Microphone Cheat Sheet

Microphone Type	What It Does	Use It For	How to Use It	Recommended Microphones	Pro Tips
Dynamic	Handles high SPLs with rugged construction, provides warm, natural sound with good feedback rejection.	Vocals (live/studio), drums, guitar amps, podcasts.	Position 6-12 inches from source. For vocals, use cardioid pattern to reject bleed. On drums, place on snare for punch. Requires no phantom power.	Shure SM7B Shure SM57 Shure SM58 Sennheiser MD 421 Electro-Voice RE20	Great for loud sources. Use pop filter for vocals.
Large Diaphragm Condenser	Captures detailed, bright sound with wide frequency response, sensitive to nuances.	Vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, overheads.	Use in quiet environments, 8-18 inches from source. For vocals, cardioid pattern reduces room noise. On acoustics, position for natural tone. Requires phantom power.	Neumann U87 AKG C414 Audio-Technica AT2020 Rode NT1-A	Use shock mount to reduce vibrations. EQ gently for clarity.
Small Diaphragm Condenser	Fast transient response, accurate sound reproduction with extended highs.	Acoustic instruments, cymbals, strings, room mics.	Position close (2-6 inches) for detail. For overheads, use XY or spaced pair. On strings, capture nuance. Often in pairs for stereo.	AKG C451 Rode NT5 Neumann KM 184 Shure SM81	Use for transient-heavy sources. Match pairs for stereo imaging.
Ribbon	Warm, vintage sound with natural figure-8 pattern, sensitive to high frequencies.	Vocals, brass, guitar amps, room mics.	Handle with care, position 8-15 inches. For vocals, use for smooth, intimate sound. On brass, capture warmth. Avoid wind noise.	Royer R-121 Ribbon mics like AEA R84 Coles 4038	Use in controlled environments. Great for vintage character.
Shotgun	Highly directional pickup for distant sources, rejects off-axis sound.	Film/TV dialogue, outdoor recording, boom mics.	Mount on boom pole, point at subject. For dialogue, keep 1-3 feet away. Use with blimp for wind protection. Supercardioid/hypercardioid.	Rode NTG3 Sennheiser MKH 416 Audio-Technica AT897 Shure VP82	Use for focused pickup. Combine with lav for backup.
Boundary/PZM	Flat surface mounting with hemispherical pickup, captures room sound.	Conferences, choirs, acoustic instruments, ambient recording.	Place on flat surface, boundary effect enhances low frequencies. For choirs, use multiple for array. Omnidirectional pattern.	Crown PZM-30 Earthworks SR30 Shure MX391 Audio-Technica U851R	Use for natural room capture. Great for unobtrusive placement.
Measurement	Calibrated for accurate frequency response measurement, used for room analysis.	Room EQ, speaker measurement, system calibration.	Connect to measurement software, place at listening position. For speakers, use near-field. Follow calibration procedures.	Earthworks M30 Behringer ECM8000 NTi Audio XL2 Cross-Spectrum Labs CAL2	Use for precise measurements. Follow manufacturer's guidelines.
Contact/Piezo	Attaches directly to instrument for acoustic pickup, captures vibrations.	Acoustic guitar, violin, drums, percussion.	Stick or clamp to instrument body. For guitar, place on soundhole. Mix with mic for full sound. High impedance, may need preamp.	Fishman Aura L.R. Baggs Barcus-Berry Shadow SH 045	Use for amplified acoustic sound. Blend with condenser for warmth.