Microphone for voice recording: dynamic or capacitor?

The question is often asked: what is the difference between a cheap microphone for recording a voice from an expensive one? For example, one microphone costs $ 3, and another is several thousand times more expensive. After all, even the frequency range, stated on the sites, they are not so different. The answer is simple: the more expensive a microphone, the more reliable it is, and most importantly - the better it will convey all the unique shades of your voice. To make the voice in the recording sound bright, juicy, you need first of all a high-quality, good microphone for voice recording, and only then everything else. In addition, expensive microphones have more options. They are easier to write a variety of tools and easier to work in different conditions, since they have switchable directional patterns.

Microphones are of a dynamic and condenser type. They are called so by the principle of converting sound into an electrical signal. For the layman, this knowledge is not so important. The main thing is to understand which microphone for voice recording is right for you and only for you to solve your particular problems.

A dynamic microphone is more versatile: suitable for both studio recording and live performance. It is much smaller than the capacitor, it is sensitive to external noise, does not require careful preparation of the room, as it less echoes reflected from the walls. It does not require the purchase of additional equipment necessary for the condenser "colleague". In general, a dynamic microphone will be cheaper.

Its disadvantages are that it is worse than the capacitor, it conveys the shades of the voice, it has a higher level of its own noises (electronic hiss on the record). A dynamic microphone for voice recording takes it only from a close distance, and to fix, say, a chorus from several people on it will be problematic. It is more pronounced "close-range effect", when the voice in the immediate vicinity of the microphone sounds differently than at a distance of 20-30 cm.

Condenser microphone, as a rule, gives a better sound, it is more versatile in recording: with its help you can record the vocals of not only one person, but also several, or playing a musical instrument. Condenser microphone for voice recording is almost devoid of its own noises. It is less sensitive to the position of a person relative to the microphone. Some models have a switchable directional pattern.
The disadvantages of a condenser microphone is that it requires careful protection of the room from external noise and echo effect, purchase of additional equipment (phantom power source, pop filter, echo-protection screen). As a result, the condenser microphone will cost more. But at your disposal there will be a really professional microphone for voice recording.

For qualitative recording from any device, you need at least a quality audio card. Standard, embedded in the motherboard of computers and laptops audio devices are not suitable - they are very low-quality, very noisy and completely unsuitable for digitizing the sound. If you already own a fairly good music discrete audio card, then recording with its use is possible. Obligatory distinctive features of such an audio card - the price is higher than $ 50, the availability of ASIO support, support for 24 bit / 96 kHz encoding is desirable. True, additional purchase of a separate microphone preamplifier will be required , since in most of these audio cards it is not integrated. If you connect a dynamic microphone directly to them, the signal will be too weak for high-quality recording. In addition, the condenser microphone can not do without phantom power supply + 48V.