. Moving them improperly, or even subjecting them to high SPL could cause the ribbon to break.

But their sound was worth the trade off in durability. Ribbon microjones are prized for their warm, vintage tone.

They are perfect for when you need to tame excessive or harsh high-end: sources like guitar amps, drum overheads or brass.

Ribbon microphones naturally produce a perfect figure eight polar pattern and respond to EQ extremely well.


OTHER TYPES OF MICROPHONES ARE. 

(¡) The Cardoid microphones.

(¡¡) The Supercardoid microphones.

(¡¡¡) The Condenser microphones.


WE'D TALK ABOUT THEM MUCH MORE LATER.