Lesson - Reckless Use Of A Microphone
I am a course leader in music technology at Highbury College. These video lessons are intended for educational use only as an introduction to each topic for BTEC students. My email bob.ross@highbury.ac.uk. Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK. www.highbury.ac.uk.
My email bob.ross@highbury.ac.uk.
Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK.
www.highbury.ac.uk
Step 1: Microphones
Hello everyone, this is a short video lesson about using microphones. I hope you find it useful. We are going to look at the two major types of microphones and look at the characteristics of both. Microphones convert energy from soundwaves into electric energy. Any device that convert energy from one form to another is known as a transducer. A set of kitchen scales is also a transducer. As is a thermometer. All these items do the same thing, convert energy from one form to another.
Step 2: What Is Sound?
You will be using microphones in live performance environments but also in recording environments. You will marking up a variety of sound sources, Including drums. What does the film Alien have to do with microphones? But if you remember the tag line in space, no one can hear you scream. That's because there is no air. Sound needs air. So what is sound? Sound comes from vibrations, that cause waves. When these waves are close together, that results in a high pitch. When the waves are farther apart, results in a lower pitch. These waves are much harder to attenuate or get rid of. You can hear them at the disco on Saturday night.
Step 3: Differents Types Of Microphones
Let's have a look at the different kinds of microphone. There are two main types of microphones - Dynamic and Condenser. Dynamic microphones are very rugged. I have had one for 25 years, dropped it down stairs a few times, but it still works. They are cheap and good for picking up high impact sound sources (like drums,guitar amps). You don't need any power - just connect a cable and it will work. Condenser microphones are much higher quality. Excellent high frequency pick up, and very good for vocals and cymbals. It gives smooth sound but it does require some kind of power.
Step 4: Truest Reproduction of Sound Sources
A major attribute of any microphone is its polar pattern for directionality. If you want to lighten up a room, the best way is to put a light bulb in the middle of the room; it lights the whole room for you. Now with a microphone, to pick up sound equally from all directions, you use an omni directional. It doesn't have any blind spot. It provides the truest reproduction of sound sources. You're not responsible for the quality of the singer's vocal performances, but you ARE responsible for the quality of their vocal sounds. So this time focus the light as if you are illuminating just one part of a dark stage. To best accomplish this you would use a cardioid polar pattern. As you can see, it picks up sound mainly from in front, and discards sounds from the rear and the sides. Perfect for recording vocals. There is also a figure-of-eight polar pattern. It is not so commonly used, but as you can see it picks up sounds equally from the front and the rear.
Step 5: Different Polar Patterns
Throughout the course we will be using a variety of microphones including the SHURE Beta 58A vocal microphone, and they also make a Beta 57A which is more of an instrument microphone. I see this is really good for recording guitar instruments. A condenser mic - this is the AKG 414. It is a very high end microphone. As you can see from the front, it allows you to select one of four different polar patterns.
Step 6: The Use of Microphones
"My fellow Americans: I'm pleased to tell you today that I have signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes." Thank you Mr Reagan. He nearly started World War III with that remark. So be careful with microphones, because you never no who is listeing. That was Mr.Reagan as a cowboy and this is Mr. Reagan as President Reagan .Good job that he wasn't impeached for reckless use of a microphone.
Step 7: Do Some Research on Microphones
This is just a glossary of terms you are likely to come across when you're talking about microphones, so just go online, Google them or check out Wikipedia and see what you can find out. I hope you enjoyed this video lesson. If there is anything at all that you're not sure about, please ask me.
