Dynamic vs Condenser on Vocals 

Funny story Joe, like you said, a few years back me and a buddy recorded a song. He sat down on the floor against my bureau with an SM 57 and just laid down scratch vocals. A few days later, we went to record his actual vocals in a semitreated space with a much more expensive microphone. We ran through it four or five times. I comped all the best takes and after getting very frustrated trying to mix it we just said screw it and used the scratch track. I don’t know if it was the microphone or the fact that he was more relaxed because it was just a scratch vocal, but I remember barely even having to EQ it or doing anything. It just sounded so good but we were reluctant to use initially because it was an SM 57 recorded while sitting on the floor against my bureau!

If Your Room Is Not Treated Always go With a Dynamic Mic Or you'll Regret😢😢😢I have to Record Under my Blankets In these Hot Weather😂😂😂😂I own A SE 2200

I saw a video recently with Trevor Horn and he says he uses SM57s for some vocals, often scratch vocals that end up on the released track because they have an intimacy that is lost by repeating subsequent takes on what is often a very expensive condenser.

Wow finally someone who gets to the point and also is PRACTICAL with examples or real life things people overlook, incredible presentation.....

I use a few different mics but I record all my vocals on a good old SM58. The thing is an unbreakable beast and sounds great.

I love using the SM7b on vocals. It's a dynamic mic, but people are always blown away by how good it sounds.

Amen to that mix and match advice. We've found ourselves recording vocals in all sorts of rooms and if it's a smaller space that's particularly reflective I reach for the SM57 every time because it trims of the higher end and helps mute out some of the reflections in the room. Which my condenser is always going to pick up and ultimately means less time for me at mixing stage.

Love this podcast Joe!

Glad I found this video. I been having trouble understanding the difference between the two kinds of mics cause most videos I seen would go into detail on the mechanics and wiring. Which is cool but I'm not an expert, so the ins and outs of a mic didn't translate well to me. This video helped explaining the _effect_ these mics can have on recorded audio, which was what I need.

This is a very interesting explanation you are giving of the differences between how to use each type of microphones.

Still my fave online teacher. Well done Joe.

Good video Joe..Sonic Diversity regarding microphones is the key.Some of the best vocals I recorded was on a SM58 . partly due to the singer possibly feeling more relaxed because it was a scratch vocal and I was going to rerecord them using my fancy Condenser but I think dynamic Mics are designed to be more performance mic .Hence performance is key. Also with plugins etc your track can sound amazing due to processes that we couldn't do back in the day

I think the vibe thing matters a ton! If I want a recording to feel more live or intimate... like on an acoustic track... I like to use a dynamic mic.

Elvis Costello used a SM-57 for vocals on his first record done at home.

Thanks Joe!

I appreciate you saying what you did about how being in front of a dynamic mic changes your performance. I sing into a Beta 58 at church several days a week, and when I try to record vocals on a condenser in my home studio, I feel like I have to baby it. It feels less authentic to me. Cool observation, thanks Joe!

Good presentation - well done. .... and nice production values

I'm learning a lot from you, Thanks Joe

Thanks for sharing!!!

Great video!!! As a vocalist I totally resonate with this! Recorded v hard rock vocals recently on my tube condenser mic! The s's and t's were way too peaked !!! Switched to a dynamic, problem solved!!! Rounded off the sibilance! I now choose the mic depending on track, more soulful, softer vocal : condensor, ...hard rock: dynamic!! 😀

One side-effect of dynamic mics is that something they give you a "on the stage" feel. The SM58 and the 565SD are fantastic for this. The SM58 is used everywhere in live settings, and the 565SD is the mic of Woodstock.

Wow this was REAL!!! I'M OLD..... so this makes complete sense to me. I like the tactile feel of performing. It's relevant. Thank you

Dynamic Mics are great paired with a Cloud Lifter or Klark Teknik in-line signal boosters. Which the booster also allows you to safely use phantom power with both dynamic microphones and ribbon microphones. The advantage is keeping a good signal to noise ratio because you don’t have to crank the preamp and introduce a lot of noise from the preamp

Thank you so very much!

Hi Joe......I think it was harder to make a true comparison, since on your condenser track, you are singing in a higher register. I have two "primarily vocal" mics......a RODE large diaphragm condenser mic, AND an OLD, but still works---haha, EV 757 dynamic mic, and was a real workhorse for me when I did music for money, now just in my home recording studio, and a few charity type events here and there for ministries. The 757 is a "very hot" mic. Oddly enough, I have not used it for my home recordings, BUT now I WILL! This is funny....when I've brought it along to any events where I preferred using it, I always told the Audio guy who might not be that familiar with that mic, from way back when!, to bring my channel/track fader all the way down, and then ease it on up, because its response is so much higher and louder than any Shure. Also a good reason to use a mixer board in recording, as I have an Allen & Heath ZED 60-10FX, to adjust some 4-band EQ upfront. GOOD video, as usual from you, Joe.

Proper job my friend...

Thank you sir!! Godbless!! ❤❤❤ from philippines :)

I always thought that especially for home studios the condenser picked up lots of room noise, AC hum and at times depending on the vocalist and track too sensitive if that makes any sense. I tend to use dynamic and ribbon's a lot more. I do know one thing you can get a great vocal with a less expensive mic. You don't need a vintage Telefunken mic or U47.

Thanks 🙏

Good one Joe

A condenser is great but I have a personal preference for an SM57 or an SM58

oh one last thing I have been using an (MXL) R77 Classic Ribbon mainly bought it for trumpet but wow its great on acoustic guitar and vocals. Very surprised how good.

The Heil dynamic mics are awesome for vocals.

Dynamic forever!

There's something to be said for a nice handheld microphone. Talking into a mounted condenser, from the side, feels so unnatural, and you have to change your posture to speak into it. Appreciate the honesty and insight in this video

I bought ZOOM ZDM-1 is it fine for music style of rapping thank you for advice! good video

Hiya Joe, question re mics, what would you use to capture a harmonica, basic Diatonic but not played for old style blues, ie, not mashed and distorted more clean like a chromatic orchestral sound ? thanks , love your tips and vids, dedicated Presonus convert 👍😎

Also depends on your recording space.

is there a reason you choose the Presonus PD70 over the SM57 and SM7B? I am very curious.

How to add clap plugins to studio one v6 Doesn't show up even after adding its path to vst locations inside studio one

Nice work!❤️ Can u make video for mixing vocals, i mean professional songs get the vocals sooooo in the mix i tried, but i can't. I'm sidechaining but nothing happenes... It's sound like their vocals are sooo compressed and smacked, but at the same time it sounds like the vocals is part from the beat. I can't explain it. I hope u understand me😅

I usually use my condenser but I'm working on a more gritty EP and am thinking about using a dynamic for the vocals.

You should have kept the same vocal tone to match the different when comparing the effects from the mic

I'm really digging the new Earthworks SR117. It is a dynamic mic that sounds more like a condenser. Its really flat curve catches a ton of nuance without coloring the tone and sounds like you're there in the room. I also like it for live because it has great rejection. I usually consider Earthworks to be more of a measurement mic company, but I think this is a game changer.

Here is one, best ribbon for recording vocals and acoustic guitar at the same time? Thank you.

anyone know the difference between extend and extend add in studio one shortcuts im mind boggled

I'm not disagreeing with the video, but for now I already purchased a condenser microphone and I don't wish to sing "properly" like in a studio. I'm not trying to replicate a studio quality when I'm just singing comfortably in my bed... But I think I prefer hands-free when I sing, I don't want to always hold the microphone all the time as it can block the blood flow around my bicep.

Why do you compare the mics singing different parts of a song? One lower And the other one higher? Is that fair? Just saying

I think it is great your covering hardware. When you get into “subjective” opinions of the actual details, science, of the devices gets lost in the importance of the product and the relevance of the video wanes.

Joe I didn't hear you say what brand microphone that was that you put your lips on.

The story about Bono preferring a dynamic mic in studio recordings seems to be a bit of a myth. There are very few pictures of him singing in the studio (compared to pics of him singing in public), but in those pics he's generally using a condenser.

interesting🤔🍻

I think rap vocals are better recorded on condensers. For singers, dynamic microphones rock

Saw a YT video today where everyone had a Rodes condenser mic. The thing was they had the tops pointed at the guest mouths. that cause me to cringe, while it works it was not the proper use and treating the condenser as a dynamic. cringe

Hello Sir I want to record my poetry professionally at home. Which microphone should I buy? Dynamic or Condenser Mic? My room is not soundproof. Should I get a dynamic mic? If I record the same verse on both dynamic mic and condenser mic. After mixing and mastering, what would be the difference between the poetry recorded from both the mics? Will both be of the same quality? Will both have different quality? If the quality of condenser mic will be crisp. So can I make the poetry recorded with dynamic mic sound crisp? like condenser microphone? Please tell me such a mic and audio interface that I will not regret after buying. I am complete begginer. I am very confused. I have added money in 4 years with a lot of hard work. I don't want my money to be wasted.

tfw the comments are more educational

use a pop sock

I don’t like this because I literally google searched this Monday morning smh

Hello Sir. I want to record my poetry professionally at home. Which audio interface and microphone should I buy? Dynamic or Condenser Mic? My room is not soundproof. Should I get a dynamic mic? If I record the same verse on both dynamic mic and condenser mic. After mixing and mastering, what would be the difference between the poetry recorded from both the mics? Will both be of the same quality? Will both have different quality? If the quality of condenser mic will be crisp. So can I make the poetry recorded with dynamic mic sound crisp? like condenser microphone? I am very confused. I have added money in 4 years with a lot of hard work. I don't want my money to be wasted. Please tell me such a mic and audio interface that I will not regret after buying. I am complete begginer. I want professional quality. Like it is in the video 👇 ru-vid.compBJdvpQtNZA?feature=share