Music Glossary

Dynamic Microphone

A rugged, less sensitive mic ideal for loud sources and live performance.

A dynamic microphone is a robust, reliable type of microphone that works using a coil and magnet, requires no phantom power, and handles high volume levels without distorting. Its lower sensitivity, which might seem like a drawback, is actually an advantage in many situations: it rejects background noise and room sound well and can take the punishment of loud sources, which is why dynamic mics dominate live stages and are used to record drums, guitar amps and powerful vocals. The legendary Shure SM57 and SM58 are classic examples. For a beginner recording in an untreated room, a dynamic mic is often more forgiving than a sensitive condenser.

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Written & reviewed by
The Club432 musician collective

432 Academy is the learning arm of Club432 — a performing-arts collective of working musicians, producers, DJs and engineers. Our guides are written for beginners and reviewed by people who play, record and perform for a living, so the advice is what we'd tell a friend picking up the instrument, not specs copied off a box.

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