Condenser microphone
A microphone that works by the changing capacitance between a thin conductive diaphragm and a fixed backplate, needing power from a battery or phantom supply.
The stretched diaphragm is extremely light, so it follows fast transients and fine detail better than most moving-coil designs, and it generally has a wider, flatter frequency response. That makes condensers the usual choice for acoustic guitars, cymbals and room capture, and the reason they often sound brighter and more open. Their sensitivity also means they pick up a lot of the room and are easier to overload, so placement and pad switches matter.
Example: a small-diaphragm condenser aimed at the twelfth fret captures the pick noise and the body of an acoustic in one pass.
See also
Related
- PageMicrophone
- PagePhantom power
- PageAmp mic placement
- PageBalanced signal
- PageCardioid
- PageAaron Dessner
- PageAce Frehley
- PageAd-Rock