A good microphone will accurately reproduce your original performance. The right microphone will capture the sound and room ambience you want, without picking up other sounds.
Instructions
1 Read reviews on the Internet and in professional audio magazines.
2 Ask other musicians for recommendations and a chance to try the microphones they use.
3 Expect to spend $50 or more for an adequate microphone.
4 Get a microphone with a windscreen to use for singing.
5 Check the manufacturer's recommendations for uses of individual models (for example: voice, accoustic guitar, snare drum). Make sure the frequency response of the microphone covers the spectrum of the instrument to be recorded.
6 Compare frequency, sensitivity and impedance specifications of different models.
7 Buy a balanced, low-impedance microphone with an XLR (large 3-pin) connector, if you can afford it. These microphones are more resistant to radio frequency (RF) interference, providing better signal-to-noise ratios.
8 Choose an omnidirectional microphone if you can afford only one or two microphones and you need to record or amplify a group of musicians.
9 Buy a unidirectional microphone to pick up sound from individual instruments and exclude other sounds in the room.
10 Use a unidirectional or cardioid microphone for vocals. Cardioid microphones pick up sound in figure-eight patterns, with the microphone in the middle of the "eight."
11 Demo a microphone before buying it. If possible, record from the microphone or listen through your own speaker.
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