Audio Recording

This is a compendium of studio microphones commonly used by the industry. It was compiled by Columbia College Chicago Audio Arts & Acoustics faculty and outlines the operating principle, common usage and frequency response among other details for each microphone listed.

Two standout choices for starting microphones are listed below.

Shure SM58 - $100

The SM58 is a highly versitile microphone with a moving coil dynamic element. The cardiod pattern yields great rejection at the back and sides for signal isolation. For this reason, it is a popular choice at live venues for vocalists and musician talkback. It makes a great first microphone for professional recording setups.

Additionally it can survive being grilled and run over by a truck.
It goes without saying this shouldn’t be done willy-nilly with a $100
microphone.

Shure SM7b - $400

The SM7b is virtually more articulate than the SM58 with a wider and more
consistent frequency response. The signal quality produced be this microphone makes it a popular choice among podcasters, streamers and the like. However, it does lack the SM58’s durability.

The pdf has been replaced with a digitized and searchable one