ABSTRACT
Recording professional vocals is represented as expensive and overly convoluted, requiring specific vocal booths and thousands more lavished on microphones and esoteric pre-amplifiers. The first link in the vocal chain lies with the microphone. A microphone converts analog sound into an electrical signal through the use of a diaphragm. There are various types of microphone available, but ultimately, for recording vocals, there are two main options: the dynamic and the capacitor. On a dynamic microphone, the diaphragm sits at the head with a lightweight wire coil attached to its rear that is suspended over a tubular magnet. Microphones such as the Shure SM57 and AKG D5 are also widely recognized as some of the best choices for live performances. The preferred choice of microphone for studio recording is the capacitor or electrostatic microphone. Sometimes called a condenser microphone, these employ a different diaphragm arrangement and are more sensitive to changes in air pressure.
