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Is There A Perfect Microphone
  01.13.2010      
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1 Posted by : GTRJONB
Jul 09, 2010 9:32AMREPLY
DPA makes the most "truthful" microphone on the planet but do we always want that in the mix? If conditions are "perfect" yes! When does that occur?! That is a question better answered in any given event, engineer and surroundings. We need the options in microphones to create a soundscape. "Perfect" is a word relative to the situation.
2 Posted by : Eric Myers
Jul 10, 2010 9:32AMREPLY
Great article. Choices we make in selecting mics to use for live or recorded music just as subjective, and though less critical than the musical and lyrical structure of the song, they end up playing a pretty critical role in creating a desired (or not desired) effect on the listener. These electronic transducers are not just scientific conduits to convert wave disturbances to electrical replications for the purpose of capturing and/or reinforcing these disturbances. They are also as you say, part of the subjective "painter's palette" and therefore have an important role in determining how this music is interpreted by the mind of the listener. Sometimes familiarity is the goal, and thats what we want to evoke in the listener so mic users and manufacturers go for a more vintage (read "familiar") sound. Sometimes we want something that sounds "like" something in our head - thats another form of familiarity. Sometimes we just want it to sound broken and jankity. Other times, just as clear, articulate and pure as is possible. The mics we choose are the most critical element in the technical chain for capturing and influencing the final sound. So, there's probably no "perfect" mic since we're all looking for something different, and each of us looks for something different depending on what we're wanting to do to the listener's brain. But this is a GREAT time to live in since there are so MANY different choices. We are not really limited very much by technology and availability, and cost is not prohibitive to having an arsenal of a very wide variety in our palette either.
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Post a comment
1 Posted by : GTRJONB
Jul 09, 2010 9:32AMREPLY
DPA makes the most "truthful" microphone on the planet but do we always want that in the mix? If conditions are "perfect" yes! When does that occur?! That is a question better answered in any given event, engineer and surroundings. We need the options in microphones to create a soundscape. "Perfect" is a word relative to the situation.
2 Posted by : Eric Myers
Jul 10, 2010 9:32AMREPLY
Great article. Choices we make in selecting mics to use for live or recorded music just as subjective, and though less critical than the musical and lyrical structure of the song, they end up playing a pretty critical role in creating a desired (or not desired) effect on the listener. These electronic transducers are not just scientific conduits to convert wave disturbances to electrical replications for the purpose of capturing and/or reinforcing these disturbances. They are also as you say, part of the subjective "painter's palette" and therefore have an important role in determining how this music is interpreted by the mind of the listener. Sometimes familiarity is the goal, and thats what we want to evoke in the listener so mic users and manufacturers go for a more vintage (read "familiar") sound. Sometimes we want something that sounds "like" something in our head - thats another form of familiarity. Sometimes we just want it to sound broken and jankity. Other times, just as clear, articulate and pure as is possible. The mics we choose are the most critical element in the technical chain for capturing and influencing the final sound. So, there's probably no "perfect" mic since we're all looking for something different, and each of us looks for something different depending on what we're wanting to do to the listener's brain. But this is a GREAT time to live in since there are so MANY different choices. We are not really limited very much by technology and availability, and cost is not prohibitive to having an arsenal of a very wide variety in our palette either.
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