When recording room microphones in the home or studio, it’s important to consider various microphone orphoplacements to best capture the sound of the room. Experimenting with room microphone techniques can be as simple as choosing a different type of microphone, to a strategic placement of stereo microphones to best capture the character of the room. Knowing a variety of room microphone techniques will enhance the use of your music studio as well as your recordings.
There are two basic types of microphones: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic microphones usually have more of a compact, rugged design and are often used for the stage. However, dynamic microphones are equally common in the studio for certain types of recording. Guitar amplifiers and drum heads are the most common instruments to be recorded using dynamic microphones in the studio. Condenser microphones, on the other hand, are more sensitive and most commonly used for room microphones in the studio.
An important aspect to using room microphones is to recognize that captureing the sound of the room through the use of microphone placement is the primary goal. Most commonly, small diaphragm condenser microphones are used for room mics. These can be placed anywhere around the room to attain the desired room sound. Room microphones are generally positioned higher up and further apart than most microphone techniques. This allows them to capture more of the room’s response.
When using room microphones the positioning of the mic or mic’s can produce significant variations in the sound of your recording. The position of the microphone(s) will determine the overall sound of the recording. The volume and frequency of a recorded sound can be accented or dulled with strategic placement of the microphones.
Another element to consider when capturing a rooms sound, is whether you will be mixing in mono or stereo. Many room recordings are done in stereo, and if this is the case, the microphone placement can be more critical. If you’re using two microphones to record a room, the positioning of the mics can help shape the stereo landscape.
Finally there are the microphones themselves. Each type of microphone: dynamic, condenser, ribbon, large diaphragm, small diaphragm, etc, will add its own character to the sound of the room and recording. The more you work with different types and brands of microphones, the more you will become aware of the tonal differences in each microphone. With experience working with room microphone placement, listening to different types and brands of microphones, and attention to the musical context, you will gain an understanding of how room microphones can be used to best for your recordings.