Sound Track: Big Mikes

Ever seen a studio microphone? Studio mikes frequently appear as supporting actors in music videos, whether being caressed by Mariah Carey or assaulted by Marilyn Manson. They look impressive, expensive and somewhat mysterious.

Ever wondered if you could use one of these beauties for video? If so, you're not the first. Countless videographers have found the studio microphone to be an invaluable tool for capturing audio. In the next few pages, we'll de-mystify the studio mike and discover how you can put one to work in your next video.

A Different Breed

Though any microphone can be (and is) used in recording studios, we'll limit our discussion to the most common and versatile mike of all. Called a large-diaphragm condenser mike, this grill-clad beauty is useful for recording everything from string orchestras to commercial voice-overs.

This type of studio microphone differs from common handheld and camcorder-mounted microphones in several key areas:

• It's big: In a microphone, the thin membrane that picks up sound is called the diaphragm. Whereas a tiny lavalier mike may have a diaphragm just 3/16ths of an inch across, many studio condenser mikes have diaphragms an inch or more in diameter. This requires a much larger case to enclose the diaphragm and all the hardware that supports it. Studio mikes also have better on-board electronics, which require a larger circuit board and case.
• It's expensive: This characteristic of studio mikes has been changing in recent years. Though you can still spend thousands of dollars on a studio microphone, many large-diaphragm condenser mikes now have prices in the $300 to $500 range.
• It uses a big connector: Every professional large-diaphragm condenser mike uses a three-conductor XLR connector. This connector carries a noise-canceling balanced signal out of the mike and 48-volt DC power (phantom power) back to the mike to power its internal electronics. Unfortunately, no consumer camcorders offer XLR connectors or phantom power. The solution? A mixer or external microphone preamp.
• It has switches: Many studio microphones offer multiple pickup patterns, especially those with a higher price point. By flipping a switch, you can change the mike from non-directional to directional and even choose from various pickup patterns. Many studio mikes also offer a bass-rolloff switch to control runaway bass and a pad switch to handle extremely loud sounds.…

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