When dealing with any kind of audio signal, amplification is often a necessary step between devices (microphones to mixers, mixers to loudspeakers, etc.). Amplifiers, as the name suggests, are needed to provide such amplification to the audio signals. Do microphones plug into amps? Microphones output mic levels signals which require amplification to become line level…
Some situations may call for plugging your mic(s) into a guitar or bass guitar amplifier. You could be in a jam space without a PA system or be looking to add crunchy distortion (and other effects) to your vocals. How do we plug a microphone into a guitar or bass amp? To plug a mic…
Generally speaking, there are multiple devices and gain stages before a mic signal is sent to a loudspeaker and projected as sound. However, it is certainly possible to connect a microphone directly to a speaker. How to plug a microphone into a speaker: To plug a microphone into a speaker physically, we must identify the…
So you’re getting into live streaming (whether for video games, sports live Q+As, or anything else), and you’re worried about audio quality in your vocal mic. A big question the people in the streaming world have is whether they need a pop filter on their vocal mic or not. Are microphone pop filters needed for…
When we hear a great singing performance, there is often a microphone capturing the vocalist’s sound. This is always true of a recorded performance and often the case in live concerts. What kind of microphones are best for singing? The best microphones for singing are subjective. Most often, the best singing mic is dependent on…
When looking at any microphone, we notice a screen covering the microphone diaphragm and capsule. This screen is typically a mic grille/cap mesh but can also be a windscreen and/or an additional pop screen/filter. Why do microphones have screens? Mics have screens (grilles/caps) to protect their sensitive diaphragms physically. Screens also protect against plosives (pop…
Microphones were originally developed alongside the telephone. Many microphone types (and telephone types) have been invented since then. Today, many people carry a cell phone, and therefore a microphone, with them at all times. What kind of microphones are used in cell phones? Cell phones use tiny electret condenser or MEMS microphones. These mics require…
With so many microphones on the market (past and present), it’s challenging to select the top 10 best microphones, let alone the best microphone. With that being said, I’ve put together, in this article, what I believe to be the top 50 best microphones of all time. Here Are The Top 50 Best Microphones Of…
The amount of noise in a microphone signal can ruin an otherwise perfect sound capture. Low noise levels separate the pro from the amateur audio recordings and should be strived for by everyone. How To Reduce Microphone Noise: Let’s discuss each of these methods in greater detail. 1. Choose A Condenser Or Active Mic With…
Microphone feedback is one of the most unpleasant sounds we’ll encounter in the world of audio. Though mic feedback is most often heard in live sound reinforcement situations, it can easily happen on your computer, too. Here are step-by-step instructions to stop a microphone feedback loop in a computer: In this article, we’ll get into…
Noise is an inherent issue in the world of audio. Maintaining a high signal-to-noise ratio is critical to getting a clean audio signal from your recordings, sound reinforcement, and playback. A good signal-to-noise ratio starts at the microphone. What is a good signal-to-noise ratio for a microphone? Ideally, we want no noise in the mic…
Microphones are found nearly everywhere nowadays (we carry them around in our devices all day). However, there was a time when microphones did not exist at all and had to be invented. Who invented the microphone? Emile Berliner invented the first microphone in 1876 with Thomas Edison. David E. Hughes independently created the same type…
