Almost every professional musician gets to listen to sound recording people talking and raving about these beauties. If you are in the sound recording field, even remotely related to it, you must know the best ways to use studio microphones, and which studios microphones to use with what instrument. Angles, distances, tilt, all come into play when using studio microphones. We’ve made a list of the top 10 studio microphones out there in the market, along with their details for your information. Plus, for you studio geeks out there, there are some beauties to feast your eyes upon.
1. Soundfield SPS422B Microphone System
One of the most easily mountable studio microphones available, the Soundfield SPS422B is almost a point and shoot kind of microphone. Although considered a bit flat in distance miking, and a bit too warm in close miking, the Soundfield is ideal for drums, piano, larger vocals like choruses and most acoustic instruments.
2. Sennheiser MD 421 II
Sennheiser is renowned throughout the world for making quality audio products. The MD 421 II is one of the most famous microphones in the world. It can record in virtually any condition and hence is used for broadcasting applications throughout the world. Because of its clarity in reproducing sound, the MD 421 II is one of the most preferred microphones in the world.
3. AKG C414 microphone
One of the most reliable microphones out there in the market, the AKG C414 is very popular because of its ruggedness. It can work excellently even in high humidity places, and also cuts out the interference from other digital audio appliances nearby. It is highly recommended for single instruments and solo vocals, but not so much for grouped audio sources like choruses or orchestras.
4. Neumann U87 microphone
Equipped with a big dual diaphragm capsule which has three directional patterns, the Neumann U87 is one of the most widely used Neumann studio microphones in the world. The choice of cardioid, figure 8 or omnidirectional can be done by a switch near the head. The most preferred reason for using the Neumann U87 is that it can be used very close to an audio source and still it won’t become too rough. It receives close sounds well, and hence is used for solo vocals and single sound source instruments a lot.
5. Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
The Shure SM57, one of the most trusted microphones in the world by sound recording professionals, has not gained its popularity for nothing. It delivers amazingly good quality feedback when using high volume instruments, and gives the same kind of output again and again, even when you’ve used it for years. It is rugged, which allows it to work with the same efficiency for so long. And by the way, just so you know, the White House podium uses the SM57 for the President’s speeches.
6. Electro Voice RE20
The Electro Voice RE20 is one of the most widely used broadcast microphones in the market. Its great noise rejection and amazingly good bass lessening in close range qualities endear it to sound recording professionals. It is best used with acoustic instruments, electric bass guitars and bass drums, and for close range vocals.
7. 4011 TL Cardioid Microphone P48
The 4011 TL microphone by DPA is popular because of its great accuracy and precision in reproducing sounds. It also offers good noise rejection and very low distortion of sound. It is considered one of the best microphones out there for live music shows because of the originality of the sound and is great to use with acoustic guitars, piano, percussion and wind instruments like the flute. It is sometimes used in vocals too, though other microphones are a better choice for vocals.
8. Royer R121 Studio Ribbon Microphone
One of the very few ribbon microphones to still do well, the Ryer R121 Studio Ribbon microphone is famous because it can handle high Sound Pressure Levels (SPL’s) with ease and hence can be used with electric guitars and heavy percussion. It can be used in close ranges as well, as it still produces that clarity of sound. However, it is not too great at rejection and catches side noise a bit too well.
9. Behringer T1 Studio Condenser Microphone
The T1 by Behringer is a tube condenser microphone with a large diaphragm, and has extraordinarily long life because of its rugged nature. It can be used equally well with solo vocals and grouped sounds, and offers a rich and smooth output because of its vacuum tube. It also is good at low frequency sounds and hence can be used for all electric heavy instruments.
10. Coles 4038 Ribbon Microphone
One more ribbon microphone that is very famous is the Coles 4038 studio microphone, and is known as the BBC Microphone as it was so famously used by BBC radio station in the 1950s. It has a good ability of amplifying sounds and making them sound large, and is used in drum overheads and guitars.
Hope you enjoyed reading about our choice of 10 best studio microphones in the world. We’d like to hear from you about your top 10 too!
