Maintaining Realistic Maximum Sound Pressure Levels with Dynamic Microphones February 15^th 2017 - 11:00 AM

When recording live audio with a dynamic microphone, a good recordist may want to know what is the maximum sound pressure level that mic can handle without distorting. As with many such seemingly basic questions in audio, the answer is not so simple.

How Microphone Frequency Response Relates to Recorded Sound February 9^th 2017 - 01:00 PM

One of the most popular microphone specs is frequency response. However, is the frequency response spec really an accurate description of a microphone’s sound characteristics?

Why Microphone Self-Noise is Important to Recording February 6^th 2017 - 11:00 AM

Self-noise in a microphone is important if the recordist is seeking to come as close as possible to making a clean, noise-free recording. But how does one read self-noise specs and what numbers are good and bad when making a decision on which microphone to use?

Why Microphone Sensitivity Matters? January 13^th 2017 - 10:00 AM

When using different microphones, some models require less gain than others. In layman’s terms, that means some mics are “hot” or especially “loud” while others are not. In technical terms, this is “sensitivity.” But what does it mean and why does it matter to the sound recordist?

New Rules for Wireless Reality Cooking January 12^th 2017 - 03:00 PM

Reality cookery show My Kitchen Rules finally hits the US on 12 January, with five celebrity couples showing off their culinary skills to each other and two professional chef judges. Because the action takes place in the contestants’ homes, the production teams had to build facilities on site and use wireless…

Alan Blumlein Had a Profound Affect on Modern Stereo Recording January 11^th 2017 - 10:00 AM

On Febuary 12, when Alan Blumlein receives the Grammy’s Technical Award, few in the audience will grasp the profound implications of his life and work. But Blumlein, a visionary engineer whose greatest work happened in the 1930s, changed and still affects modern stereo recording to this day.

The Difference Between Large and Small Diaphragm Microphones January 9^th 2017 - 10:00 AM

When purchasing a new studio condenser microphone, buyers are immediately faced with the choice of small and large diaphragm types. What are the sonic differences, and which type is best for a certain application?

How to Decide Between a Wired and Wireless Microphone December 29^th 2016 - 01:50 PM

The difference between using a wired and wireless microphone for a specific job is no longer about sound quality. It’s about a group of other factors, many of which users should consider before making the choice.

The Mysterious World of Phantom Power December 16^th 2016 - 01:00 PM

For most people working in pro audio, phantom power is fed through a mic cable from a mixer to bring electricity to condenser microphones. That’s what they know — period. However, working pros in the audio field know there is much, much more to this “phantom” power flow. It pays to know…

How to Care for Microphones November 25^th 2016 - 01:00 PM

Though they often take tremendous abuse in daily use, microphones are the most delicate and important part of the pro audio chain. To keep microphones working properly, there are a few things the audio engineer can do.