Condenser Microphones

What’s a condenser microphone?

Condenser microphones are perfect for recording vocals and a wide range of instruments in the studio. Each microphone brand and model offer a unique character and can be ideally suited to a particular application or instrument. Condensers have a faster output, but they are also more susceptible to loud sounds.

We stock a wide range of condenser microphones from brands including Neumann, Shure, Rode, Audio Technica, Sontronics and Imperative Audio.

How does a condenser microphone work?

Condenser microphones get their name from the 'capacitor' inside the microphone, 'condenser' is another term for 'capacitor'. Condenser microphones operate using two charged metal plates, one fixed backplate and the diaphragm which together form a capacitor.

When the diaphragm is struck by sound, the gap between the plates changes which produces a capacitance. The motion of the diaphragm in relation to the backplate is what produces an electrical signal. That signal corresponds to the sound that is being picked up by the condenser microphone.

Do condenser microphones need phantom power?

Condenser microphones are usually powered by 48v phantom power which is delivered via an XLR cable connected to a stand-alone microphone preamp, mixer or audio interface.

What’s the difference between large and small diaphragm condenser mics?

Large-diaphragm condenser microphones are more commonly used for recording vocals. They’re very sensitive and pick up a lot of low-end frequencies.

Small diaphragm condensers are great for capturing high-end frequencies and are capable of handling more sound pressure (SPL) before distorting and peaking. Small diaphragm condensers tend to be applied to recording instruments, such as cymbals, percussion, acoustic guitar, woodwind and brass instruments and any other instrument that requires a great deal of detail to be captured by the microphone.

We’re here to help, so please contact us if you have any questions.