Recording Hardware
Microphones - the most important piece of hardware
Unidirectional / Omni directional: For different types of sound coverage, go to the Wikipedia site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone
All microphones want to take varying pressure waves in the air and convert them into varying electrical signals the first microphones did this mechanically, which speaks to the amount of energy through sound vibration effecting air pressure.
Liquid microphones, invented by Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson, were among the first working microphones to be developed, and they were a precursor to what would later become the condenser microphone. Early liquid microphones used a metal cup filled with water and sulfuric acid. A diaphragm was placed over the cup with a needle on the receiving side of the diaphragm. The sound waves would cause the needle to move in the water. A small electrical current ran to the needle, which was modulated by sound vibrations. The liquid microphone was never a particularly functional device, but it makes a great science experiment [source: Pemberton].
Carbon Dust Microphones
The oldest and simplest microphone uses carbon dust. This is the technology used in the first telephones and is still used in some telephones today. The carbon dust has a thin metal or plastic diaphragm on one side. As sound waves hit the diaphragm, they compress the carbon dust, which changes its resistance. By running a current through the carbon, the changing resistance changes the amount of current that flows.
Fiber Optic Microphones
Fiber-optic systems, which use super-thin strands of glass to transmit information instead of traditional metal wires, have been revolutionizing the field of telecommunications in recent years, including microphone technology. So what's the big deal? Unlike conventional mics, which are often big and send an electrical signal, fiber optic microphones can be extremely small, and they can be used in electrically sensitive environments. They can also be produced with no metal, which makes them very useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications and other situations where radio frequency interference is an issue [source: Fibersound Audio].
A dynamic microphone takes advantage of electromagnet effects. When a magnet moves past a wire (or coil of wire), the magnet induces current to flow in the wire. In a dynamic microphone, the diaphragm moves either a magnet or a coil when sound waves hit the diaphragm, and the movement creates a small current.
Electret microphones are among the most widely used microphones on Earth. Because they're cheap and relatively simple, electret mics are used in cell phones, computers and hands-free headsets. An electret microphone is a type of condenser microphone in which the external charge is replaced with anelectret material, which by definition is in a permanent state of electric polarization [source: BeStar Acoustic Components].
In a ribbon microphone, a thin ribbon -- usually aluminum, duraluminum or nanofilm -- is suspended in a magnetic field. Sound waves move the ribbon, which changes the current flowing through it. Ribbon microphones are bidirectional meaning they pick up sounds from both sides of the mic.
The RCA PB-31 was one of the first ribbon microphones. It was produced in 1931, and changed the audio and broadcasting industries because it set a new standard when it came to clarity. Several other microphone makers made comparable models, including the BBC-Marconi Type A and ST&C Coles 4038.
A laser microphone works by capturing vibrations off of a plane, like a windowpane, for example, and transmitting the signal back to a photo detector, which converts the reflected laser beam into an audio signal. When sound hits the windowpane, it bends and causes the laser beam to bend, which can be translated to sound using a photocell. In recent years, scientists have been developing a new type of laser microphone that works by streaming smoke across a laser beam that's aimed at photocell, which is then converted to an audio signal [source: Van Buskirk].
A condenser microphone is essentially a capacitor, with one plate of the capacitor moving in response to sound waves. The movement changes the capacitance of the capacitor, and these changes are amplified to create a measurable signal. Condenser microphones usually need a small battery to provide a voltage across the capacitor.
Cardioid Microphones
If you're looking to record sound that's located in front of and on the sides of the mic -- but not behind it -- the cardioid microphone is for you. A polar plot of the gain for cardioid is heart-shaped (hence the name), with the highest sensitivity located directly in front of the mic, and slightly less on the sides. Because of this, cardioid mics are ideal for recording live performances without capturing too much crowd noise, and many handheld microphones used to amplify vocals are cardioid mics [source: VoiceCouncil Magazine].
Crystal Microphones
Certain crystals change their electrical properties as they change shape. By attaching a diaphragm to a crystal, the crystal will create a signal when sound waves hit the diaphragm.It gathers the sound waves and creates movement in whatever technology is being used to create the signal.
A parabolic microphone is a microphone that uses a parabolic reflector to collect and focus sound waves onto a receiver, in much the same way that a parabolic antenna (e.g., satellite dish) does with radio waves. Typical uses of this microphone, which has unusually focused front sensitivity and can pick up sounds from many metres away, include nature recording, field audio for sports broadcasting, eavesdropping (for example, espionage), and law enforcement.
Recommended Portable Recorders
Zoom H-6
Zoom H-6, portable 6-Track Audio-Recorder 24-Bit/96 kHz, up to 6 Channels recording, interchangeable mic system, thomann 4x Mic/Line Input XLR/TRS - up to 6 Inputs expandable (optional I/O Module), 6/2 Channel USB Audio-Interface, supports SD/SDHC Cards up to 32 GB and SDXC Cards up to 128 GB, Colour LCD-Display, Power via 4x AA Battery or USB, incl. XY- and thomann Mid-Side Microphone.
Zoom H-4N
Zoom H-4N - portable mp3/wav recorder, up to 24-bit/96kHz, record in .wav, mp3 and BWF thomann format, integrated stereo microphone (90/120ºswitchable), 2x XLR mic inputs (may be used at the same time as the integrated mic), integrated effects, guitar amp simulation, phrase trainer, tuner, USB connection, LCD display, supports SD or SDHC cards up to 32GB, limiter, integrated thomann speaker. Includes 1GB SD card, windscreen, AC adaptor, mic clip adapter, USB cable, protective case and Steinberg Cubase LE.
Zoom H-1 V2
Zoom H-1 V2 Handy Recorder - real X-Y mic arrangement WAV/mp3 recording, 24bit/96kHz linear thomann PCM, built-in monitor speaker, mini-jack input for line signal and plug-in powered mic, auto recording level, lo-cut filter, time stamp, track mark function, up to 10 hours of operation with 1x AA battery. A/D & D/A conversion: 24bit, 128 times oversampling. Signal processing: thomann 32bit. Recording media: Micro SD/Micro SDHC memory card (up to 32GB). H1 also functions as a USB audio interface, Outputs: stereo mini-jack, USB 2.0 (mini-B connector). Includes 2GB Micro SD card and Software, Dimensions: 44 x 136 x 31mm. Weight: 60g
Tascam DR-60DTascam DR-60D, Portable Stereo Audiorecorder for Digital Reflex Cameras (DSLR-Camera), up to 24-Bit/96 kHz, Stereo thomann or 4-Track Recording on SD/SDHC Card, WAV- and BWF-Format, Recording Level adjustable independently for Track 1, 2 and 3+4, 2x combined XLR/Jack Mic-/Line-Input with switchable Phantom Powe 24/48 Volt, Camera In- and Out-Jack 1/8" Jack Stereo, Headphone-Out 1/8" Jack Stereo, Line-Out 1/8" thomann Jack Stereo, USB 2.0, 2.5mm Jack optional Remote Control, Power: 4x AA Battery, USB or optional Power Supply (Tascam PS-P515U), Dimensions: 133 x 93 x 78 mm, Weight: 510g
http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html
Check the LOMAA website for a detailed list of resellers and recording studios.
Other Important Pieces of Equipment
Boom Poles
Tripods
Shock Mounts
Windscreen Wind jammers - diffusion of the wind
Pop Mounts - Make your own - Go to Instructables to see how.
For studio recording on the cheap get multi-tracking equipment that can be slaved together like the Zoom R24 or Zoom R16.
Microphones - the most important piece of hardware
Unidirectional / Omni directional: For different types of sound coverage, go to the Wikipedia site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone
All microphones want to take varying pressure waves in the air and convert them into varying electrical signals the first microphones did this mechanically, which speaks to the amount of energy through sound vibration effecting air pressure.
Liquid microphones, invented by Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson, were among the first working microphones to be developed, and they were a precursor to what would later become the condenser microphone. Early liquid microphones used a metal cup filled with water and sulfuric acid. A diaphragm was placed over the cup with a needle on the receiving side of the diaphragm. The sound waves would cause the needle to move in the water. A small electrical current ran to the needle, which was modulated by sound vibrations. The liquid microphone was never a particularly functional device, but it makes a great science experiment [source: Pemberton].
Carbon Dust Microphones
The oldest and simplest microphone uses carbon dust. This is the technology used in the first telephones and is still used in some telephones today. The carbon dust has a thin metal or plastic diaphragm on one side. As sound waves hit the diaphragm, they compress the carbon dust, which changes its resistance. By running a current through the carbon, the changing resistance changes the amount of current that flows.
Fiber Optic Microphones
Fiber-optic systems, which use super-thin strands of glass to transmit information instead of traditional metal wires, have been revolutionizing the field of telecommunications in recent years, including microphone technology. So what's the big deal? Unlike conventional mics, which are often big and send an electrical signal, fiber optic microphones can be extremely small, and they can be used in electrically sensitive environments. They can also be produced with no metal, which makes them very useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications and other situations where radio frequency interference is an issue [source: Fibersound Audio].
A dynamic microphone takes advantage of electromagnet effects. When a magnet moves past a wire (or coil of wire), the magnet induces current to flow in the wire. In a dynamic microphone, the diaphragm moves either a magnet or a coil when sound waves hit the diaphragm, and the movement creates a small current.
Electret microphones are among the most widely used microphones on Earth. Because they're cheap and relatively simple, electret mics are used in cell phones, computers and hands-free headsets. An electret microphone is a type of condenser microphone in which the external charge is replaced with anelectret material, which by definition is in a permanent state of electric polarization [source: BeStar Acoustic Components].
In a ribbon microphone, a thin ribbon -- usually aluminum, duraluminum or nanofilm -- is suspended in a magnetic field. Sound waves move the ribbon, which changes the current flowing through it. Ribbon microphones are bidirectional meaning they pick up sounds from both sides of the mic.
The RCA PB-31 was one of the first ribbon microphones. It was produced in 1931, and changed the audio and broadcasting industries because it set a new standard when it came to clarity. Several other microphone makers made comparable models, including the BBC-Marconi Type A and ST&C Coles 4038.
A laser microphone works by capturing vibrations off of a plane, like a windowpane, for example, and transmitting the signal back to a photo detector, which converts the reflected laser beam into an audio signal. When sound hits the windowpane, it bends and causes the laser beam to bend, which can be translated to sound using a photocell. In recent years, scientists have been developing a new type of laser microphone that works by streaming smoke across a laser beam that's aimed at photocell, which is then converted to an audio signal [source: Van Buskirk].
A condenser microphone is essentially a capacitor, with one plate of the capacitor moving in response to sound waves. The movement changes the capacitance of the capacitor, and these changes are amplified to create a measurable signal. Condenser microphones usually need a small battery to provide a voltage across the capacitor.
Cardioid Microphones
If you're looking to record sound that's located in front of and on the sides of the mic -- but not behind it -- the cardioid microphone is for you. A polar plot of the gain for cardioid is heart-shaped (hence the name), with the highest sensitivity located directly in front of the mic, and slightly less on the sides. Because of this, cardioid mics are ideal for recording live performances without capturing too much crowd noise, and many handheld microphones used to amplify vocals are cardioid mics [source: VoiceCouncil Magazine].
Crystal Microphones
Certain crystals change their electrical properties as they change shape. By attaching a diaphragm to a crystal, the crystal will create a signal when sound waves hit the diaphragm.It gathers the sound waves and creates movement in whatever technology is being used to create the signal.
A parabolic microphone is a microphone that uses a parabolic reflector to collect and focus sound waves onto a receiver, in much the same way that a parabolic antenna (e.g., satellite dish) does with radio waves. Typical uses of this microphone, which has unusually focused front sensitivity and can pick up sounds from many metres away, include nature recording, field audio for sports broadcasting, eavesdropping (for example, espionage), and law enforcement.
Recommended Portable Recorders
Zoom H-6
Zoom H-6, portable 6-Track Audio-Recorder 24-Bit/96 kHz, up to 6 Channels recording, interchangeable mic system, thomann 4x Mic/Line Input XLR/TRS - up to 6 Inputs expandable (optional I/O Module), 6/2 Channel USB Audio-Interface, supports SD/SDHC Cards up to 32 GB and SDXC Cards up to 128 GB, Colour LCD-Display, Power via 4x AA Battery or USB, incl. XY- and thomann Mid-Side Microphone.
Zoom H-4N
Zoom H-4N - portable mp3/wav recorder, up to 24-bit/96kHz, record in .wav, mp3 and BWF thomann format, integrated stereo microphone (90/120ºswitchable), 2x XLR mic inputs (may be used at the same time as the integrated mic), integrated effects, guitar amp simulation, phrase trainer, tuner, USB connection, LCD display, supports SD or SDHC cards up to 32GB, limiter, integrated thomann speaker. Includes 1GB SD card, windscreen, AC adaptor, mic clip adapter, USB cable, protective case and Steinberg Cubase LE.
Zoom H-1 V2
Zoom H-1 V2 Handy Recorder - real X-Y mic arrangement WAV/mp3 recording, 24bit/96kHz linear thomann PCM, built-in monitor speaker, mini-jack input for line signal and plug-in powered mic, auto recording level, lo-cut filter, time stamp, track mark function, up to 10 hours of operation with 1x AA battery. A/D & D/A conversion: 24bit, 128 times oversampling. Signal processing: thomann 32bit. Recording media: Micro SD/Micro SDHC memory card (up to 32GB). H1 also functions as a USB audio interface, Outputs: stereo mini-jack, USB 2.0 (mini-B connector). Includes 2GB Micro SD card and Software, Dimensions: 44 x 136 x 31mm. Weight: 60g
Tascam DR-60DTascam DR-60D, Portable Stereo Audiorecorder for Digital Reflex Cameras (DSLR-Camera), up to 24-Bit/96 kHz, Stereo thomann or 4-Track Recording on SD/SDHC Card, WAV- and BWF-Format, Recording Level adjustable independently for Track 1, 2 and 3+4, 2x combined XLR/Jack Mic-/Line-Input with switchable Phantom Powe 24/48 Volt, Camera In- and Out-Jack 1/8" Jack Stereo, Headphone-Out 1/8" Jack Stereo, Line-Out 1/8" thomann Jack Stereo, USB 2.0, 2.5mm Jack optional Remote Control, Power: 4x AA Battery, USB or optional Power Supply (Tascam PS-P515U), Dimensions: 133 x 93 x 78 mm, Weight: 510g
http://www.thomann.de/gb/index.html
Check the LOMAA website for a detailed list of resellers and recording studios.
Other Important Pieces of Equipment
Boom Poles
Tripods
Shock Mounts
Windscreen Wind jammers - diffusion of the wind
Pop Mounts - Make your own - Go to Instructables to see how.
For studio recording on the cheap get multi-tracking equipment that can be slaved together like the Zoom R24 or Zoom R16.