You can get reasonably good sound recording from moderately priced microphones. Think very carefully about what you will be using your microphone to record, and about your budget. Be sensible about the quality of sound you need. For study purposes, you won’t need expensive microphones. Cheaper microphones start at around £5.
Make sure that the microphone you buy is compatible with your recording device and that you have the right connectors and plugs.
Computer desk microphones are ideal for study purposes. They aren’t professional, but the quality can be quite good. These usually come with a stand and will normally allow you to adjust the direction they point. They are designed to record straight into your computer or laptop, and will come with a USB connection. One example is the Logitech USB desk microphone.
These are good for using with a multimedia phone or for dictating into speech recognition software, but the quality isn’t great. There is less flexibility about the distance you can place the microphone from your mouth.
Higher quality microphones will be much more expensive. If you do use these to record straight into your computer, you may need to check that you have a compatible sound card. Hand-held microphones sometimes come with a stand, so you can place them on a table. You can also buy desk microphones, which are made to be used with more professional recorders.
There are different types of microphones: some microphones will record from all directions, and some are directional, which means that they focus in on a particular area.
These are the best types of microphones to use if you’re a begnner, as they are more flexible and have a more natural sound. These are good all-purpose microphones that are ideal for interviews as they pick up sound from all directions.
These are directional and more sensitive to sound coming from one direction, which is in front of the microphone. You need to know what you’re doing if you use one of these.
These are used for recording two people facing each other.
These microphones are usually omni-directional and come in different sizes. They are small and attached to a clip, which can be placed on your clothing. They provide very good quality sound. They are useful because you can position them close, and at a fixed distance from the speaker.
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