Hi I am Nima Nasrollahi from Tehran in Iran, I'm a multiinstrumentalist and music producer in different types of genres.

This Lesson that I am going to talk about is week 2 of introduction

to music production at coursera.org
Ill be teaching variety of microphones with all specifications that
you need to know which kind of Microphone is appropriate for
recording vocal or instruments and talk about different types of
them.
First of all we should know that how do microphone work,

Microphone as a transducer converting between sound pressure

variations in the air and that cause would make voltage variation
in a wire, Indeed Microphones convert acoustical energy (sound
waves) into electrical energy (the audio signal).
There are two main types of Microphone:
1) Condenser
2) Dynamic
Some of the differences between them:
Condenser Microphones are suitable for studio recording that
need phantom power (+48), Condensers also tend to be more
sensitive and responsive almost they have a large diaphragm and
omnidirectional polar pattern.

Dynamic Microphones are suitable for on the stage and they dont
need any power, they are really rugged and dont break down
easily, almost this type of Microphone has sensitivity in front of it
and reject another sound around of that and doesnt pick up
feedback of monitors on the stage and just would receive area
sounds that close to it and would reject another sounds that could
be cause of noises or capture sounds of instruments behind it.

Every Microphone has a specific frequency response which gives

us important information about the variation in output level or
sensitivity of microphone over its usable range from lowest to
highest frequency,

Difference between the Oktava319 and Shure SM58 frequency

response:

Another important specification of Microphone is polar pattern

which we can figure out of that what kind of directionality does
have Microphone to receive sound and where is the best place for
microphone placement in your room,

Notice: microphone placement is so experimental object and you

should have a lot of trial an error with placement and get listen
more and more till to get the best place for your microphone.
Notice: Set the mic point right to the logo that manufacture
created.

Variety of different polar pattern :

Polar pattern is describing what area it pick up well and what area
around the Microphone it reject from, you have more focused on
sound and useful to isolated sound.

Cardiod or Directional: In this type of polar pattern sounds pick

up in front of the microphone but the sides sounds would be
eliminate,
Omni-directional: In this type of polar pattern sounds capture
from all directions, (good for capturing sound environment)
Super Cardiod and Hyper Cardiod: Both types are very
directional and eliminate most sound from the sides and rear,

Notice: There are another types of polar pattern (like figure-8

polar pattern) but they are not very in common, just in a very
specific situation.