Dynamic microphones are the rough and tumble action stars of the music industry. These microphones are renowned for their high resistance to moisture damage and the seemingly limitless amount of abuse they can take without compromising the quality of the sound they relay. Compared to the more common condenser microphone, dynamic microphones are generally cheaper and more durable, although they have lower sound catching fidelity. These microphones have fewer internal components and do not require an internal power source, which makes it less prone to damage. Dynamic microphones are very popular with music clubs and karaoke bars because they can withstand constant, loud sounds such as electric guitars, drums and belted out vocals.
The components of a dynamic microphone consist of a permanent magnet, a copper induction coil wound around an iron core and a diaphragm. It captures sound due to the movement of the diaphragm when it is hit with sound waves. This movement also moves the induction cable up and down, varying its position in the permanent magnet’s magnetic field. These changes in distance produce particular electrical impulses that are transmitted down the microphone and then turned back to sound through the sound system. It is essentially the exact reverse of how sounds are produced in speakers. The use of a magnetic field eliminates the need for an electrical power source and the relatively tough nature of the induction coil gives the dynamic microphone its famed longevity. The downside to all this is that the induction coil does capture sounds are well as high quality condenser microphones or the USB connected snowball microphone.
A great dynamic microphone is the Rode Procaster from Rode microphones. This is a professional level broadcast microphone that is designed for high level professional broadcasting. It is a Cardioid microphone that captures the sound coming from the front of the microphone and rejects the sound from the rear, making it ideal even for times when audiences are rowdy. It also features a frequency range of 75 Hz to 18 kHz and a sensitivity of -56 dB re 1 Volt/Pascal at 1 kHz. This dynamic microphone measures 214 mm in height 53 mm in width and depth. It weighs 695 grams and comes with and R2M stand mount, 3/8 inch adaptor and a zip pouch. It costs $229 brand new.
For music capturing and recording purposes, the famous Shure SM58 dynamic microphone is the ideal microphone for a practical home vocal recording session. It also does great capturing drum recording due to its high tolerance for loud sounds. It also features a unidirectional sound capture that allows a clear recording of the sound even in a noisy environment. It also features a pneumatic shock-mount system that decreases interference from movement while handling the microphone. Of course, its greatest attribute is its famous durability, stemming from the rigid steel mesh and its durable construction. This was made famous by the Shure drop test, in which no alteration of performance was found even after being dropped 10 times from a 10 foot height. This epitome of the dynamic microphones attributes costs $109 from the Shure audio brand.