Your music is only good as the signal chain you used to make that music and there is no element more important in your signal chain than the microphone that you use. This article is about one condenser mic that will certainly get the job done and which is not too pricey (although it is certainly not cheap either.)
The mic in question is the Shure KSM44. I write about this condenser microphone from my own personal experience with it because it's been the "go to" mic in my home recording studio for about 7 years and I've used it to record a wide variety of sources.
The KSM44 is a large diaphragm condenser mic and it's a "multipattern" mic. What's multipattern mean? Well there are 3 directional patterns that microphones can record in (what makes the KSM44 "multipattern" is that it can be switched between all three.) Those directional patterns are omnidirectional, figure-8, and cardioid.
Cardioid means that it only records what is coming from the front while rejecting all of the sound coming from the back and most of the sound coming from the sides. A figure-8 pattern picks up sound from both the front and the back but rejects everything coming in the sides. An omni pattern records sound from all around. All of the recording patterns can be the most effective pattern in different situations and this is why it's so cool that this mic can be switched between each of the possible patterns.
Many mics favor particular frequencies when recording in order to "color" the recording in some way. While this "color" can be perfect in some circumstances, having a mic that has a neutral response can allow quite a lot more versatility. The Shure KSM44 condenser microphone is known for it's flat frequency response and this is one of the big reasons why it's such a flexible mic. The KSM44 can be used to record any acoustic source.
Like all other condensers, this microphone needs a mic preamp in order to function. The quality of the preamp can greatly effect the quality of the sound you get and investing in a good quality mic preamp should probably be your next move after purchasing a good microphone. Yes, most audio interfaces do have built in mic preamps but you'll get better results from an external preamp. - 32518
The mic in question is the Shure KSM44. I write about this condenser microphone from my own personal experience with it because it's been the "go to" mic in my home recording studio for about 7 years and I've used it to record a wide variety of sources.
The KSM44 is a large diaphragm condenser mic and it's a "multipattern" mic. What's multipattern mean? Well there are 3 directional patterns that microphones can record in (what makes the KSM44 "multipattern" is that it can be switched between all three.) Those directional patterns are omnidirectional, figure-8, and cardioid.
Cardioid means that it only records what is coming from the front while rejecting all of the sound coming from the back and most of the sound coming from the sides. A figure-8 pattern picks up sound from both the front and the back but rejects everything coming in the sides. An omni pattern records sound from all around. All of the recording patterns can be the most effective pattern in different situations and this is why it's so cool that this mic can be switched between each of the possible patterns.
Many mics favor particular frequencies when recording in order to "color" the recording in some way. While this "color" can be perfect in some circumstances, having a mic that has a neutral response can allow quite a lot more versatility. The Shure KSM44 condenser microphone is known for it's flat frequency response and this is one of the big reasons why it's such a flexible mic. The KSM44 can be used to record any acoustic source.
Like all other condensers, this microphone needs a mic preamp in order to function. The quality of the preamp can greatly effect the quality of the sound you get and investing in a good quality mic preamp should probably be your next move after purchasing a good microphone. Yes, most audio interfaces do have built in mic preamps but you'll get better results from an external preamp. - 32518
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The Shure KSM44 Condenser Mic is recommended in these Online Recording Gear Reviews.
